A "Care Label" for Maintenance

 
Driving through “Big Sky” country which some refer to as Montana,  is  the  place I spent the first part of my childhood and that the wide open spaces seem to inspire creativity where thoughts seem to evolve and take form on topics that I want to write about, such as “care labels”.  I began thinking about a seminar I attended called “Choosing Happy” and maybe you are wondering my I’m telling you about the topic of being happy on a farm blog, well read on and I’ll explain…..

Happiness has many forms, people, places and sometimes things, but mostly it must originate from within.  The seminar talked about “care labels”  as in the kind you find on the backs of clothes.  These labels tell you how to properly care for your item .  And it hit me, wheat plants (as well as the other crops) and humans all have “care labels” for optimum growth and nurturing (properly cared for = HAPPY).  A plant’s instructions are pretty simple, soil, sun and adequate moisture.  If it gets those things and the farmer helps keep the weeds and bugs to a minimum, and assuming the weatherman doesn’t throw in any bad weather, then you can pretty much be guaranteed of a good yield.  But for us humans…. Well we are a bit more complex in what it takes to keep us in good shape.  Wouldn’t it be great to see another person’s “care label” the first time you met them?  You would at a glance know all about them… for example my care label would look like this: 

Small                    Made in PNW (Pacific Northwest)                             Lot number: March 31                             30% optimistic                             20% driven                             20% sarcastic                             20% caring                            10% organized* *Other minor trace fibers may contain sassy, impatience, impulsive   Wash in warm water; add coffee, chocolate, beer/wine, fresh fruits/veggies & pasta for best results   For optimum care add in music, aesthetic settings, fresh air, honesty, love, volunteerism & farm-chick projects  Do not use negative attitudes  or leave in chaos or muggy/hot climates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And with that, the crop report so far is that the plants are doing great and from the last time I wrote, I said we needed some rain (so thank you for sending it our way); it was again the “million dollar rain”.  The wheat plants have formed their wheat heads & the recent moisture will help the plant fill the heads with kernels that are a farmer’s paycheck.  The garbanzo plants are getting bigger and will soon be sporting their little purple flowers which will then turn into garbanzo pods.

                        The green headed wheat will soon be golden &
                        then the combines will come out to play (which is also called "Harvest")

As my farm is in the business of helping to feed America, I also like to showcase other American businesses or companies because American made is the best, whether in crops or products!  And so getting back to the care labels…. As I mentioned in other blogs, I often get companies that offer to send me products to test out or review.  So when the Duluth Trading Company contacted me to inquire if I wanted to try out some of their products, I asked if their clothing was made in America and did they use American grown cotton for their jeans?  The reply was yes on the cotton and some products were made in the USA, while some were not .  Farmer Jay was excited to get to try out the jeans (as he had seen their humorous commercials) !!
 

Farmer Jay ( modeling his jeans) with son, Mr. Z

                                                

                 As for this picture, I added it  just because I liked this as one of dad & son.....

 

and what they advertised was true, the jeans according to Farmer Jay are well made, sturdy & enough room for everything… you will have to see the commercial to know what I’m talking about on the roomy part!   (Info on the jeans: #84011: Burly but soft 14.5 0z denim fabric is made with 100% domestic cotton, 12" deep side pockets, triple-stitched seams for extra strength, extra large zipper pulls)
As for me, I had the opportunity to try out a new shirt (Armachillo shirt #53225)specially made for wicking away moisture,UPF40 sun protection, plus a sun hat (#50227)which also has sun protection & is lightweight too.   The day I wore it, it was 97, sunny & therefore a good test.

 

                                              Me with my "new favorite shirt & hat"

 I love truth in advertising and the Duluth Trading Company delivered what they promised.  So as a way to pay a good thing forward, I will offer another give away ! Win a shirt like mine (men or women's).  One shirt will be given away & the winner will be selected by  impartial judges (as I would love all the care labels sent & unable to choose!)  All you have to do is email me (or post on this blog) what your "CARE LABEL" is!  Please note my NEW email address  swheatfarmlife@gmail.com .  Remember if you post your care label to this blog, then please email me your contact info & size if you are selected.    (contest ends August 31, 2013)

As always, I am so glad you stopped by to see what was happening in this farm-chick's world.   One co-worker says all her staff have their "care labels" posted on a bulletin board at their work site.  After all, care labels are meant to get the best use for optimum results with the right treatment!   So why wait, get to work on that care label (hmmm maybe I should add "bossy" to my care label!)  =) 

 All my best, Gayle

P.S. Hope your July 4th is a wonderful one. Be safe. 

 

A Farmer's Paradise

It’s early as I write this blog, 4:19a.m. to be precise and the start of another fine day here on the Palouse where my farm is and where I call home.

Sunrise on the Palouse

Last night as dusk was descending on the green farm fields that surround my farmhouse, the thought struck me that this is my little paradise. A place where the newly planted fields are various colors of green, the smell of clean air greets me as I step outside, and I hear nature telling me good morning with the chipping of the birds or good night when I hear the crickets chirp and the coyotes start to howl.   My Google search gave this definition, “Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and idleness. Paradise is often described as a "higher place", the holiest place, in contrast to this world.”  A farmer’s paradise may look somewhat different than someone who lives in a city, but that is the beauty of it, each of us has a vision of our own paradise and what it looks like.  Although I must admit, a farmer’s paradise probably takes a bit more care and expense than perhaps an urbanite, but that is what it takes to keep our dreams successful.   A farmer’s paradise is not only a holy place in our hearts, but it is our paycheck as well.  Activity on the farm ebbs and flows, and after the flurry of activity to get crops seeded in the ground, it was quiet, now there is a bit more activity - in that tractors are back in the fields spraying the crops to control weeds.  I see and hear the crop dusters as well, and they are used for applying products to help the crops stay healthy, as weeds and insects are the enemy. Right now our paradise could use another “million dollar rain”, so as the definition said, paradise is not a land of luxury and idleness, it takes work to keep it up.  Here is what my paradise looks like right now......

                                          Garbanzo plants with their pretty little lacy leaves.

and a bigger view of the fields, both wheat (the greener color in the back of the picture) and the lighter green which are the new garbanzo plants

A picture through the lens of my camera. My views of the farm, everyday. A sea of green.

 

click here if unable to view the video (also the best browser to read the blog from seems to be Internet Explorer)

                                           Here is what we do to keep our Paradise healthy

On a personal note, my farm-chick paradise looks like this…(in case you haven’t figured it out yet… yes I am a true farm geek who likes to play in the dirt & get dirty)  I know that my manicurist wonders where I have been and what I did to get my hands looking like that ... But it always makes for a good story to chat about!

 



Farm-chick play time.... a pile of dirt, boulders, river rock and my tractor!

These things put a smile on my face.

 and so does baking.....

Peach Pound cake.... a new temptation to bake!  

 

Also, if you have been reading the blog for a while, you may remember the blog post about Karla from New York City who while never having been to Idaho, felt a connection to the land through my blog…… well Karla & a friend have made their way to Idaho and are in the process of exploring it.  I am excited to get to meet them next week!  And to showcase some of our beautiful State, here are some shots of Idaho that is not farmland and to show what small town fun in America looks like...

 

This coming week-end I am traveling to central Washington  to chat with a farm manager who helps run a large irrigated farm.  So more on  that as I showcase other kinds of crops and  see what their "paradise" looks like. 

And while crops  in wide open spaces (plus rocks, dirt and tractors) are my vision of paradise, I realize that everyone has their own vision of what their paradise is, and I hope you get to enjoy it this week-end.   Feel free to email me (idahofarmwife@gmail.com) to ask questions or leave a comment.   All my best, Gayle

P.S.  To update you on the dating thing... well I have gone on a few dates, met some nice men - nothing serious.... and while it is sort of weird dating again after all these years it is an interesting process.  I kind of look at it as going into Baskin Robbins Ice Cream shop and viewing all the selections & then taking the time to find the right flavor that you like the best.  The process may take some time, but once you settle on what you like best then you know what to look for.

Kaitlyn is doing well and she spends quite a bit of time working on her MaryKay business.  She has had a date or two as well, but like me, nothing serious.   She already had the experience of knowing what perfection was and she is selective as well in whom she wants to spend time with.  I know one day another perfect man will share her life, but for right now we get together as much as we can, drink wine & have made some travel plans.  She also put me to work putting in her slate patio over Memorial Day weekend, so it is never boring being a single farm-chick, especially since I know how to use a shovel.... =)

PPS... the other fun things I have been doing is hunting for "treasures" with other daughter, Jen.  It makes her husband very nervous when we are out together finding things to drag home .....

 

Tractor Tracks, Cowboy Boots & Glamin' it Up on the Farm!

A few years ago when a female farm friend, Caroline  and her farmer- husband Mark divorced, I remember giving her what I thought was the best advice ever.  And what I told my girlfriend was “now that you are single, you can paint your whole house PINK if you want to!”  (and she did just that!) But what I was really conveying was the fact that beginnings and how you choose to shape your new life are just like a farmer’s Spring work, in that what you sow is what you will reap, and the method of how you do that, will not only affect you, but will also affect  those around you.  

Note - my "pink shop door". Love my little tractor too!

My Red Boots!

A chandelier in my farmhouse kitchen. As I "girly up the farmhouse"

And this blog is again what I have learned from a wheat plant and what I am discovering about me and my new beginnings.  I had the title of this  blog for 3 or 4 months and  didn’t know how I was going to integrate  Tractor Tracks, Cowboy Boots and Glamin' it up on the Farm … all I knew was that one day I would  know what to write, and then… it all came together yesterday as  I took an early morning walk.....



Welcome to the  S-Wheat Farm

Enjoying the quiet beauty of the fields, I started noticing the tractor tracks in the fields all around my farmhouse and ideas started forming.  Farmers leave all sorts of tracks in their fields from the initial seeding of the fields, to doing the maintenance of the crops, and then there is a flurry of many tracks when it is harvest time, and again ending with more tracks when seeding winter wheat in the Fall. The tracks left in the fields are necessary.  Depending on the stage of the plants, usually they will recover from being heavily trod upon, but sometimes not and their growth will be affected.  It depends on much they are driven on.  If it is often (say for  a road through the field) then the plants will die out, but if it is once or twice, they  will usually  produce a good wheat head but their size may be stunted and the difference between rows of hard use and untouched are markedly different.   Just like in life,  people all leave tracks in our hearts and souls, sometimes tracks are barely noticeable,  sometimes deep rutted tracks get left when going through a trouble spot (just like our personal lives) and then those kinds of tracks leave deep impressions,   other times the tracks are noticeable but not problematic. 

                                                          Light tracks in the field

 

A trouble spot in the field where deep tractor tracks (or ruts) are made. 

 

                                         Tracks in the wheat field, noticeable, but not problematic
I want to tread lightly and leave only the tracks that leave good imprints in the minds, hearts and souls of people I come into contact with. And as I pull on my cowboy boots each morning, I realize some of the tracks I have left on people were not the ones I intended, so sometimes I have “repair work to do” to mend those ruts, but hopefully the tracks that I leave are ones that will evoke fond memories of life and laughter from family, friends and those I come into contact with knowingly or unknowingly.   And speaking of cowboy boots, I have never worn any (really) in my entire life until last Fall! And.....well I have become a boot collector… and I have black boots, brown boots,  a pair of gray boots and my favorite, my red boots.  I now think I need to get some PINK boots as well as turquoise boots.  Then maybe my boot collection will be finished.  And I LOVE cowboy boots and was almost sad as I have had to replace my boots with sandals for summer  (but living in Idaho, summer really only lasts about 2 months- so I will survive).  

 

 YUP a very PINK front door           PINK Flamingos go well with the PINK flowers

As for "Glamin' it up on the farm"… well I am changing up the house and grounds for me.  I have never really been a “Pink kind of girl” but I am starting to really LIKE Pink and I painted my shop door PINK, and then I painted my front door PINK and I planted PINK FLOWERS all over.  So in a sense, I am taking my own advice!  I am in the process of painting and distressing my kitchen cabinets (that are NOT pink) and I put in a green chandelier that took the electrician  and I about three hours to put on all the doo-dads and crystals & stuff…. And he seriously was begging me not to tell anyone about this job as it was way too feminine for him!  Ha ha ha.  So now you have the story about Tractor Tracks, Cowboy Boots & Glamin' it up on the Farm.

 

Plus I have some new recipes to put on the Cake of the Month page.... 

 

Carmel Nut Pound Cake 

 

Did I mention I LOVE to bake.... all these cakes are found on my Cake of the Month page

 

Lemonade Cake,  Coconut Lime Cake, Root beer Cake &

Carmel Nut Pound Cake 

 

On a personal note... well after a couple of false starts, I think I am ready to start dating again, but apparently I must be sort of, for lack of a better word... socially inept when it comes to flirting...  And how do I know this? Well after I related a minor interaction with someone of the opposite sex, I got the same reaction from not only my youngest daughter but the other girlfriend who was present... and  it was the slap the forehead, roll the eyes and have them blurt, "I can't believe you said that!"  Geez, now  my girlfriend from Spokane is coming down to spend the night, as she says "she misses me", but she has never come down in the middle of the week in the 12 years she has lived in Spokane, so all I can surmise is that I must be in serious need of "Girl 101 talk"  (my words not hers).  So when she arrives, I will invite her to come sit on my deck, we will drink beer and I guess I will get lessons on how to flirt.... Lord help me! =)  ha ha ha...  I guess when it comes to talking to the opposite sex, there are other topics other than tractors, weeds, crops and insects! =)  I will listen and take notes as I really do not want to be the "Erma Bombeck of the dating scene"... although it could be an amusing chapter in my upcoming book. 

 

And  with that, I hope all the "tracks that you leave in others lives" will be the ones that they cherish and are  happy that you were there, just as I will forever from here on out be mindful of the kinds of tracts that I leave in other's lives.  All my best, Gayle 

P.S. you can always email if you have questions/comments at idahofarmwife@gmail.com .



Getting from Point A to Point B, a Life Journey

  “You should write a book about what you have gone through as a way to maybe help other women heal from bad situations” is what my wise friend, Jacie told me not long after those life altering events occurred last Fall.  And you may have noticed my recent blogs have had a different feel and tone, as I not only try to paint with words what farm-life looks like, but I have started painting with words how this farm-chick’s  heart & soul sees life in general.  A sort of weird combination….. the healing process and my lessons learned from a wheat plant or farm-life on how to try and live a better life. 

And from what I can see  readers seem to like  the new  format too as my statistics on readership have increased.  And this is a small taste of what the book will be about, plus lots more…. So I do have to thank you for being my unintended guinea pigs.  Currently I have a title to my book and a basic outline, of which I shared with Jacie and she loved it!   Now all I need to do is get myself marooned on a quiet island somewhere with Internet and a well equipped kitchen to finish the book. Cooking is such a big part of my life.... that it has helped me heal and become whole again.
 

With increased stats, this blog has started getting noticed by other companies wanting to promote either their products or advertise on my blog.  And while I will not let the blog be used as a tool to promote a company or product, I will, however, share their products and do give aways  if I feel they have a value to you.  I will also do a link to the company if you want to check them out, but other than that, this blog’s purpose is and will remain a way to connect the consumer to the farmer.

And here is my “Wheat / Gayle’s Life Lesson”…..From its inception, the wheat plant knows what its purpose is. And unless outside factors strike it down, it will grow and fulfill its life cycle with the end game being a fully filled wheat head.  

 

And like a wheat plant, every person has their own path and purpose with many choices of how to go down their life’s road.  Watching the new wheat shoots coming out of the ground and making the rolling hills a non-stop look of a huge lawn... I felt connected to the land and to the new wheat coming alive after being dormant for winter. 

 

 Looks like a really big newly planted lawn



Kaitlyn and I have been experiencing the same thing, meaning that we are coming alive again after the cold spell in our lives, and now we are  enjoying much brighter days filled with hope and joy.  It in no way means we didn’t value our previous lives, it just means that we have chosen to take the path towards the sun, a warm and sunny place in life.  We all have seen others who chose the not-so-sunny paths in their world, clinging to the bitterness of events that suddenly presented itself in their lives, unasked for, unwelcome, but still a change that shifted the world that was familiar and loved.  Unlike a wheat plant that only has one path, we can choose our paths. Happiness is a choice.

 

This is what the new wheat will look like in a few

more weeks, a sea of green, blue sky, white clouds.  I just realized my bedroom

colors are this exact theme....guess I love Spring!

 

Recently a publishing company wrote and asked if I would review a book, call “A North Country Life” written by Sydney Lea.  This book is  about the author's view of his own path in life and the lives of those he connected with, and I said yes ...  To be honest, it took me a bit to grasp where the writer was coming from as his writing style was unlike any I’ve read…. But by chapter 3 I began to love his views and he tells stories about paths in his life from a very different perspective.  It is almost like being inside his head and hear him talking to himself as he is walking along and comes across a familiar place he loved while as a young man, or that a sudden memory of a loved one who passed away, but left such an important stamp in his heart and soul. And for me, I believe the view from everyone's road of life has scenery that is special to him/her and we all have our own viewpoints. The publisher has offered to give me some books to give away and I want to share the book with you!  So all you have to do is leave a comment on my blog about what you like about the blog (deadline is May 15), and I have a panel of un-biased people who will select the 2 winners.  When you leave a comment, please email me  your contact info so if you are selected, that I can send you the book! 

As for what is happening on the Anderson Farm??  Well last Fall, Cody, our young hired man choose  a new path in his life and the bright lights & big wages of a big city lured him to Las Vegas.  And taking Cody’s place is Vaughn,  a longtime friend of  Farmer Joe’s, a recently retired mechanic for the State of Idaho DOT.  Vaughn's expertise in the mechanical area will be an asset.
 

Spring work is well underway and the crew moved their parade of farm equipment up to the Genesee farm, wherein hard white wheat is being planted along with garbanzo beans.

Improvements to the barn have been made to put a new concrete floor and pad out front for ease of working on equipment.  (Gotta keep the hired man a happy camper)   Can't view this video? click here.

 

With that, I am only a click away and hope you will always feel free to ask any questions about what is done on our farm and how it affects your dinner plate at Idahofarmwife@gmail.com.  And a final personal thought from me to you is that I hope the path you choose is filled with goodness and grace of a life well lived (and if you have time,  Rascal Flatts says it better than I ever could in his song," The Wish").    All my best, Gayle. 

A New Season in Life... Spring!

Farming the rolling hills in Northern Idaho is sort of like life, you have hills to climb up or climb down or go around to get where you need to go.

We all have those "hills" in our lives and it just depends on how you decide to view your walk in life.  I've been reading some amazing books that talk about keeping a positive mental attitude no matter what.  Sometimes it is hard to figure out which direction to go, and yes, the struggle to make it to the top of the hill isn't so much fun, but very much worth the effort in experiences and lessons learned along the way. 

And so.... if you've read the past blogs about both my daughter and I suddenly finding ourselves single, well here is a brief update.  Kaitlyn bought a cute new (but old-looking Craftsman like) farmhouse in a neighboring town and moved into it the last week-end in February.  She is settling into her new life and home pretty well and is doing quite well in her MaryKay career.   But to be honest, she (as well as myself) will trip over a poignant memory or a what should have been....and a wave of sadness will splash over us,  but after shedding a tear or two both of us will usually end up laughing and once again brushing off the sadness and moving forward.  As for me, well I have been focusing on "Girly-Up House Projects" & started a new page on some how-to projects found on the page "S-Wheatie Pie Projects"  My other daughter, Jen and I are working to do a S-Wheat Farm Chick Vintage sale this Fall, so mostly I am found with a paint brush in my hand working on various projects.  I even am taking Country Swing and 2 Step dance lessons to prepare myself for a cousin's wedding in Montana this summer.  Just doing that all by myself  was a big step out of my comfort zone and I have found it is really fun. Plus I get to wear my red cowboy boots!  I also agreed to be a Marketing Committee Chair for Chicks n Chaps, a breast cancer fundraiser for an upcoming rodeo. In short, I keep myself pretty busy.

Both Kaitlyn and I  realize that we continue to be so blessed with the wonderful readers who offer their love, support and sometimes their favorite quote to stay strong,  such as, "Strength does not come from a physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will". Gandhi.  Which was sent to me by blog friend, Cheryl.


The Rolling Hills of  "Palouse"

And now for what is happening on the Anderson Farm.... well a couple of days ago as the ground was being worked, I finally "smelled Spring in the air" that heavenly scent of fresh dirt.  Yup, I am a total farm-chick nut who likes to smell the smell of dirt over anything else, just wish I could bottle that smell....

Farmers Jay & Joe have finished planting Spring Barley and Soft White Wheat down at the southern Tammany farm, and have now moved up to the Genesee farm.  This picture below is volunteer wheat from last harvest.  As the field rotation will be garbanzo beans, the farmers need to prepare the fields by spraying out the volunteer wheat and any weeds. 

Volunteer wheat from last year's harvest

And this is what was being done to the field.  I wanted to share what it looks like for a tractor in the field as it goes up the hills, down the hills or around the hills. 

Guessing this to be  a 45 degree slope

Cresting the hill

Starting the decent of the hill

The decent and moving to reaching the other side



Being on top of the hill



Even though I share what a farmer does, we are all American Heroes who go about our lives and jobs. mostly unnoticed.  So in my view, we are the great American workers, as we all do our jobs in different work forces, and here is a very worth while contest that I wanted to promote.  The Great American Worker Contest by Brawny. So hats off to all of you who do your job, just as I do mine.  Together we are what makes this country great.  P.S. if you are a reader and win this pick-up, please share the news with me!  And with that, MAKE TODAY COUNT!  All my best, Gayle 

Today is National Ag Day and I wanted to share the following YouTube video.
if you can't view the video, click here)



And as you gather around your dinner table tonight, whether or not you personally know any farmers or ranchers, say a prayer for those of us in the business of growing America's food.  And should you see or hear something that concerns you about how your food raised, go to your State organization and ask them the questions or ask them to put you in touch with a farmer that is in your area.  Believe me, local and State organizations would welcome your questions.  For a listing, you can check out my other blog, Farmer, Inc The Real Story. that has many blogs of the real life people who raise our food, plus a link to the local, national or state agencies that can give you the true information.

Again, thanks for stopping by and I am always just a click away at idahofarmwife@gmail.com   All my best, Gayle

"How to Talk to a Farmer" 101

Reading your blog is exactly like talking to you in person... was the comment from good friends, Eric & Karen, of whom I dined with the other night. Both were raised on farms, and although no longer are involved in the farming industry, they still like to stay connected via my  blog.  And they are not the only ones who want to stay connected with those of us who raise America's food.  So while I am working on my next blog, I wanted to share the following that I received as this is the exact reason why I take my passion for blogging and telling the Ag story, because I farm, you eat and want to know if what I grow is OKAY and SAFE.  (As always, thanks for stopping by & if you have questions/comments, I am only a click away at idahofarmwife@gmail.com )  All my best, Gayle

And so... I am happy to share the following:  

As much as we love food, less than 2 percent to the population is connected to the people who grow it. But, talking to your farmer is not as difficult as you think. Farmer marketing pioneer Michele Payn-Knoper offers five ways foodies can spend 15 minutes a week engaging with farmers.

HOW TO TALK TO A FARMER

Five Ways to Spend 15 Minutes a Week Engaging the People Who Grow Your Food

LEBANON, Ind. – March 14, 2013 – Do you know a farmer? If the answer’s no, you’re not alone. Research shows we’ve never been more disconnected from the people who grow our food. Less than 1.5% percent of the nation lives or works on a farm, with the majority several generations removed from first-hand farming experience. But, farmer marketing pioneer and author Michele Payn-Knoper suggests it’s easier than ever to connect with a farmer.

According to a recent survey by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, “three in five Americans would like to know more about how food is grown and raised, but don’t feel they have the time or money to prioritize,” said Payn-Knoper, author of the recently released book No More Food Fights! Growing a Productive Farm & Food Conversation. “But in reality, technology can help fill the chasm between farmer and foodie.”

As the growing season begins, Payn-Knoper offers five ways to spend 15 minutes a week on average engaging with farmers:

• Find them on Facebook. “Farmers are just as prolific online as the population in general, and many are active on Facebook. Like their pages, ask them questions and share your thoughts. They want to hear from you,” Payn-Knoper said.
• Read and comment on their blogs or websites. “Similarly, farmers have active websites or blogs they frequently update. Many offer opportunities for comments.”
• Twitter up. “Farmers also are on Twitter and frequently engage in tweet-ups with each other or consumers.” Twitter groups like @foodchat and @agchat facilitate the conversation.
• Plan a visit with three types of farms. “Farmers increasingly offer on-site tours. Check their websites and take every opportunity you can. But, mix it up. Visit a small farm, big farm, produce farm, dairy farm, or ranch.”
• Visit a farmers’ market during off-peak hours. “The proliferation of farmers’ markets makes it easier than ever to literally reach across the table to shake the hand that feeds us. But, plan your visit for either the beginning or end of the market – when farmers have the most time to talk one-on-one.”

No More Food Fights! is the first-ever book to speak to all sides of the food movement. One of North America’s leading farm and food advocates, she wrote the book after continuously witnessing the growing divide between farmers and eaters that she believes is causing confusion in the grocery aisles and placing the future of farming at risk.

No More Food Fights! is available in print for $16.47 at www.CauseMatters.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other fine bookstores. Digital versions are available for iPad, Kindle and Nook. Learn more at www.CauseMatters.com.

 

A Portrait of Idaho and its people

Idaho and it’s people are as diverse as its landscape, and when traveling to Boise in mid-February for the Governors’ award luncheon, I took a few pictures to show you what I meant. 

But first I have to share a very sweet and funny (I thought) story that I had happen to me as I was trying to explain about the different race of people…. I had volunteered at our church to help the 4^th grade Sunday school teacher in making chocolate chip cookies.  I can’t remember the exact reason I was pulled into this or what the lesson was supposed to be, but as I was lugging my extra-large Kitchen-aid mixer, all the ingredients for the cookies to the church kitchen, I had an inspiration!   As I love to bake I had all the various kinds of baking chips on hand, not just chocolate.  So as the kids and I were adding in the ingredients, I explained sometimes when mankind needs to do something really cool and good, that it takes all of Gods people to do it, and with that I produced chocolate chips that I compared to the darker skinned people, the butterscotch chips and peanut butter chips that I compared to the various browner skinned peoples, and the white vanilla chips that I compared with the Caucasian people.   The kids listened intently and one little boy walks over to me, picks up a white vanilla chip and solemnly says, “these could be Norwegian people”!  Oh my gosh!  It took every ounce in my body to not laugh.  And yes there are quite a few Norwegian/Scandinavian people in Idaho, especially up North where I live, but we are not all fair haired, and blue eyes…  we also have a few  American Indian reservations in Idaho and there are the Basque population down towards the Southern part of the state and we tend to have dark eyes, dark hair and more of an olive skin tone.  Our colleges also bring in many foreign international students, so we have a bit of international culture that gets added to the mix as well. While Idaho may not be a melting pot of different cultures, I think we are a fairly friendly State.  Below are some stats on our population. 

 
2010 resident census population (rank): 1,567,582 (39). Male: 785,324 (50.1%); Female: 782,258 (49.9%). White: 1,396,487 (89.1%); Black:9,810 (0.6%); American Indian: 21,441 (1.4%); Asian: 19,069 (1.2%); Other race: 79,523 (4.2%); Two or more races: 38,935 (2.5%); Hispanic/Latino: 175,901 (11.2%). 2010 population 18 and over: 1,138,510; 65 and over: 194,668 (12.4%); median age:34.6.

Read more: Idaho: Map, History, Population, Facts, Capitol, Flag, Tree, Geography, Symbols | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108207.html#ixzz2MEcFZeG9

And now the pictures will show that from where I live you will leave the rolling hills of good farm ground, drop down to follow the Salmon River as the road snakes through the mountain valleys, then climb up in elevation towards scenic McCall, Idaho and once again drop down in elevation as you reach Boise and the landscape changes from high mountains to sagebrush in the high dessert. All different, but beautiful each in its own way. Just like the people in Idaho.  So hope you enjoy the Idaho tour. 

The "rolling hills of the Palouse area" where I live

 

Heading my house, about 60 miles is the White Bird grade, en route to Boise.The original grade was steep with hair pin corners and you can still opt to drive it too.

On White Bird grade is the site of an Indian battle site.

Below, this river is a fun one and attracts many rafters that like to float the river. A world class adventure. The town of Riggins boasts several whitewater businesses that cater to the tourists needs to play on the river. 

Once past White Bird grade, you drop down and follow the Salmon River. 

 

The as you climb up in elevation, the land scape changes once again to mountain, trees and
 snow as you get closer to McCall, Idaho

 

Another view of the highway heading to McCall

 

Very scenic

 

 

McCall's lake frozen over

 

The annual Winter Carnival, with amazing snow sculptures

The  town swells to around 10,000 people for this fun winter carnival

 

Heading towards Boise, the land becomes more sage brushes and high dessert

Boise landscape, sagebrush is the normal site in Southern Idaho

As always, glad you dropped by and feel free to email me at idahofarmwife@gmail.com or leave a comment.  I always love to hear from you.   All my best, Gayle

 

A Guest Post on Young Farmers

Not too long ago, I was thinking about the number of "farm kids' in my kid's class, and here is what is happening not only in my small farming town, but across America.  In the 1970s the farm kids made up about 2/3 or more of the class (based on Farmer Jay & Joe's class make-up).  When our daughters were in school in 1999 and 2006, it was about 1/3 - 1/2 of the kids in the class were farm kids, and now that my grand-angel, Miss B is in 1st grade, well .....she is the only one out of a class of 21 that is related to a farm!   The class below hers has 2 whose young daddies are full time farmers..... sort of scary... as our numbers are shrinking, but the demand for food is not.  With that I had this amazing press release and YouTube video sent to me and I want to share it with you.  So while I am writing my next blog, grab your favorite beverage or snack, put your feet up and take a moment.  All my best, Gayle. idahofarmwife@gmail.com
click here if YouTube is not visable

Young Farmers Mobilize For Their Industry

Farmers feed your family, then take a second job to feed their own. It’s a sad, but true, reality for those trying to make it in arguably the most noble of professions, as over 70% of young farmers work more than 40 hours a week off farm to support their operations.
 

“When did feeding the world become a pastime?” said Sarah Wray, a board memb
er with the FarmOn Foundation. “Nobody would expect a restaurant owner to run his establishment, not even break even and then take a second job in the oilfield, just to make ends meet for his family. But this is exactly what is being expected of farmers. “
 

No more. Farmers feed this entire planet, and it’s time the world paid attention! The FarmOn Foundation is calling on young farmers to stand up, tell their stories and show people their own farming reality through the Farm Voices project. On April 22, Earth Day, the organization is rallying farmers to use the power of social media and post a photo and a thought to Facebook, Instagram and/or Twitter about their experience as a farmer, attaching the hashtag #FARMVOICES.
 

“Young people have been at the forefront of every great social movement in history,” noted Wray. “The power of social media means that we now have the opportunity to effectively and powerfully speak for our own industry, directly to the audience we’re trying to engage.”

Too often, the agriculture industry has sat back and allowed others to have a more powerful voice with the public, rather than stepping up and telling their own story in a way that will truly speak to others. With the launch of Farm Voices, FarmOn hopes to mobilize a movement led by young farmers to create change and awareness with consumers.
 

“Currently, 80% of the content found online about agriculture is not favourable,” said Wray. “That’s ridiculous and has a lot to do with the fact that farmers are not speaking up and being vocal about the industry they love. That has to change.”
 

While farmers have proven amazing stewards of the land, they have left the story of their industry for others to tell. But it’s truly critical for sustainability and success that this trend does not continue.
 

“I don’t know about other farmers out there, but I’m sick and tired of groups like PETA trying to tell my story,” said Wray. “We take pride in our operations and the handling of our livestock, treating them with the utmost respect and care. It’s our turn. The world needs to hear the reality of the family farm.”