Fresh Food Abounds on a Six Acre Mississippi Farm

From the USDA:

Posted by Judi Craddock, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mississippi, on January 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM

Priscilla Williamson, NRCS supervisory district conservationist, (left), enjoys seeing all the varieties of tomatoes ripening in the newly constructed seasonal high tunnel.

Hattie Thompson has a heart for growing healthy food for her community thanks to the help of her new seasonal high tunnel.

“My mission is to network throughout the local community with other growers who might be interested in doing the same thing, and to teach children and mothers about nutrition,” said Thompson, who farms in Leake County, Mississippi.

After 50 years of city life in Wisconsin, Thompson and her husband moved to the country near Carthage, Mississippi, when they inherited some land 10 years ago. The small six-acre farm is landscaped with fruit trees and an abundance of beautiful flowers. Chickens, guineas and turkeys also call the farm home.

It was Thompson’s neighbors who told her about USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who could help her with conservation practices on her farm. When she visited with Priscilla Williamson, NRCS supervisory district conservationist, she learned about the agency’s Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

Seasonal high tunnels are plastic-covered structures that enable farmers to have crops ready earlier or later in the season. Plants are grown directly in the ground, and the sun’s heat regulates the temperature inside. High tunnels are a cornerstone of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates USDA’s work on local and regional food systems.

Thompson immediately realized that a high tunnel was a perfect fit for her small acreage farm. It would also fulfill her desire to produce healthy food. Working with Williamson, Thompson was approved to receive financial assistance through EQIP on a high tunnel and construction soon began. It was a family project with one of her five sons, Kevin, helping construct the high tunnel, also helping Thompson save some money.

Hattie Thompson of Carthage, Mississippi, shows the huge crop of string beans she produced in her new seasonal high tunnel on her small farm.

“She is a very energetic lady and one who gets things done quickly,” Williamson said.

An amazing variety of tomatoes, string beans, cucumbers, peppers, watermelons, squash and herbs are grown and ready for farmer’s markets, as well as the entire Thompson family. Pollinator-friendly plants, such as huge sunflowers, surround the tunnel helping to attract bees to aid in pollination.

“Using the high tunnel enables me to grow healthy food almost all year long,” Thompson said.

She does her own composting of chicken litter, wood chips and other organic material and uses it for fertilizing the naturally grown vegetables and fruits in the high tunnel. Through EQIP, a micro-irrigation system was also installed inside the high tunnel. This irrigation system allows water to be delivered near the roots of plants, ensuring water is used wisely.

“A lot of hard work goes into all this, but it’s worth it to give something to the community,” Thompson said.

Thompson planted rows of sunflowers and cut flowers along the outer edges of the high tunnel to serve as pollinators for all the plants inside.

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A South Carolina Small Farmer Makes Big Impact on the Land and in Local Community

From USDA:

Posted by Sabrenna Bryant, Natural Resources Conservation Service, South Carolina, on January 8, 2015 at 2:00 PM

Ann Pringle Washington enjoys growing a variety of fresh vegetables on her farm. NRCS photo by Sabrenna Bryant.

South Carolina small farmer and community leader Ann Pringle Washington wears many hats. Along with her husband Richard, they share a deep tie to the land on their 17-acre farm in Eastover and a true passion for improving the community where they live.

Ann’s desire to learn more about how to grow organic produce led her to attend outreach workshops hosted by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District. The district partners with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), to promote local and sustainable organic agriculture at workshops, including the assistance that NRCS can provide to growers.

Ann started working with NRCS District Conservationist Ajoa Harris to develop a conservation plan focused on improving the farm’s operations while taking care of natural resources. A conservation plan is a roadmap that integrates conservation practices that benefit the farm and the nearby environment, such as cleaner water and healthier soil.

In addition to receiving technical assistance from NRCS, Ann applied for a number of conservation practices through the agency’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Through the program, she was able to build a seasonal high tunnel and install an efficient irrigation system.

Seasonal high tunnels are plastic-covered structures that enable farmers to have crops ready earlier or later in the season. Plants are grown directly in the ground, and the sun’s heat regulates the temperature inside.

“This is going to allow us to have year round access to fresh produce,” Ann said.  “The structure will also give us the advantage and flexibility to work on the farm when we want to, even if the weather isn’t suitable.”

High tunnels are a cornerstone of USDA’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates USDA’s work on local and regional food systems. Since 2009, through NRCS, USDA has provided assistance to help producers construct over 13,000 high tunnels on farms around the country.

The drip micro-irrigation system will supply a steady, direct water source for the plants, while conserving water and preventing excess runoff.

The Washington family is enjoying the advantages of extending their growing season. They are growing many different crops including tomatoes, jalapeños, eggplant, spinach and arugula. Ann is a firm believer in conservation and taking care of the environment. The farm is fertilized primarily with compost which enriches the soil through the breakdown of organic matter.

“We believe in a naturalistic approach to farming, and we don’t use chemicals,” she said.

Ann’s vision also includes making her farm a place where children can be educated about the importance of growing and eating healthy, fresh food. As the volunteer president of the Eastover/Lower Richland Business Association, her aim is to educate her community through outreach events and hands-on education, while also spreading the word about conservation and the services that NRCS offers to the community.

“I love this farm because it is an indication of who we are and what we enjoy,” Ann said. “We believe in improving what we have and preserving something for the future.

The Washington's received cost‐share through EQIP to construct a seasonal high‐tunnel, giving them year‐round access to fresh produce. NRCS photo by Sabrenna Bryant.

The Poinsettia, in the Shadow of the Christmas Tree

From USDA:

Posted by Carolyn Miller, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Connecticut, on December 18, 2014 at 3:00 PM

The beautiful poinsettia stands as a decoration on its own. NRCS photo by Analia Bertucci.

The poinsettia – academic types may call it by its binomial name, and biologists might refer to its species. But how many of us are guilty of calling it that red flower with the pointy leaves used to decorate during the holidays?

In the world of holiday shrubbery, the poinsettia has always taken a backseat to the Christmas tree. With its lights and ornaments, the tree has become the icon of the holiday in contrast to the poinsettia, which is usually placed in a nearby corner.

Perhaps it’s because we don’t fully understand it. For example, did you know the color portion is not the flower? They aren’t petals, they’re leaves called bracts. The flower portion is actually that tiny button-shaped piece in the middle of the top.

Have you ever spent quality time with a poinsettia? I mean, really looked at the rich, deep green of the bottom leaves, the unique shape and layering of the bracts – that vibrant and full-on beauty of its intense coloring. Its flower may be small, but it is darned regal-looking surrounded by the brilliant hues of its foliage.

The poinsettia, native to Mexico and Central America, was introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. Minister to Mexico. Since then, the number of American poinsettia producers has grown. According to the Connecticut Greenhouse Grower’s Association’s Buyer’s Guide, the state has 17 poinsettia growers.

One of those is Grower Direct Farms of Somers, a family run wholesale greenhouse operation that produces annual and perennial ornamental plants. Owners Leonard and Elaine Van Wingerden are constantly striving to be on the forefront of leading edge technologies.

Several years ago, they noticed their electric bills climbing at an astronomical rate. One factor driving up those costs was the amount of heat required to grow poinsettias and other plants. The Van Wingerden’s knew they couldn’t continue status quo and stay in business, so they began looking for serious and effective ways to conserve and cut costs.

The Van Wingerden’s decided to take advantage of several USDA programs, including a conservation program offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS). The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, helps farmers and ranchers conserve natural resources while improving their operation.

Grower Direct Farms has worked with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in installing micro-irrigation watering systems in its farm’s greenhouses. NRCS photo by Analia Bertucci.

They worked with NRCS to complete an energy audit. And with financial assistance from NRCS, they installed a micro-irrigation system on four acres of land. A micro-irrigation system targets water to a plant’s root zone more efficiently and with less waste. They are also now in the process of installing insulation and solar curtains in the growing space to improve their operation’s energy efficiency.

With the help of NRCS and other USDA agencies, the Van Wingerden’s farm now grows acres of beautiful poinsettias in a more efficient way.

As for the holiday rivalry, the Christmas tree and poinsettia are beautiful and perfect examples of Mother Nature at her finest. But a poinsettia is a masterpiece with no need for extraneous adornment. It stands bright and shiny on its own.

Poinsettias being grown in Grower Direct Farms just in time for the holidays. NRCS photo by Analia Bertucci.

The Pham Family Farm, Immigrants Making a Good Life in Mississippi

From USDA:

Posted by Judi Craddock, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mississippi, on December 8, 2014 at 1:00 PM

Nancy and Hung Pham stand in front of one of their many fruit trees with branches so full they almost hit the ground. NRCS photo by Judi Craddock.

Just outside Hazlehurst, Mississippi, a community of 4,000 about 30 miles south of Jackson, lies a poultry farm owned by a Vietnamese farm family whose lives are an amazing story of survival and determination.

Hung and Nancy Pham are refugees who fled the former South Vietnam as teenagers in a shrimp boat during the fall of Saigon in 1975. They were rescued by the U.S. Navy and brought to America. Years after arriving in the United States, the two were reunited through family friends and soon married. Today, the Phams attribute their journey through hardships, their work ethic and positive attitude to the happiness and success they’ve enjoyed as poultry farmers.

“We spent most of our lives in the city after coming to America, but we have loved returning to a healthier, country lifestyle and taking care of the land,” Nancy said.

The Phams were living in Texas when they heard about an out-of-date 105-acre poultry farm for sale in Mississippi. Hung was already working on a poultry farm owned by a family member. After gaining some operational experience, attending poultry seminars and researching the industry, they bought the Mississippi farm in 2006.

“With the old chicken houses not up to modern standards, no compost to manage litter and so many repairs to be made, the place looked more like a junkyard than a farm and was in really bad shape,” Hung said.

A waste storage facility built last year is used to properly store poultry waste or litter. NRCS photo by Judi Craddock.

Luckily, some neighbors invited Hung to a local meeting where he heard about USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, as well as Farm Bill conservation programs. NRCS has played a vital role in providing technical assistance and guidance to the Phams in using and benefitting from the agency’s Environmental Quality Incentives Programs, or EQIP.

The Phams applied for and received financial assistance through EQIP and began implementing conservation practices on their farm. This included a waste storage facility, also known as a dry stack, which is used to properly store chicken waste or litter, and an animal mortality facility, which composts chicken carcasses to create organic fertilizer for pastureland and cropland.

At full capacity, the Phams can raise 200,000 chickens five times a year for a buyer, which provides the chicks, feed and medicinal requirements. The operational expenses are the Phams responsibility. Their poultry houses are built according to the buyer’s specifications. Every 58-65 days, the grown chickens are picked up, and new chicks delivered to the Phams.

With Hung being the handyman and Nancy keeping a close eye on their finances, they have turned the farm completely around, making it a successful family farm for themselves and their three children.

“The Phams are one of the best landowners and producers we have had the privilege of working with,” said Bill Russell, a supervisory district conservationist with NRCS, who helped the Phams apply for assistance. “They have readily taken every opportunity available from NRCS, plus invested so much of themselves to boost their productivity as well as become environmentally friendly.”

New, modern poultry houses on the Pham Farm. NRCS photo by Judi Craddock.