Too Many Ingredients

I wonder when the novelty of that involvedness will wear off and become a life of complicated work with diminishing return and too much competition.

FarmingJS PortOctober 2, 2023FarmingComment

The Annoying Student

I learned in school that it’s not cool to not understand.

Farming, LearningJS PortMay 1, 2023Farming, LearningComment

Artificial Intelligence

Machines like Marty have been my mental baseline for Artificial Intelligence (AI): Emphasis on “artificial” and disregard for “intelligence”.

Farming, Artificial IntelligenceJS PortApril 25, 2023Farming, Artificial Intelligence, Computers, BiologyComment

Animal Welfare

I’ve been asked to connect with a group of high school students on the subject of animal welfare.

FarmingJS PortMarch 24, 2023Farming, LivestockComment

Oh. Deer.

Farmers, commanding large tracts of land, can choose by way of practice to increase or decrease the living complexity for everyone around them.

Farming, WildlifeJS PortAugust 19, 2022Wildlife, FarmingComment

Primal Drive

What causes a person to deliberately reject comfort, to say “no” to the constant craving of luxury, and adopt a routine of discipline and physical distress?

Recreation, FarmingJS PortJuly 15, 2022Recreation, FarmingComment

Plastic Wrapped

Chemical companies can’t achieve this societal detachment by speaking directly to the people, so they advocate through less offensive mediums: clothing. Their camouflage tactics are remarkably effective.

Clothing, FarmingJS PortFebruary 10, 2022Clothes, FarmingComment

Deal With It

If we can get a handle on this one thing, nature will accomplish for free everything we’re failing to mitigate with technology, from air quality to water quality to quality of life.

Composting, Environmental Farming, Farm LifeJS PortNovember 26, 2021Farming, Community Agriculture, EnvironmentComment

The Seltzer Project

“Here we go again,” I thought. “Some faux do-gooder program like a cereal box that saves trees or a laundry detergent that saves the ocean.” Bah, humbug.

Then I researched the project and decided to stick the proverbial foot in my perpetually pessimistic mouth.

Water, FarmingJS PortJuly 7, 2021Water, Farming, Ecological PreservationComment

A Very Particular Eater

I like to deconstruct my meals. On the occasions that I’m dining alone at home, I consume foods in a circular pattern, one ingredient at a time, without sitting at a table. Instead of mixing a salad, I’ll select each vegetable I want and eat them separately.

Food, FarmingJS PortApril 6, 2021Eating, Farming, FoodComment

Why I farm, Part IV

Our physical bodily systems are constantly attempting to establish equilibrium with the outside environment via the food we consume.

Farming, Food, Why I FarmJS PortMarch 23, 2021Farming, Food, Community AgricultureComment

Why I Farm, Part III

If you’re thinking that beef grades are proof that people do understand beef quality, consider what it is that makes steak appealing. Is it just savory fat? Consistent texture? Reliable supply? No!

Beef, Farm Life, Why I FarmJS PortMarch 8, 2021Beef, Farming, Why I FarmComment

Why I Farm, Part I

My goodness, if that’s the whole philosophy backing sustenance production, then maybe we really are forever doomed to be on the brunt end of hick jokes passed around more urbane classes of society.

Farm Life, Farming, Local FoodJS PortFebruary 9, 2021Farming, Farm LifeComment

Frost

A glorious rebirthing of routines accompanies the changing seasons. As I walk the meadows, building fence and tending my herd of cattle, the looming adjustments make themselves known first as subtle hints, Nature’s way of reminding me that soon enough I won’t be doing what I always do. Described here are some of the markers.

FarmingJS PortOctober 2, 2020FarmingComment

We Love Local (as long as it isn't too close)

Here is the impending predicament: Expectations and reality are going to collide as local-food-loving families inherit land managed by farmers they claim to support.

Opportunity Bombs and 'Ah-Ha' Landmines

Here is my problem: nobody can do everything well. Plenty of people with a do-it-all-myself attitude accomplish a lot of tasks poorly.

Do you...

Do you…

- Possess a gleeful interest in restoring the landscape around Clarion?

- Submit to nature, accepting that natural laws of diversity, thriftiness, conservation, and wholeness are more important than on-demand inventory and next-day delivery?

Clarion PA, Destination Clarion, Farming, Food, Local FoodJS PortOctober 24, 2019Clarion FarmsFarming, Community, Destination Clarion, Clarion PAComment

Local beef solves global trade tensions.

Headlines mentioning what we all ‘need to know’ about various countries around the world clog up nearly every artery of agricultural media I encounter. The global publicity fits, I suppose, considering farmers today are told they need to be as proficient at world-wide economics as they are at fixing equipment with baler twine and a scrap of metal salvaged from the road ditch.

Are we fooled by efficiency?

Efficiency has become synonymous with convenience, and convenience is the impostor that’s distracting modern agriculture from honest effectiveness.

Convenience, Farming, Food, Grassfed, Local FoodJS PortJune 19, 2019Clarion Farms Beef BarnFarming, Grassfed Beef, Small Farm, Small BusinessComment

DIY

One doesn’t have to be too perspicacious when reading agricultural reports to realize that farmers are quite dependent on Washington for survival.