Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

And more supporting detail at 
http://www.kurtwoodfarms.com/kurtwoodfarms/About.html

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 1/31/2011 at 6:53 AM Tradingpost wrote:

>Whoa. If you can't express your views without personal attacks you will
>not be welcome on this list. As for all the rest, his attitude toward
>customers and the competition, and his admission that he gave up on the
>market after only one year leaves plenty of room to question his honesty
>and his version of things. And even on his website it's clear he kept his
>job in town until much later. Down to earth guy? With enough of daddy's
>elitist money to go to school in Paris, throw that all away, start a
>business and buy land on that island? You can take the guy at face value
>if it suits you and you can disagree with other list members but you
>better quit making it personal.
>
>IMHO I think it was 90% fiction to begin with.
>
>paul tradingpost@lobo.net
>
>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>
>On 1/31/2011 at 6:53 AM Tameson O'Brien wrote:
>
>>Actually, I'm about 2/3 the way through this book and frankly I don't
>>think
>>he deserves all this bashing from you. If you had read the book you would
>>know that he did in fact quit his day job. He learned everything the hard
>>way just like you and me. And that he's a real down to earth guy who tells
>>the story without glossing over the rough bits and kept a good attitude
>>about. Why don't you go read the book Nonna? And then you can make an
>>informed criticism.
>>
>>
>>
>>Tameson
>>
>>
>>
>>From: livingontheland-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
>>[mailto:livingontheland-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Simply
>>nonna
>>Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 3:15 AM
>>To: Healthy soil and sustainable growing
>>Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] farmer?
>>
>>
>>
>>(This is his own bio page)
>>http://www.kurtwoodfarms.com/kurtwoodfarms/About.html
>>"Kurt Timmermeister was born in 1962 in the heart of Seattle, no where
>near
>>farm country.  Anticipating working in foreign service, he graduated from
>>the American College in Paris with a degree in International Affairs.
>>While
>>in Paris he realized his love of food and restaurants far surpassed his
>>affinity for government work and he returned to Seattle to begin a career
>>in
>>food service."
>>
>>===========
>>
>>Let's see-he "bought" 12 acres on an island apparently never having
>>"farmed"
>>before ($$$), and I somehow doubt there are any "farmers" in his family.
>>Yeah,you'll get far in farming with a degree in International Affairs from
>>the American College in Paris. Sounds like his folks had money.He must
>>really be a "foodie" with an underground cheese cave. Another good PR
>piece
>>for publicity....
>>I've heard this before ("how hard can growing be-I dun went to college)
>>First he tried to sell "vegetables" and discovered u actually need to find
>>a
>>"niche" and maybe even actually know your product. What KIND of tomato is
>>this?
>>Of course,good thing he didn't give up his day job as a "cook "(or
>>dishwasher) and that first foray showed him he needed a "hook" .Doesn't
>>exactly seem like he's another Mario Batalli.(from Seattle too).
>>"Early tomatoes cost a lot of $$$$ to grow "(well are u growing them 2B
>>early or for taste?) If you don't have a good product (or know how to
>grow)
>>people will buy once and never come back. The key is in relationships and
>>how you treat people.
>>Was the land even suitable for growing anything or did it have a nice
>>view?"The farm began as four acres of overgrown blackberry brambles with
>>rusted out cars and cast off junk hidden beneath the canopy of weeds."
>>Apparently he complains how "chummy" customers want to be??Excuse me,
>>that's
>>called people skills and that negative attitude seems to show his disdain
>>for the customer-what did u expect that people are going to hand over
>money
>>2U because you're a nice guy or your daddy is "somebody"?There are those
>>who
>>only seem to respect abuse or grew up that way.
>>He then quit dairy because of " the attention I gave to both the state and
>>to my customers"'(Notice a pattern here?) Maybe an attitude problem?Sounds
>>like a spoiled rich kid, ya think?
>>Then he left his city job as a "chef" and started teaching "foodies" yet
>he
>>has "has little patience for overly precious foodies"Meanwhile he acts
>like
>>the very foodies he reviles by claiming " The American love of olive oil,
>>he
>>theorizes, boils down to culture envy."? Envy-sounds like he may be a
>>little
>>bitter since he can't grow it and capitalize on the craze. Meanwhile he
>>ignores all the health benefits of olive oil. Or maybe he doesn't
>>know:?Sour
>>grapes...He did live in Paris for many years though.
>>Serving only "local" is another hook. No man is an island-altho he may
>live
>>on one. This person seems completely absurd. All down through time (when
>>people had a lot more local availability) they still stocked spices and
>>other items which were necessary, but weren't locally available.
>>Sugar,salt,tea,etc became important trading commodities. That doesn't mean
>>they did without, and they couldn't go to their local WallyWorld
>>ChinaMart.
>>I'm sure he's sitting back having a banana and a Starbucks trenta latte
>>,and
>>abusing those who put up with him,while patting himself on the back for
>>being so "local". Or maybe it was a hatchet job by WSJ? I'd much rather
>>hear
>>him talk about bloat, since he seems to have vast experience in "bloat".
>Or
>>is it gloat? I get rather tired of these publicity pieces that have an
>>agenda. Kinda like I'm getting tired of all the CSA hype around (since
>it's
>>sign up time).Follow the money.
>>Thanks for sharing it Ken. A real eye-opener.
>>
>>nonna
>>
>>On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 8:21 AM, Ken Hargesheimer <minifarms2@yahoo.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>The Dismaying Facts of a Farmer's Market
>>
>
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