Author: Brooke Lucy

Before full dawn flycatchers, robins, and blue grouse are already awake voicing their day’s agenda to a world otherwise asleep. Not that Nature ever fully sleeps, but the idea of sleep permeates the darkest hour just before dawn. Birds you say…? Yes! I’ve never had so many responses than from those of you wanting me to keep birds in the opening of these Notes. I am flattered and thus, will keep birds safe here as I have all these past years. And what better month than April to delight in their arrival! Juncos, finches, meadowlarks; robins, phoebes and the brilliant mountain bluebirds. Just yesterday I saw the bright blue from a flock of males flitting about similarly colored bluebells that are popping up throughout the just-greening shrub steppe. No joke, April is the month of coming alive. No joke, on the 1st we got our obligatory snow squall to remind us Spring is a slow process here in the foothills!

As I mentioned in my March notes, this spring we are seeing a major recharge of the valley aquifer due in large to last fall’s constant rains upon unfrozen soil. All the seasonal potholes are brimming while freshets pour off the hillsides and down through various coulees dispute the valley’s meager snow pack this past winter. As I say, Nature never sleeps. April arrived not just with a little snow, but also on the cusp of the full Pink Moon. This month should be very fun to watch unfold indeed.

Thoughts of farming come to mind as soils begin to warm and the biology within comes to life. Living soils nurture food for life and that is what we are about here at Bluebird. I will be taking soil samples here shortly, to ascertain how we are doing with our cropping systems insofar as nutrient levels; however, one can tell a lot about the soil’s biology by just feeling the soil. Healthy soils have a softened texture and aren’t clotted but should adhere together with integrity once squeezed. Walking across a field one should feel bounce or lift to pliant soil, and one’s footprint should not be too pronounced. This in part is from leaving a certain amount of “litter” on the soil, otherwise known as “residue”. Organic farming is big on leaving plenty of litter to protect the soil. In true min-till regenerative farming, standing straw is common-place as we have discussed. This protects the soils, and one should easily be able to step on a probe, or shovel when sampling and need no extra effort to push right in.

Of the things discussed at last month’s Cornell Organic Field Crops conference, tilth was not mentioned much. I found this interesting, though not too surprising. I did mention biology and tilth in my talk, however, trial results from various cropping systems performed by Cornell were measured largely by volume. This seems to be the leading goal of all cropping these days – certainly in non-organic farming but in organic, as well – yield. Price per bushel still leads the way for how a crop fits in rotation. This is real. However, some crops may not give the yield one hopes for, but may add other values to the whole. Ancient wheats, I was quick to point out, are one such crop. Under many circumstances the einkorn and emmer simply will not yield as high as more modern wheat will, yet they have other traits no longer found in wheat. First, they are a far more nutritious whole food. Second they will mine minerals from the field that more modern crops miss. Third, they add agronomic value in Regen/Organic systems that want as much biomass out there as possible since they grow so much taller than modern wheat. Also there is the allopathic compound. What can be seen as a bane to many farmers, is a boost to organic farmers trying to build biology. We come full circle here.

Please do not mis-read me; if we have good biology in our soils, and if we have nutrient balance higher yields will be realized regardless of the crop. What’s more, higher nutrient value in the crop will be realized most of all. And that dear reader, is what we are after at Bluebird Grain Farms. Superior nutrition.

There were some good parts of the conference and I was glad I was included. Cornell has some of the longer running organic field trials of any of the universities. I met a lot of folks I’d not met before. That is always a joy, particularly to see a new “crop” of farmers interested in organic agriculture. I was most fortunate to connect with an old friend Jay Goldmark from here in the Okanogan. Jay Goldmark grew up part of a wheat producing family on the Okanogan plateau and once grew a little organic wheat for Bluebird. He has since moved to New York state with his own family and runs a large organic feed production/processing facility Stone House Grain. There are too many highlights to mention from the weekend with Jay and his family, not least was a wonderful, impromptu evening at Levon Helm Studios next door in Woodstock where that very weekend one of the Midnight Ramble performances was taking place. Levon had started these some years ago in effort to pay for his cancer treatments. Levon is long gone but his daughter Amy introduced the show and what followed was some of the finest live music from the 16 – piece accomplished band which included Levon’s own grandson on drums! So what does this have to do with Farming? Look up the album “Dirt Farmer” that Levon and company recorded after a 22 year sabbatical since his last Band album. Followed next by “Electric Dirt – both recorded right there in that barn studio, with cover footage from a nearby farm.

Speaking of art, those of you who enjoy the ramblings from yours truly – we still have a few copies of my latest book “Colors” available from our web store. The opening piece is a poem titled Earth Day and it is a fair lead right into April as the waters’ rise.

Earth Day is every day on my calendar. “Officially” it is this coming 22nd. I encourage you all to give our Mother some extra love on this day, and at least a kiss on all others.

Cheers to Spring!

Farmer Sam

Reasons I often begin my Farmer Notes with birds: Birds add cheer. Birds can tell the season. Most people like birds. Birds seldom talk back and when they do it is worth listening to. If any of you readers would like me to change this format, please let me know. Otherwise, know that a new chorus of bird-song has begun out the kitchen door as first-sun floods the white hills, warms the south porch, and has a variety of new birds all tuned up about the day. These include nuthatches, juncos, finches, grosbeaks, chickadees, and I saw the first robin yesterday in the elderberry bush despite the dumping snow! Twice now a pair of bald eagles have swooped up and landed atop the big fir on our north slope. I could go on…

But let’s get to farming and organic grains and the floundering Farm Bill and all this other stuff because March is here! The wonderful and wild month that mixes up the hard and the soft, the warm and the cold, the still and blustery. As with November, it is often a month I feel goes unloved by some. This winter has seemed much like March the entire time and so perhaps that was a little overdone as we’ve had no real cold, nor any real warmth and day after day of gray skies. I admit this grew wearing, but it also makes one joyed all the more when the sunny days popped. Now, ample sun ushers in March and the changes have begun. As well, we have the early month full “Worm Moon” on the 3rd so that should perk up all the unground wageless workers so critical to our soils – full lunar eclipse notwithstanding.

Many, many years ago I once planted grain here in late March, albeit in the lower valley. It was spring rye and on a sandy 10 acres next to the river and it was predominantly to out-compete a bunch of old-growth thistle. There was just enough moisture to get it germinated, and it hardly rained a drop all spring but by late June that rye was 6 feet tall (see photo above)! This was one of my earliest love-affair with cereal grains that, ultimately, led me to beginning Bluebird. I do not believe I’ve planted any grains that early since, but it was a testament to the resilience and power of old cereals.

Photo of Sam Lucy standing in front of his six foot Rye crop, 2014.

Then came the emmer and, well, the rest as they say is history.

To be sure, this spring we will have as much ground moisture as I can ever recall; the complete opposite of that spring so long ago. All the fall rain and unfrozen ground has set up a deep moisture profile in our soils – several feet deep. As well, snow is far from finished falling in the mountains setting up ample water supply here in the North Cascades. Am I anxious for spring? Not exactly. As I age, I do not wish ahead for anything as much as I may have in the past, and I love winter but it is going to be a fun spring and by the end of March we will know just how fun.

We’ve been having a lot of fun here at Bluebird Grain farms, and the first 2 months of the year have been busy. With the overall agricultural sector in dire straits again this year, we are grateful for all of our loyal customers and the growing number of folks dedicated to healthy, good tasting food. To this regard, we are receiving an increasing number of inquiries about glyphosate. Are our grains glyphosate free?

Why glyphosate? Many of you know this is a main ingredient in Monsanto’s trademarked herbicide Roundup. Many of you also know there has been a lot of press about Roundup these past years, and part of that press is about the long-line of lawsuits against Bayer Crop Sciences now, since Bayer bought out Monsanto just prior to most of these suits. It is wildly confusing. These suits have been through a gamut of courts and there have been a lot of ruled settlements and a lot of unruled settlements and just days after Bayer’s proposed $7.25 billion settlement, our fearless leader in the White House declared increased glyphosate production as an urgent and national mandate!

What exactly is glyphosate? It is a chelating agent that binds macro and micronutrients essential for many plant processes. In other words, it kills plants by tying up all the goodies. There is strong evidence now that it has been so widely used in the past 50 years, it is throughout our entire food system, much like “forever chemicals.” So folks are taking note. Under the organic label herbicides are banned. However, residual amounts of past use can be present. In case you are curious, yes, you can march right into your local hardware store and still buy Roundup over the counter. Speaking of birds…

We’ve never used RoundUp here at Bluebird, of course, nor have our growers- or any other chemical input for that matter. As for the rest of the Farm Bill – it is a mess. The MAHA movement is at odds with Big Ag, both sides of the isles cave in on different things, tariff talk flies around and 46% more farms went out of business in 2025 than the previous year. What is there not to like? Almost all of it. As I remind you readers during this tax season, all this rhetoric is real and it comes from your taxes. For some fun reading, look up the current Farm Bill and where it stands, and how long it has been since we passed a new one.

On a lighter note, there goes a red-winged black-bird! And by the end of the month, Spring will “officially” be on the calendar. While some of you are reading these notes, I will be on my way to Waterloo, New York as one of the guest speakers at Cornell University’s Organic Field Crops Conference. I will give a report in April Notes. Stay tuned!

And be well, Your Farmer, Sam

It stands to reason that what I’ve always considered one of the longest months is followed by the shortest. Hello February. Some years it could be spelled more appropriately as “Feburrary”. Last year, our coldest temps were in February and I recall other years we received a fair bit of snow. However, I will be surprised if that is the case this year. Maybe the cold, but our big moisture cycle beginning back in October 025’ lasted up to the first of this year, and now has cycled out. I am grateful for all the moisture we did pick up, as our snow pack on the valley floor remains quite thin.

As to the long month of January: Goodbye. It seemed plenty long this year as clear days were few, fog and gray skies dominated while hardly a snowflake fell. Despite the gray days and some chilly temperatures at times, the silence of a frozen landscape in of itself held beauty. Frosted trees; bitterbrush and sage coated in a rhime made them less skeletal looking and more alive. Deer could be first noticed by their crunching footsteps before actually catching sight of them. Our Labrador Clyde loved rolling in the snow at the top of our hill here, then sliding all the way to the bottom on solid crust. Finches pilfer the feeder, and chickadees take a second seat. Here from the afternoon table, I notice our first nuthatch atop the elderberry. Owls speak before dawn and coyotes sanctify twilight. On my evening walk last, I wondered how a landscape so quiet and chilled could be so noisy!

February – being short to March – has always been a month when thoughts turn to farming as daylight grows. Our production rotation is being worked out for another season which fits into the following season, and the seasons after that. Larger the rotations are, the richer the soils stay and the denser our grains become. With last year’s red wheat testing 16 percent protein, emmer 17.5, and our einkorn testing almost 22, Bluebird quality grains certainly add nutritious punch to your menu. Each year we challenge ourselves to hit a higher notch above the last, and this tells us how our soils are balancing out. Mineral balance in the soil equivalates to that balance in our grains and flours.

Speaking of, here at the Farm our mill has been humming with fresh batches of grains and flours being turned out weekly. Thus, the ship-out door has been busy as well. Some might agree there is a lot of uncertainty floating around these days, and at times it is hard to know what is true. Rest assured that we have a great supply of all our Bluebird products, and we remain consistent with quality and delivery. Our crew here, both new and seasoned, is jiving right along. I have spent a fair amount of time the past couple weeks on the fulfillment floor and time flies right by! Thank you one and all for continuing to buy our products.

With the gathering daylight comes a little better chance of spending more time outside each day. I always try to get at least a walk in with the dogs, and on the best days an early morning or evening ski. Although our snowpack is paltry, the ski trails have been good and as long as you put on creeper chains for your boots, the walking isn’t bad either. These are my times for reflection and time to remember how fortunate we are that Bluebird has grown over 20 years, and Brooke and I remain still such a part of it. One of the biggest joys for me is talking to and meeting customers. Please stop by. If I’m not there one of our staff is always happy to help.

Soon after I moved to the Methow in the early 1990’s I met a gal named Wanda Myers. We became good pals. Wanda had grown up here on a homestead on a country road with a 10 acre apple orchard behind her parent’s place. After high school she went to work for a while as a back-country Forest Service and trail crew. She showed me a lot about this beautiful valley I’ve since called home. Wanda passed to the other side early in January, after many years of staying just ahead of a nasty cancer. On what would be our last walk together around Thanksgiving, we stopped and sat on the banks of Methow River not far from her place. We watched the water ouzels play about the rocks with their suction-cup feet. We saw the last of the salmon come to spawn. A pair of bald eagles sat awaiting. We listened then, almost in unison, we mentioned how we loved this place more all the time and could never possibly take it for granted. Because Wanda loved this place, and loved her life so much it is all the harder to say goodbye. However, she never quit on the moment, and enjoyed each one as if it were the last. I am grateful to know this truth. Peace, my friend.

And peace to all of you. Enjoy February, because March comes next and one never knows how the shifty moods of March will play out!

Yours,

Farmer Sam

I begin these first-of-the-New Year notes on the cusp of the full Wolf Moon. How can one not love that name? As we strolled up the driveway last night with the stars still vibrant despite the growing brightness, the only sounds were that of an owl and a chorus of coyotes. Although not the howl of wolves, a couple weeks earlier when daughter Mariah and I went hiking for a Christmas tree not far from our place, there in the fresh snow to greet us was a heavy, solitary line of wolf tracks. To be outside at night under the waxing Wolf Moon knowing there are indeed wolves nearby sanctifies the mood of January for me. What’s more, it fills me with an inner glow of hope.

Then there are all the finches new to the feeder, and juncos, chickadees, nuthatches and quail scattered beneath. Following a truly torrential month of December for most here in the Northwest, we ended, finally, with some cold and snow – enough to whiten the hills and change the atmosphere just in time for the holiday season. We feel grateful, and so enjoyed this time as I hope many of you did, also.

2025 was another interesting year. Given a myriad of uncertainties – economic and otherwise – Bluebird Grain Farms continued to hold its own. In the final quarter of 2025 we engaged with a fair amount of prep work for expanded growth in 2026. Aside from securing the winters’ on-site inventory of our high quality organic grains, travel plans were set for trade shows, speaking engagements, marketing material and such. As things tighten, 2026 is going to be a year I believe where many of us are going to make more choices of value and really make decisions based on those values. Food comes to mind.

There has been much rhetoric this past year about health initiatives and such, and federal funding of $700 million has been promised for a “Regenerative Pilot Program”. This includes helping farms make the switch to more soil friendly, and soil building farming practices. Most of these funds will be channeled through existing programs like the NRCS and other branches of the USDA. I am very interested to see how all this actually plays out.

Having the good fortune to already work with one of the premiere Regenerative certified farms in the country, we have seen first hand the eventual benefits of dedicated Regenerative practices. Without question this is how we hope the world farms one day. It would reduce the landmass needed as crop volumes gradually increase. It will cut way back on carbon emissions: Minimized soil disturbance; minimal crop inputs; more nutritious food; less waste all contributing factors in this. Twenty-five percent of the world’s carbon emissions are generated by agriculture. True Regenerative farm practices would reduce this significantly. I hope these funds go to those that want to make the change for generations, and not just dip into a short-term money pool. We need the next generations of farmers to embrace true Regenerative farming.

Meanwhile, we plan to keep chugging right along here at Bluebird Grains doing what we set out to do 20 + years ago and continue to practice daily and that is to inspire change, and offer up the highest quality whole grains and whole grain flours milled to order. Authenticity is not guaranteed by a label. Bluebird carries a lot of labels, too! Rengentified, Organic, Kosher, Whole Grains, SQF… just to name a few. And while we go through all of these annual inspections and pay the subsequent fees, it is our original story that we lean on the most and want to make sure all of our customers remain confident in. Being pioneers in the small-mill/local grain movement, and first in the ancient wheat movement, here at Bluebird we aim to always stay true. Fear not! We’ve no intention of deviating.

So… Here is to 2026! Most of all, here is to your health. We want to continue our role in promoting good food for all people. My New Year’s resolution is to work to get more whole and nutritious foods into our schools and health care institutions. Please reach out of you have any creative collaborations you want us to entertain. We value local direct connections the most.

Cheers,

Your farmer, Sam

That fast, we are into the final month of yet another year! The full “Cold Moon” is scarcely in the rearview mirror as you dear readers read this. The winter Solstice is not far ahead and if one listens close distant bells can be heard. Such is the sanctity of the short daylight. Such is the grace of the Christmas season. No better bird signifies this than the cheery black-capped chickadee, whose voice the feeling of winter seems to cling to. As the year’s darkest month deepens, the chickadee’s notes seem to grow more urgent, reminding us to remember the light. Amen.

Of course a little bright snow doesn’t hurt. So far this year, very little. November couldn’t have been nicer and I am reluctant to let go of its gray days, abundant, beautiful rains, and sodden country lanes. Just what this farmer had hoped for and to be sure, this year November delivered. The day before Thanksgiving the moisture turned white here in the Valley for the first time. This may be later than many years, but it is okay with me. That deep soaking is now covered, insulated, and well preserved for spring and the fields all tucked in. Thank you, Mother. The real snow may now cometh.

Bluebird had a busy November and we anticipate a bustling December as the holiday season is often true to form. We can not wait to help any shoppers out with gifts, and we love to spread good cheer with our fresh flours and grains that are used in all sorts of holiday meals. We are building our popular gift boxes and we already are shipping some. Get your orders in!

Last year my second book “Colors” was just coming off the press around Christmas time. I can’t remember if it was available on our website then or not, but for those of you who enjoy the style of these Farmer Notes, “Colors” is my latest collection of poems and stories that might make an entertaining present. I am told I do not “push my stuff” enough, so there ya’ go. Glad to get that over with!

On a little less smiley note the various struggles of the country’s farm economy continue. One thing news sources talk about is the climbing costs of Farm chemicals. When we are dealing with finite resources – all the ingredients that make up the wide swath of herbicides and fertilizers that current farm systems seem to be chained to – it is hard to imagine these costs ever going down. Add on tariffs of varying sorts and consistency, and the stage is set for drama, if not disaster. Many “family farms” simply can no longer hang on. Even some much bigger farms, and certainly farm suppliers (read Bayer; Cargill) are shuttering parts of their business or, “restructuring”. One thing you readers may not hear mentioned on news channels, or piled onto the concern table is: The widespread degradation of our country’s soils. In many cases, this is due to the list above. So long as we as a nation continue to prop up, and support these high chemical input systems that degrade the nation’s soils, this treadmill is unlikely to change and more and more producers are going to be forced off the cliff. “Profit” by filing paperwork is no farmer’s dream.

How about Farm subsidies for those who want to build back the soil! And sequester carbon, rather than pump it into the atmosphere through chemical manufacturing and use. I sure hope to live to see the day this sort of tax-support becomes mainstream.

Meanwhile, there are some farms and farmers who have already re-set their systems and whose main focus is soil health and always has been. We are fortunate to have concentrated on that all along, and now work with a couple other farms who have been in this game just as long. Rest assured, from these soils come your Bluebird goods. Unsubsidized, unpolluted, always fresh and tasty. We are indeed fortunate. And we give thanks for this every season of the year, not just during the holidays. As well, we are grateful to all of you customers: New, old, near and far. This holiday season I raise a toast to all of you. And as always, encourage all to lend a hand to those much less fortunate. See ya’ next year –

Cheers,

Farmer Sam

Join us & Special Guests Saturday, Dec 13 | 10 AM – 2 PM

Bluebird Grain Farms is hosting our Annual Holiday Open House and Granary Tour. We will feature fresh-milled flours, ancient grains, grain samples, and holiday gift boxes. You can also enjoy sampling and tasting from regional producers. Granary Tour: 10–11 AM (arrive by 9:45 / free, please fill out this form for the free tour.

Meet, purchase and sample from:

Lagrioth Winery (Manson) – Wine tasting
@chelanvalleyfarms A small family-run farm and winery built from the ground up – no big investors, just our own hands and a lot of heart. Lagrioth farms differently: their grapes are grown organically and grown under Salmon-Safe and Sustainable WA standards, and their wines are crafted with a modern, thoughtful touch that reflects our land and the way we work.
Willowbrook Farm (Carlton) – Seasonal foods & krauts
@willowbrookorganics High-vibe, nutrient dense, certified organic produce and cultured foods grown with Love in the beautiful Methow Valley.
Creative Koji (Twisp) – Fresh miso sauces & sampling
@creativekoji Dedicated to crafting artisanal miso products using locally grown and organically sourced ingredients. We combine traditional techniques with innovative local flavors, offering consumers high quality, non traditional miso options that celebrate the region’s diverse culinary heritage.

Shop and sample Bluebird ancient grains and Fresh milled flours —while meeting exceptional regional farmers and makers behind your food. This is a great opportunity to support local producers. You can also stock up on meaningful holiday gifts. We need you now more than ever.

“See how upon bare twigs they lie,

Raindrops, lately of the sky – “

So begins the autumn poem After Rain by Rachel Field. It sets the tone for the mighty month of November very well. A month sometimes left unloved by many; November is one I love the most. And rain we have had! Perfect and pure; unabashed and soothing to the once parched countryside. I have mentioned before how Mother Nature always seems to even things out, and fall rains before the snow is a recipe for moisture recharge that will be most noticeable come spring. The mountains themselves are already filling with snow which will soon be here in the Valley for keeps. Amen.

As I tap these keys chickadees bounce about the aspen limbs that droop with their load of orange leaves not-quite shed. The woodstove crackles, and snow flakes now intermix with the rain. Robins rejoice in the easy pickings from the lawn, but their time is drawing short. Ravens caw about during weather breaks; coyotes sing before dark; owls hoot sanctifying the cooling, and much faster falling evening time than a month ago. One day sodden skies, the next sharp and brilliant with gathering afternoon shadows catching up in hillside coulees, and casting across golden grasses. One can fairly hear the land sigh in relief after the business of summer. How can one not relish in this month of November?

October stayed dry and mild and beautiful throughout the first couple weeks. This enabled me to do a bit of fall field work, including some deeper undercutting (chisel plow) on the home field where we have a few perennial grasses encroaching after years of minimal cultivation. Given a window of late dry weather – not likely at this viewing – I will pack down the plow ridges and try to get the field as prepped now and with this fall moisture, for next spring’s early crop. The minimal amount of spring disturbance, the better for moisture retention and the less apt I am to stir up weed-seeds I don’t want. My fall soil tests are showing balanced minerals, and good levels of available nitrogen due to the heavy cover cropping.

As has become an annual fall pilgrimage of sorts, last month I set off for the northern prairies with our Labrador Clyde riding along. First along the various rivers of Montana, and then into North Dakota. I love North Dakota; I love the prairie fall. Good news for me, our partner and long time, well established organic and regenerative farmers the Schmaltz family happen to be my destination. Year-long I look forward to this trip and this year was no disappointment as Blaine, Suzie and family welcomed us as always, and we spent a few days talking about farming, walking the land for pheasants, and taking to heart the whole ecosystem and wildlife sanctuary they have created through their farming practices. Good stuff. Their farming not only has made the wildlife happy, but the integrity of their harvests is rivaled by few as their lands now work for themselves keeping in balance. We are fortunate to have such great farming partners and friends! What they have achieved is a testament to the generational dedication to the land, and a stalwart work ethic that doesn’t always exclude some fun and games at times. In regenerative farming, regeneration of all energy is a critical part, not the least of which is human energy and zest.

The quality of these grains shows when we go to hull and clean them, and then when we mill them into flour and ultimately show up on your plates! From the vast wide open, to your cozy little homes, restaurants, and schools you can trust the organic and regenerative certification labels that come with Bluebird products. This is a food system that is secure and consistent and healthy. Elsewhere throughout the American “bread basket” maybe not so much.

It may not surprise some of you but it was commonplace to see mounds of soybeans, some corn and wheat surrounding various elevators. Tariffs anyone? A cruel irony here is the fact many of these “independent growers” are not so. Tied to the realities and whims of a global market, in many cases tied to the banks, many of these subsidized growers are stuck in a bad spot. Does it break my heart to know there may not be near as many GMO crops flooding the delicate prairies lands come spring? No. Does it break my heart to see families under such duress – some of it rather sudden? Of course. Would I rather see our government take this opportunity to begin subsidizing healthy crops taken from healthy, biological soils? Absolutely. Now is the time to double down on our domestic food systems, and make sure this supply feeds everyone in this country first of all. We can do this. While doing this, we may find we do not need near the sheer volume of some crops, but might instead enjoy a greater variety. Yumm.

Which brings us back to our farm tucked away up here in the growing-cold foothills of the North Cascades. We are doing what we do 5 days a week, year round and welcome you to drop by our small but vibrant entrance store. Our staff is awesome, and we will be sure and get you what you need whether at our door, through the various stores we sell into, or on the web. Times are spooky, but let’s not give up the ghost just yet. Food security is vital to society. This has always been.

Gather round, give thanks to our Mother Earth, and be kind to one another and in particular, those who may be in more need.

Yours, Farmer Sam

The slightest taste of autumn reaches here as we enter the golden month of October. Following a September of continuous warm weather, some smoke and no moisture, October arrives with cooler days and nights trailing our first trace of rain. There’s yet to be a frost but my guess is that will change before long. I’ve heard a couple flights of sandhill cranes high overhead on their way south and the hummingbirds have finally left, along with the meadowlarks, poorwill, and bluebirds. Hawks of all sorts abound, as do gathering robins while chickadees have moved back in. When I went onto the south porch for coffee this morning, a great horned owl flushed from a nearby fencepost and into the pre-dawn darkness. That gave me pause… before taking my usual seat to take in the stars – Orion the Hunter front and center in the southern sky.

Soon, we will have the full Harvest Moon – delayed a bit this year as mentioned in my last notes. Our grains are all harvested but up here at the house we remain busy picking apples and pears and will soon dig up our round, large spuds. Elsewhere, corn harvest is full on, and farms that grow later harvested crops such as sunflower will be harvesting month-long. Each year, I am more amazed at the bounty Mother Earth continues to give us, when she has absolutely no obligation to do so whatsoever!

The extension of the Farm Bill, under the “BBB”, has guaranteed many farmers across the nation status quo with continued crop protection programs and price support that comes out of our tax base to the tune of 70+ billion annually. Corn, soy and wheat are the big winners here. This year, however, soy is a big loser… Tariffs anyone? Storage is filling up fast with America’s love-affair for soybean production because of a dead market: Read China. Trains lay silent across the prairies as elevators plug up with crops. This is another example of the interesting, if not unaffordable farm cycle we have here in North America.

Meanwhile Willie, John, and Neil just finished the 40th annual concert of Farm Aid last month, wherein they alone have raised $85 million over this span for family farms across the nation. Chump-change compared to the Farm Bill, yet this is all through charity! And the goodwill of people by choice – people with a voice. This is a complete and different dynamic and perhaps one more easy to love than mandated tax support. We had the good fortune of seeing Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts live last month down in Oregon. It was both enlightening and somewhat depressing to hear Neil singing about the same old things that prove to be relevant still today! One of his last lines was “We have work to Do”… Amen.

In other news… keep in mind, these are Farmer Notes… we are preparing for the change to cooler seasons here at Bluebird by stocking up on cereal mixes, pancake blends and making sure our silos are full of delicious grains from our 3 different production areas. We have a very good inventory of our more popular grains, and have been cleaning and milling every week to fill different orders for those loving top quality, Regen certified, organic certified grains and flours. With our new SQF certification we are now able to serve a larger market area as many customers are requiring this stringent food safety verification. As heavy of a lift as this has been for our small crew, it also seems the right thing to do. So…

We look forward to serving all of you with the efficiency and quality we have been for 20 years now. I am out on our fields here by the Farm beginning fall field prep, as next year will be a grain production year in our cycle, as we come out of a cover-cropping cycle. I am soil testing and doing a certain amount of tillage to help break down all the cropping residue we’ve left covering the soil. The geese are sure loving these activities! And lo, if my dear pal Treebeard didn’t swing by for a visit! Tree was one of the first organic grain farmers in the State of Washington and my only real mentor in that department when I first got going almost 30 years ago now. He also advised us in custom milling, as he was the only person we knew who grew and sold local grains and flour from his farm in Tonasket. Once “Bluebird” got going, he handed over most of his accounts as he edged toward retirement. We will always be grateful for the care and love he shares.

It is a great time of year to be on the land – my favorite as many of you know. The leaves are changing, the air is cooling, the countryside is beginning to sigh in relief from the summer heat and activity. Next up, my favorite of all: November! Wait: Enjoy this final month of harvest and warmer weather, first. Enjoy what the earth has given us for one more growing cycle. Enjoy the beauty while you think of your Halloween costume – which may just include a sickle or scythe!!

Boo –

Farmer Sam

Summer saved the big heat until September this year. As I write these notes, the mercury outside the Farm Porch reads 104. Yes, it’s dry, too. However, the summer as a whole played out pretty decent up until now. In August we even received a few rain showers and no extended periods of heat settled on us all month. Although we have the smoke and heat right now, the end is in sight and by mid-September things will be cooling down as the autumn equinox nears. Did I say autumn? This month! Only time will tell…

The swallows have gathered and left; the bluebirds, too. The wrens and pewees and orioles and tanagers have as well. Soon, it will be the meadowlarks and poorwills. To my surprise, a handful of hummingbirds still remain around, although their time here must be limited. Katydids and cicadas sing us to sleep at night and this month marks the beginning of migrators through our neck of the woods, predominantly that will be raptors as hawks, harriers, golden eagles gather about our hillsides and daylight fades and the later crops come in.

The small grains are all harvested for Bluebird this year! Regenerative farm practices continue to prevail not only in volume but more importantly with quality. We have a new variety of hard red spring that we will be introducing this fall. Preliminary testing shows it coming in at over 15% protein, so it should be a baker’s delight! We will have it on the Bluebird marketplace soon. As always, we continue to grow out and offer the hard white spring wheat which also is around 14% protein. The einkorn and emmer naturally test over 16%, even though they have just traces of gluten.

Lots of talk these days about protein. I’ve always gotten most of mine with wild meat, fish and neighbors beef or lamb. However, if you are looking for less meat in your diet, Bluebird grains are a great source of protein. I like the combo of meat/grains myself. Ask my family!

Our fields here at the farm have been summer fallowed for the most part, following intensive cover cropping earlier in the summer. When the weather breaks, and hopefully we get some moisture I will be doing further crop prep for spring crops. I am still unclear what those will be? We will see what the need is after winter, as we have a great supply thanks to the recent harvest from our partner farms.

The harvest moon isn’t until October this year, which is somewhat unusual. With the moon cycles as they are, this weekend will be the Corn Moon instead. There will be some corn harvesting perhaps, but not for us. I always think of the harvest moon for corn, and so corn must wait until October this round! Ha, ha.

Last evening I retired to the river below the farm here to shake the heat with our Labrador and my fly-rod. No better way to cool down and as trout rose about the pool we fished, I soon connected with one and I could see the fattening moon above the cottonwoods and under the arch of my bending rod and thought this isn’t the worst way to deal with late summer heat. The vigor and health of those trout sure was a contrast to my lazy, unalert self! Another difference between Nature and us, I suppose. Amen.

That fast, autumn orders are coming through the doors of Bluebird and at a seasonal pace as baking season nears. School is back in session so please be cautious of the little ones who may not be paying as close attention to the traffic around the schools as hopefully we are as drivers. Enjoy the final weeks of summer. It has been a great season for fruits here, and time to continue dehydrating and canning the peaches, apples and soon, pears! I look forward to writing next month’s notes when I know we will be in the cool down… Until then,

Yours

Farmer, Sam

August, the month when wheat harvests kick into high gear. This begins with winter wheat nationwide, although depending on region, a lot of winter wheat is already binned. Then harvest moves to the spring wheats, both hard and soft as the month moves along. August is the month of dust, heat, thunderstorms, fires, cloudbursts and by the end, closer to the mountains here, sometimes the first hints of autumn are felt.

I consider August to be the “dog days of summer” , the hottest, most humid time of the year. However, I need to remember as I sit and write and our Lab Clyde lies crashed behind the closet curtain on the cooler, cement floor that the phrase is an ancient one, derived from the star Sirius. Sirius is known as the dog. Still, Sirius could be the hot-dog trying to escape the oppressive heat. I won’t lie, it isn’t my favorite month despite it being a month for harvest. I would take three Novembers to one August yet…

Yet Mother Nature always knows best. And one month cannot be what it is without the others.

Just yesterday from atop the Butte above our house I stood in the early light and watched as a young family of sharp-shinned hawks tested out the west breeze by launching from an old fir snag, taking a few rapid wingbeats, then stalling into a sudden, extended glide. Cool. This is really neat, they may have been thinking. So it appeared to me stuck flat-footed with the downhill part of my jaunt to come. No matter the day, or time of season, there is always something to delight in Nature.

July turned out to be one of our very busiest months here at the granary. Orders stacked up in non-stop fashion and the month seemed to disappear as we tried to keep up. Once more, the crew did outstanding and fortune would have it that we had our annual intern Leo Hass join us just in time for the bustle. He was a big help, and this was his third season with us here at Bluebird.

Weatherwise, July was as pleasant as any I can recall. July often is blistery, and can be smokey and always seems to set off the drought of summer. This year, however, we received the only rain of the spring and summer so far in the month of July! One night it rained a quarter of an inch valley-wide. As well, we did not have much extended heat and therefore what little moisture we had lasted a bit longer. A most nice surprise, July was this year.

Now, that seems a distant memory as a string 95 degree days usher in August, and thunderheads build and the first nearby fire broke out yesterday just outside of town. Yuck!

But so far, the crops look good and we will soon know the state of harvest 2025 so long as the heat and dry weather prevails. One crop that thrives on heat is our cover crop of buckwheat!

Our potassium builder. Our PH balancer. Our organic mass builder. Our bee attractant; I hate to take it down but will be here as it will help to keep the soil balanced. No, “balance” isn’t something one can do with commercial fertilizers. Synthetic fertilizers give a crop a quick hit, but they do not last in the soil and therefore do not “build or balance” the soil. It simply is an extraction game. Add, then subtract and the slate is back to zero. Or less than zero as so many harsh fertilizers burn out soil biology.

Speaking of, as far as Agriculture and the Big Beautiful Bill are concerned, the passing of ( H.R. 1) was a positive for Agriculture. If you like the status quo that is. More crop Insurance money, more pricing support for the big three: Corn, soy and wheat. The increase over the next decade in “agriculture – focused spending” is an anticipated $65.6 billion. None of which increases funding for organic Ag.

This, however, will not keep the organic sales sector from growing. The growth in organics has been steady and unwavering and direct-to-consumer ethics still shine, or the thought thereof. If organic producers can continue to prevail against import fraud, meaningless labels (“All Natural” etc.,”) it will be persistence, consumer relations and consistency in the market place that enables them to do so. Here again, not much has changed!

So, once again I thank you thoughtful consumers and wish you the best August you can have. Swim, fish, hike, stay cool! Next up, the harvest report. Until then.

Yours,

Farmer Sam

I can’t begin to list the reasons why I love birds. It might be their cheerful, if not urgent dawn voice? Is it the slower pace of their evening song? Their color, their fragility, their resiliency? Along with so much more, birds sanctify this place spring thru autumn. When the days grow hot – an unwavering July promise – I am glad birds wake me each dawn and lull me to sleep at twilight. Yes, 10 o’clock twilight this time of year is bedtime for some farmers!

What does this have to do with Bluebird Grain Farms? In some ways, everything. Twenty years ago when we thought of what to name our farm, we settled on a bird that sanctifies this place we live and love most of all. As well, by farming in a fashion that respects all of Nature, birds signify the health of a countryside the same way fish might reflect the purity of a stream. When we have large varieties of birds at the Farm it makes us feel good knowing they are here for the habitat and food, whether creepy-crawlies in the soils, or the actual crops themselves. Our partner growers feel much the same, and we often swap photos of the different wildlife at our separate farms.

Lots of birdlife means healthy soil and rich grains that come from these soils. Of course, we take water samples and soil samples but there are few substitutes for actually strolling the fields, touching the earth and seeing what we see with our own eyes and the feeling it gives. It may not always be positive, either. Maybe a crop isn’t looking as we’d hoped, or there are field edges that need improvement. Maybe we are having to water a little more than planned, or there is extra weed pressure. These things do not always show up on tests. As scientific as some have tried to make agriculture, last time I checked it remains inexact. Intuition can tell me a lot and generally if the early morning field is active with birds, bees, deer – I know we have something good going on.

And we do have good things going on here at Bluebird! Lots of good summer visitors show up in our tiny valley to enjoy this scenic place. Customers – both old and new – bring their smiles to the Farm door. My favorite part is meeting new customers, or customers that have known us for years through the internet but stop by and visit for the first time! There are few substitutes for authenticity. We feel very fortunate to be part of a number of very authentic, and very small businesses here in our valley that work hard day in and day out to serve customers with consistency and quality.

Twenty years ago when we started Bluebird Grain Farms, Brooke and I knew we needed to offer the freshest and highest quality 100% organic whole grains and flours. We knew we needed a brand with a signature that spoke to our ethics. In that 20 years, many hatches and generations of bluebirds have come and gone, but each turn around the sun has taught us a ton, and in the end has kept us right here, doing what we have always done. I am grateful we have been able to grow to meet your demands. I am grateful for the support we have always had and continue to have as we maintain quality and consistency in growingly uncertain times. Solid food supply will never go out of style. For sure, this was one reason our forefathers fought for their independence!

June stayed cloudy at times, somewhat cool, but never delivered our rains. July has come in hot – literally. Residual moisture from the late fall rains last year, then the solid snowpack on unfrozen ground is what has kept the hills somewhat green all the way until now. That is all about to change, and we are bracing for what could be a smoky and somewhat scary next couple of months. Not a great scenario, yet Nature always holds surprises.

With our cover crop peas all turned under, and our summer cover of buckwheat up and running, I guess all there is to do is keep milling, packing and delivering our best around the West. Oh, and maybe go fishing?? Or hiking? Or swimming!

A family of grouse pecks around the clover just outside my door as I write these notes. This month’s notes are dedicated, most of all, to our long lived Labrador named Tucker who made it to 15 and knew a thing or two about grouse, and cover crops, and how to wag his tail at most everyone he saw. We said goodbye to him last month. Now he rests down by the cool creek along with our others. He wasn’t necessarily a big fan of summer anyway, though he did like to fish!

Democracy is perhaps the hardest form of government to maintain. Two hundred and fifty years ago our forefathers gave us the opportunity to try and despite the ups and the downs, now is no time to quit. Let’s celebrate by rejoicing in the freedoms we still have in this great country.

Cheers, Tucker. Cheers, America

Farmer Sam

That fast, rising at 5 seems late while 8 in the evening seems early to the table. June’s long light resets my clock year after year, and seemingly without notice. The energy field shifts and across the countryside everything is busy. The full Strawberry Moon is coming up, then the solstice arrives and things will stall, before more slowly tipping the other way by the month’s end.

Most years, June is our wettest of the spring/summer months. However, this doesn’t appear to be the case this year and we sure could use some good rains. With all the surface recharge from a wet last fall, then the early snowpack, the hills remain fairly green even as the blossoms of balsamroot and lupine fade. That will change soon I believe, and the browning of summer will likely take hold for real.

Our winter peas here at the farm are blossoming and I just finished mowing them down so we can grow them out a bit longer. I try to keep a cover crop cycling as long as possible if I am not cropping grain that year. This fixes more nitrogen in the soil and adds biomass, or green manure to the surface. I may plant winter grains toward the end of the summer, or wait until next spring so the more prolonged growth on the peas the better. I will turn them under toward the end of the month.

All the other crops are in, and the long light of June will kick some real growth spurts off. Our first hot weather is upcoming. So far, 80’s have been the highest temps all spring so that, too, has been a bonus. But, here comes summer!

The grain cleaning line and milling line have been busy, and we have been doing a lot of shipping these past weeks. One of the nice things for me has been occasionally meeting some of our walk-in customers I get to help and visit with. This is really enjoyable for me. At times I can feel pretty removed from our customers. Please keep dropping by, and I hope I happen to be in the packaging area when you do!

Here is a poem I wrote called Evening Birds. It is from my newest collection of writing entitled “Colors” . You can find it here at the Farm, on our Bluebird website, Trail’s End Bookstore, or at White Birch Books In New Hampshire.

Evening birds now

Late May arrivals

Reminding us despite ninety degrees

Spring holds fast here to the foothills

Evening hummingbirds, thrush, warbler, vireo

As the last sun turns purple

Over distant and jagged peaks-

A breeze kicks up.

Evening spring birds grow in chorus

Dusk pushing down the ridges

Over the valley fields,

Heavy along the creek.

Evening birds as we finish, finally

Sowing all our seeds

An ancient dog nearby

Who still perks up- recognizes us

When we finish

Soiled head to toe.

Evening birds… so right

Reminders I’ve so much to write

Of hope I’ve not forgotten

These past seasons

Front and center

Of a different play entire.

Evening bird song in late May

So sweet it prevails

Above the travails

As the wind wails

And heat and frost and squalls

Singing of what is faithful

And true.

Congratulations to all the graduates! Go forth with zest, be brave, respectful and I wish you the very best.

Yours

Farmer Sam

Organic Einkorn Flour

Evening birds now