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  • From: "Kathy Timperley" <KTimperley AT npsne.org>
  • To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] Here's a little more about Bluestem Farms
  • Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:08:37 -0600

Hello,

Since we're new to this list serve, and since I was asked, I thought I would
give you a few more details about our operation. We are in Northeast
Nebraska....zone 4b. Although we have had several dry years recently, this
year was an exception.....too much rain in April and May...almost none in the
summer and then 5 inches in October. Our normal rainfall is 25 inches per
year, and we were over that slightly. We have VERY sandy soil....several
inches deep. We bought the land, 160 acres, from my husband, Kim's, father
in 2000. It has been in the family since 1908. In the late 90's, it was
rented out and "stripped mined" by corporate farming operations....very
little fertility was left....EXCEPT for a one acre plot that had been a
bone-yard for rusted chunks of iron and ancient machinery parts, which had
not been touched by plow or chemical for at least 30 years. This is where
we created six garden plots, 40' by 120'. The plots are divided by hedge
rows of flowering shrubs, fruiting shrubs, tall grasses and flowers. These
hedge rows run east and west, creating windbreaks from the harsh prairie
winds; food, cover and nesting spots for beneficial birds and insects; and an
attraction for pollinators. We are trying, with varying degrees of success
to bring up the fertility in the rest of the farm to grow melons, squash,
pumpkins, and potatoes, as well as grass pastures for our small grass-fed
cattle herd.

We have had as many as 60 CSA customers...after a full page spread in our
local paper...but the last couple of years, we've had between 30-35
customers. We deliver to their doors for 22 weeks, starting in late May to
early June and finishing in Late October or early November...depending on the
weather. We run routes on two days...Monday and Thursday. We deliver in
white plastic milk crate style container. We got them at a discount store for
around $2.50 each. They look clean, wear like iron, stack in threes neatly,
have a flat spot for labeling customer name, address, phone, and subscription
info, and are easy to spot on a porch. We have two crates per customer, and
rotate them when we deliver. The last delivery is done in a paper grocery
sack, so there is no remaining crate to pick up later. We deliver free
within a twenty mile radius, and charge mileage for up to thirty miles
away...that's it. We want our service to be local, not regional.

We grow about 30 different annual vegetables and herbs as well as perennial
rhubarb, horseradish, oregano, and chives....no fruits as of yet. We are
thinking about honeyberries....looks like a wild blueberry. Has anyone grown
them commercially?

For fertility, we use one horse, seven sheep, thirty chickens and thirty
cow/calf pairs with varying degrees of success. We also use green manures
and Fertrell soil supplements. We are not certified organic, but we grow
according to organic regulations. We are thinking about get some limited
certification, but aren't sure about the cost and hassle involved.

That's all I can think of right now. If you have any further questions, I'd
be happy to answer any and all.

Thanks,

Kathy






  • [Market-farming] Here's a little more about Bluestem Farms, Kathy Timperley, 11/29/2007

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