MEADOWWOOD Organics - Part II

LOCALLY GROWN

FARMER FOCUS SERIES
By Darlene Silliman

Our prized, locally grown product is our daughter Savannah. As with most parents, we decided when she was born that we would do our best to give her as healthy and fulfilling a life as possible. When we looked at what we have control over, the list is rather small. We determined that we could control what we choose to eat and so decided to grow our food, free of chemicals and pesticides and genetically modified ingredients.

Our small, 13 acre homestead is a reflection of that purpose. Not only do we grow food for Savannah and our family, but local people and friends started asking if we had "extra" that they could buy, If I remember correctly, it started with eggs. We gave some eggs to a friend and after seeing the gorgeous orange yolk and tasting the difference in an egg from a chicken that has been allowed access to clean grass, dirt and fresh air, they were hooked. The flock of chickens grew from five, to ten and up to over 100. Our poultry lives in our posture in movable huts that are constantly moved to fresh, clean grass. They come and go at their convenience. They aerate the pasture and fertilize it for us as thy go about their business being chickens. For their protection, we have their huts surrounded by electrical netting. Not only does it keep the hens in, it also keep predators out.

One of the products we really wanted for our family was pasture based dairy. We milked some goats for a while, and the responsibility of a dairy animal is daily and endless. I was frustrated with the goat milk and the fact that I could not separate the cream easily to make butter. We sold the goats and joined a local Cowshare. The milk was wonderful and the demand for the milk great. A year later, we bought our own Jersey cow and started our own Cowshare. We are now a Licensed Grade A daily with a processing license for RAW milk. We have expanded to 2 cows and have two heifer calves that were born here for future expansion. Our customers come from near and far for the wonderful milk that we package in wide-mouth, glass jars, so every family can skim off the thick cream and make butter if they choose.

We live with the seasons, planting in the spring, watching with excitement as each seedling pushes it way toward the sun or the hatching of each clutch of eggs and the birth of calves, the flowering of the fruit trees and the pollination by our bees. We weed and water all summer. The greatest sense of satisfaction is with the harvest in the fall. We stock our pantry, and fill the freezers to carry us through the winter. During the winter, we rest, renew and plan for the cycle that will start again in the spring. We feel privileged that we can be caretakers and stewards of the land and hopefully leave it in better shape than when we found it. Savannah is right in the middle of it all. Learning about care, compassion, responsibility and hard work as well as where food comes from. She is truly, locally grown.

Darlene Silliman lives with her husband Tom and daughter Savannah on their 13 acre farm MEADOWWOOD Organics. They run a micro-dairy with a farm store where they sell raw milk, cream, eggs, and produce. She can be reached at: tomdarsavy@gmail.com, 360-802-3845 pr visit www.meadowwoodorganics.com.

Originally published in Mindful Intent magazine, Fall 2008.