Agua Linda Farm Journal
March 1, 2008
Yesterday afternoon, Stewart, Jesse and I worked together cultivating the fields. We were using push plows to scrape the surface of the soil and lift out tiny weeds that had sprouted along the sides of the crops and in the furrows between the rows. Seeing the pesky little seedlings crumble and then looking back at a well groomed row after each pass is very satisfying. Jesse had a three-pronged rake that has a large bicycle-like wheel on the front (high wheel cultivator). His job was to push down the furrows, a less delicate task than mine, as I had to get as close to the plants as possible. Soon he had passed me and was very proud of his speed. He is not the most willing worker in the family to say the least, but he was pretending that he was racing on a motorcycle – and winning! That was satisfying for him. I had reflective moment while catching my breath at the end of one row. The sun was setting and here we were, my husband, my son and me beneath the view of the Santa Rita Mountains and Elephant Head, tending our spring fields by hand. No tractors were running. I heard only the sounds of lambs calling their mothers, and the scraping of the push plows across dirt. In fact, other than the occasional “motorcycle revving” noises coming from Jesse, this could have been a scene on a farm from 100 years ago. Then my blackberry hummed to let me know that I had received a text message from my daughter. The incongruousness of this did not escape me.
On the home page of our web site I describe the Agua Linda as being “reminiscent of farms of yesteryear” because, unlike the giant commodity farms that supply most of our foods, we grow a variety of vegetables and raise animals for meat and eggs. We dry beans, can tomatoes and cucumbers and freeze basil, peas and beans for winter months. Like “farm kids” of a bye-gone age, my 11 and 13-year-olds know about birth and death of animals and how to work hard and get dirty. Modern technology however is very much a part of our lives.
This past Christmas I once again avoided buying the kids video games. Instead, they each got an I-Pod. Modern. Cool. They were thrilled. Problem is no one can hear anyone anymore. The whole family (except me) is plugged in! While planting onions, communication was extremely frustrating. I couldn’t just tell Jesse that he was placing the starters too far apart, even though he was only two rows away. I tried shouting. He still couldn’t hear me. I had to walk over, tap him on the shoulder and wait for him to pull a plug out of one ear. Stewart, dear husband, is by far the worst. I used to be able to shout out into the field to get his attention and then when he looked up I could communicate with exaggerated amateur sign language that I needed him to come in or that there was a cow in the wrong field. Not any more. I have to walk all the way out to him.
In other ways, technology has made our lives much easier. The computer plays a major roll in my day. I have made endless flyers, press packs, brochures, labels and business cards on the computer. Our old “snail mail” mailing list has been replaced by email! Now instead of printing, cutting, stamping and mailing postcards to folks, I just press “send” on the computer! I have 500 people on my mailing list and I never need to buy a stamp.
The more I think about it the more I realize how much we utilize modern technology on the farm; five or so years ago we qualified for a USDA grant that resulted in our fields being laser leveled. This technology helps the flow of water so as to minimize waste; we have used satellite imagery to plot out our fields before seeding; our first cows were impregnated with artificial insemination (I got out of that one); our soil is analyzed by the USDA in a lab; our web site that I built a year and a half ago has helped customers find us instead of us having to find them; we recently became a location for a weather station that will collect data that we are hoping will help us on the farm; a new employee is teaching us about EM (Effective Microorganism) technology to improve our soil; Stewart and I have taken “field trips” to other farms through videos on YouTube; we use row covers made out of special materials to protect our plants from frost and to increase production and everyday, all day, Stewart and I have blackberry/cell phones on us wherever we are on the farm to be in constant communication with restaurants placing orders, teachers booking field trips, customers asking what will be available at our farm store that weekend and the kids asking homework questions.
Maybe I should get back on our web site and change the phrasing to “Agua Linda Farm is reminiscent of the farms of yesteryear with a modern twist…?” I’m open to suggestions.
Come to the farm for a free tour of the spring garden April 5th, 1PM. Farmer, Stewart Loew will be presenting. Samples of spring greens, a scenic hayride and visiting new babies will follow. R.S.V.P. 398-3218.
Below is a recipe for a salad dressing. It works well on a plain mesclun or spring mix salad.
For a meal, toss salad with dressing, serve on plate topped with stir fried beef tenderloin strips and croutons!
Dijon Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Whisk together. Toss with greens.
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Agua Linda Farm is a 63 acre family run farm in Amado Arizona.
Go to www.AguaLindaFarm.net for more information or contact Stewart and Laurel Loew at 398-3218 or email stewart@AguaLindaFarm.net
The farm is open to the public Saturdays 9 AM – 3PM and Sundays noon to 3 PM.
Copyright 2007 Laurel Loew
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What an enjoyable article!