In step, October arrived with the first autumn frosts after a final week of September that hosted several 80 degree days. We are far enough north here in the Methow where seasons can be prolonged, as well as shift overnight. A couple frosty mornings and that fast, one is grateful for the woodpile, breads, soups, hot cereals and whatever other foods or drinks that might keep you cozy. Oh, do I love it. Love September – love October all the more. Those of you long-time readers of my notes know too well, perhaps, my affinity for fall and the colder months in general. Bring it on!
Yes, I will miss the summer birds, sights and sounds. I won’t miss the heat so much, or the dryness plus, new birds have already begun to arrive. The hummingbirds held out until very late last month – in part because it stayed so warm I suspect. We still have bluebirds that fledged here in our yard. However, I noticed around 6 o’clock last evening they are now sharing the birdbath with a flush of gathering robins, as well as chipping sparrows and the last of the flycatchers. I may have heard the last of the nighttime poorwills, yet I still hear a meadowlark. As the landscape changes in hues of purple, maroon and gold, raptors soar the winds while the Sandhill cranes have already passed through. Soon there will be flocks of geese and with all this, we sure hope for fall moisture… and a lot of it.
Despite the bizarre 2 inch rain storm we received late August, we’ve scarcely had a drop of moisture since. We wish for nice, sustained fall rains before the ground freezes and/or it snows. The rewards of a good snowpack are better realized if the ground is soaked first, and softened and pliant so that spring melt can more easily go into the profile and not run off. October can be good for these rains, particularly as we get into the latter part of the month. I have faith. Then, of course, comes the mighty month of November – my most favorite of all!
Here at the beginning of October the cool nights and warm afternoons are not lost on me. Nor lost on our huge cover crop of winter peas that has thrived and grown up through all the left-behind einkorn straw. I charged up our pivot irrigation for the first time since June, and applied a dose of cold-pressed fish and beneficial microbes to kick-start the decomposition of that straw while energizing the peas. It seems as if we can see them growing by the day. And the resident Canada geese sure are enjoying them. The field gets the benefit of all this recycling and we have fun observing each day.
Fall orders are picking up and our cleaning line, milling and packing lines are seeing a jump in hours. Good stuff. This temperate weather is easier on our lean crew, and our processing equipment. Ambient atmosphere plays a big part in how grains both clean, and how grains mill into whole grain flour. Although environmental conditions can add to the challenges of custom milling, these are good challenges, and they keep us tuned into our craft. Bluebird is located in a good, low humidity climate that is ideal for custom milling. Many of you realize this in the consistency and quality of our products. These autumn days only enhance this process.
Meanwhile, as of October 1st we hit the second year mark of no renewal of the Farm Bill. This has become yet another partisan issue with so much at stake. The one side pushes the importance of the Bill on a variety of levels, not the least of which is the SNAP program. Another side wants to guarantee continued payouts to the wealthiest farms. Both sides seem to support continued “biofuel” production which largely means ethanol. There is no heavier resource dependent crop than corn, and here our government supports the use of this heavily subsidized crop as a gas additive that makes our engines less efficient?? Like with so many things, there is a lot left in the middle of the Farm Bill – a bill that is foreign to so many East of the Mississippi who pay the majority of it. Likely the bill will get another extension. Each time this happens it not only costs taxpayers more, but kicks the main issue down the road. Don’t expect anything to change until after November 5th. Who knows what will happen thereafter?
Speaking of subsidies, I get to head to the northern prairie this month! To visit our good friends the Schmaltz family on their recently certified regenerative farm where they farm in complete cycle with Nature and accept no subsidies. I so enjoy visiting their amazing 5000 acre organic farm, which is surrounded by many very large tax-supported farms. This does not keep me from loving the autumn prairie. For a few days I’m going further north into Manitoba – a place I’ve never been. I look forward to this journey through some of the major small grains production areas of North America. Every time I take a road trip across parts of our vast country, I learn so much and have more appreciation each time for how fortunate we are here in North America. We have a major luxury of so many natural resources; we just need to work harder to protect them.
With Halloween up-coming, try not to get spooked by the heavy rhetoric that comes on an election year. Try and keep things in perspective, hard as that may be at times. Most of us want peace and want everyone to get the chance to thrive in a respectful manner- no matter where they are from.
Cheers to Fall,
Farmer Sam
Sam talks with with the Chelan Middle School agricultural class about soil health during a recent fieldtrip to Bluebird Grain Farms.