Market Farming

["Dori Green" <dorigreen00 AT hotmail.com>]

Wow, back to that "value added" thing.  People have become so disconnected 
from the source of their food that maybe every farm has to be an educational 
farm.

Certainly, some of our neighbors don't care that their dogs are killing 
wildlife and other people's pets.  But I like to think that most do care, 
and when it's pointed out to them that it's a problem they will re-think 
their habit of turning Fido loose without an escort.  My dogs go out loose 
but never without me being outside with them within sight, and I will not 
live with a dog who won't sit and come on command.  I also firmly believe 
that children must be similarly regulated in a civilized society (as most 
are not).  But there we go onto another topic entirely.

As a farm offering recreational access, I get a LOT of people showing up 
thinking that this will be a wonderful place to let their dog run loose.  I 
don't let the beast out of the car, not even on a leash.  I don't need its 
bugs and diseases transmitted to my working dogs.  I explain at my website 
and in my printed material that my livestock and their pets are all happier 
and safer when their pets stay at home.  A few people have taken offense, 
but most have not and have heeded this gentle imposition of rule.

And while I pay the bills and do all of the work, I get to make the rules.

I also have signs up at strategic locations:  "Dori doesn't mind your 
children.  You do!"  It was not funny when Mom and Dad went off for a walk 
through the wildlife refuge leaving the emotionally disturbed boy in the 
care of his 12-year-old sister in the garden and soon in the barn, 
unbeknownst to me.  The horse wasn't close enough to touch, so he picked up 
a stick.  This horse had been abused and horses being what they are she 
jumped onto the stick instead of away from it.  Mom and Dad were unemployed, 
so guess who got to pay the $300 vet bill.  The barn now has a sign 
"QUARANTINE!  DO NOT ENTER WITHOUT AN AUTHORIZED ESCORT!"  Sneaky, but it 
works.

I've also put up lots of snow fencing and _locked_ gates between the parking 
lot and the barn in preparation for summer visitors and farm events.  A 
simple little cable lock can usually be found at Dollar Stores.  If a 
fireman really needs to get through he's got the equipment to cut it 
quickly, but it put a fast stop to the neighborhood kid who thought it was 
funny to open my paddock gate when I went off for silly things like 
groceries or job interviews.

See, this is an educational farm -- I've learned a lot!

Dori Green
Ash Grove Community Farm & Center for Sustainable Living
Corning, NY

http://www.ic.org/agrove

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