Planting the seed

I remember when my wife Allyn first started gardening in 2003. I was convinced that it was as easy as sticking some seeds in the ground, watering, and harvesting. We have both learned that those are all critical elements of growing food, but these do not include the minutiae of details one has to manage to make the magic happen. Apparently this also applies to starting a business that tries to grow food for money- the farm.

Last year we rented land from the Jubilee Farm, who graciously hosted us, and I thought that after having one year under my belt that finding more land would be easier. My first attempts to locate more soil have been through Farm Link, and I am finding that most of the Carnation area land-sharing opportunities are dated and no longer available. Having said this, I am seeing the first time the importance of being active within a farming community rather that commuting to forty miles to Fall City and extracting what I need for business. If I do find land, it will only be through forging more friendships and becoming a member of Snoqualmie Valley Tilth because nothing happens in a vacuum.

I sincerely hope that I figure this out within the next few weeks as I need to get fliers for our fledgling CSA on the streets, seed ordered, and a farmer's market stand built if I am going to be successful this year. How does one measure agricultural success? I'll be successful if I build one or two more meaningful friendships as I did this year. ...and break even.