Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), the inventor of dynamite, was a chemist, engineer, businessman and, most memorably, philanthropist; he was also a scholar, fluent in Russian, French, English and German. Above all, he loved poetry.
Farmer Tom is a one man-show, unless you count the dozens upon dozens of animals that are slowly transforming the rugged land through rotational grazing patterns, proving, in short, that many hooves make light work.
Feb. 2 marked the return to 10 hours of daylight; as a result, Johnson’s seed house is currently brimming with all varieties of microgreens that are lush, healthy and being consumed at a rapid clip at the myriad local restaurants for which she is the supplier.
“We don’t see as much agriculture here as you would in a different part of the country,” Sean Stanton explained; as a result, “you end up with people wondering why the cows are outside in the snow and not understanding how their systems work.”
The care and stewardship of an historic property offers a unique opportunity for area youth to glean lessons of the past as they develop ideas for a sustainable future.
“Our day is about collaborating — in particular the collaboration of farmers,” said Barbara Zheutlin, executive director of Berkshire Grown, to an impressive group of participants who gathered at Sky View Farm in Sheffield to kick off the day-long farm tour.
On May 1, Egremont followed Great Barrington and Williamstown in passing a resolution to protect bees and butterflies and a multitude of creatures that play a critical role in the ecosystem.
Farming at Climbing Tree is particularly labor-intensive given its hillside location, but there is a significant upside: the view. The farm looks out on a small lake, forests and the mountainous terrain of Massachusetts.
“There are a lot of people trying to do organic farming around here. This [resolution] is about protecting our local organic farmers. If you get GMO seed into your field, you’re done.”
-- Selectboard member Bill Cooke, who introduced a draft resolution intended to protect the integrity of organic farms and their produce.
Beginning with an aspect of the backstory of seed development seems fitting as the old year turns to the new and all of us have already or will soon choose seeds for our gardens and farms.
By helping to control the internal temperature of the greenhouse, plants that would otherwise remain dormant grow happily. The heated greenhouse also opens up a new category of plants that can tolerate darkness but not frost.
Stanton is not just a successful farmer. He credits his interest in serving on town boards to the model set by his parents, who have always taken into their home people who need help in various ways.
