Tag: farmer notes

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

“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

A finer April I can’t recall. With a brilliant, boundless blush of Arrowleaf Balsamroot flooding the green foothills and birdsong filling the air against a snowy backdrop of the North Cascades, one has to pause and pinch just to confirm it is real. Beauty at the start of May – a beauty only Mother Nature herself could conjure up. She never ceases to amaze.

As the mountains thaw and the streams and rivers swell I am reminded once more how this specific hydrology affects the soil profile here in the valley long after the last snow patches have disappeared. This May, all the vernal pools are filling to the brim and the hidden lives within are coming forth. Most notably the evening cacophony of various frogs. Such the pleasant sound this lullaby of spring, health and purity. The earlier spring birds have arrived and most are either nesting or working that way fast. It won’t be long into this month of May before we see the tanagers, orioles, buntings, chats… perhaps the first fledglings from resident robins, as well. Stay tuned.

Early April gave us a little rain before drying off from there. However, with all the moisture recharge the fields are in good shape as is the rest of the countryside. The winter peas have awakened and begun to steadily grow. On the home field here at the Farm, we have a thick, lush winter pea crop. These peas will likely go to flower in June and that is when we will turn them under to set the stage for either a fall seeded, or next spring’s grain crop.

Our partners out on the prairie are beginning to roll and currently they are seeding spring peas into their glorious soils built up over many years of their Regen practices. The Schmaltz Family continues to be a leader in Regenerative Organic Agriculture, and continues to push the limits of what is possible not only in crop nutrient density, but harvest volumes as well. As always, we are very grateful to have their support. Here in the lower Columbia Basin Lenwood Farms already has all their peas planted and soon will be onto plating einkorn. Most of you already know the high quality of these grains we process to order, and ship out of Bluebird both near and far.

Yes, we have been doing a fair bit of shipping lately! The flour mill stays busy, we are dehulling another lot of emmer as I write, and our supply of goods is solid until harvest. Being founders in the domestic “ancient grain” movement, we learned early on not to promise more than we can deliver. As the years go by – 20 this year! – we recognize all the more how important it is to be consistent. When I say this I’m talking about consistent service, consistent quality, consistent improvement. We love feedback, and welcome any suggestions on how we can improve anything. We may not always be able to accommodate, but our customers are always paramount, whether a large account or small.

With the continued and increased push back against criminalizing prevalent herbicides such as glyphosate – now on a state by state level in many cases – we feel most fortunate to have taken the organic path from the beginning. Of course, the ancient wheats Bluebird is known for: emmer and einkorn, have been perfect for this path. We will see how much traction the MAHA movement gets? Regardless, you can rest assured that nothing much is different at Bluebird than it was when we began. Custom milled tasty, nutritious, uncontaminated grains from our farms to your plate remains our credo. We feel honored.

Farm Bill update: Nothing new with that, either! The extension that exists until September will likely get extended – the rocky road to bipartisanship notwithstanding. Remember the Farm Bill… the $30 billion annual taxpayer handout to largely corn, soy, and wheat farms? Non-organic remains mandatory criteria for these subsidies. In other words, the funds go to supporting a variety of unsustainable farm practices – not the least being heavy reliance on chemicals from other countries.

Alas, cheer up, it’s spring! Get out and feel the earth, smell the air, listen to the birds. Nature has heeled us before, we can only hope she will continue to. I’d say we owe her the utmost of respect and treat her in a healing manner ourselves.

Yours,

Farmer Sam

Our field peas are just emerging—fixing nitrogen and laying the groundwork for healthy soil. They’re sprouting through a thick layer of Einkorn straw left intentionally from last year’s harvest. This straw isn’t waste—it’s a powerhouse. It locks in moisture, shields out weeds, and feeds the living soil web beneath: fungi, microbes, earthworms, and more.

Our March Farmer Notes: Ahhh… the mighty month of March. This year it comes in lamb-like on the coattails of a February wherein we experienced both the coldest, and warmest temperatures of the new year. In truth, February seemed more like March can be with a fierce start but mellow finish. Following a few -10 degree nights, the final couple days rose above freezing and that fast, March is rolling along with stunning, sunny days and a torrent of bird life as the snowy hillsides begin to soften and south ridges shed their winter blanket.

At first there was a shift in the chickadee’s song, then a handful of robins showed up then the winged parade began for real: blackbirds; juncos, finches, grosbeaks; phoebes; geese and yes, even mountain bluebirds! All in a week’s time. Never have I seen the shift so sudden nor so musical. The pace seems almost frantic. Coyotes sing throughout the night and sometimes even during mid-day. Owls keep to the dark woods except one evening just as the sliver of a moon rested atop the Butte with Venus straight above, a great owl soared across the lasting horizon. The silence and swiftness of that bird sanctified the mood. I just love this place!

Meanwhile, back at the Farm the main yard has all melted out. Now freight and grain trucks can come and go more easily as they resupply our field crops, so that in turn we can clean, grade and fresh mill them for packaging and then send them back out to a door near you. Or maybe your own door? Our supply remains solid and our thoughts turn toward spring and subsequent plantings. There remains plenty of snow on the fields here, and I suspect excellent soil moisture this year as we had wonderful late fall rains before the snows that insulated the ground winter-long. This is so important for planting purposes, plus it will ease the strain on irrigation needs. Our grain crops are pretty gentle on water-supply. However, I’d guess there will be good water supply for even the water-hog crops such as alfalfa, too.

I do not like to see winter go yet with the rapidly building daylight and strengthening sun. I can’t help but feel the age-old excitement that spring brings, particularly if one is a farmer. I will do my best to keep skiing so long as it lasts, but I’ve also begun switching the tractors over from their winter duties of snow plowing and removal. Now they are ready for farm implements, instead. By next month the fields will be melted and full of robins. Did I mention this month’s upcoming full moon is the Worm Moon? Here’s to all those wageless workers of the soil.

These are strange and interesting times some might agree. As I’ve been mentioning more in recent notes, policy is very important and current Agricultural policy can use some improvement. The Farm Bill’s latest extension runs out Sept. 30th, if the federal government doesn’t shut down sooner (Mar. 14?). With so much rhetoric flying around right now?? It so happens that I’ve been invited to travel to DC the last week in March as part of the National Organic Coalition to weigh in on farm policy, and lobby for strengthening organic farming support. The organic industry receives very few subsidies and thus, the few that we do receive – such as certification cost share – are very important. Keep in mind we have to PAY for the USDA’s organic certification label. And this certification fee is based not on profit, but on gross sales. In other words, the stronger the sales, the more we pay. Hmmm. Such incentives?

Regardless, as many of you know Bluebird has been a voice for organic agriculture for 20 years now, and I’ve been a certified grower for 25. I believe in what we do as much as I ever have, but also realize the difficulties and realities of all the paperwork involved, and that many small farms can easily become overwhelmed. Also, there is an increasing temptation by some to “cook” the system. Therefore, more and more enforcement of the guidelines is needed.

I will be part of a team meeting with State Rep Dan Newhouse, and also with Maria Cantwell’s team and Patty Murray. Do they have more important things to do? Well, is there anything more important than our health?

I will report back soon. Stay tuned!

Your farmer, Sam

That fast, we are at the beginning round of 12 more moons! The dark month of December was all the darker due to continued storms and thus, very few nights were clear enough to see the moon whether full or new! Truth to tell, December delivered a lot of moisture right on the coattails of a wet November and our snowpack is in very good shape as we begin this new year. I love the silence and comfort of full snow banks and pure white fields. However, as I pointed out in last year’s notes, this sort of snow is hard on many other creatures.

Birds like the chickadee we might associate with joy for a white and quiet landscape, wherein their ‘chickadee-dee-dee’ cadence sounds more cheery and poignant. Owls of the night sanctify the depth of winter, and one snowy day I saw the most perfect little northern pygmy owl along a brushy, unfrozen seep. A deep winters’ landscape can be so quiet, one’s own breathing can seem disruptive. Let alone the sound of squeaky footsteps…

The fields are snug, the holidays have come and gone, and the new year of work has begun here at Bluebird Grain Farms as we enter our 20th year. Twenty years… As the younger generation exclaims: Really!? It has gone that fast and we have learned so much. We’ve met a vast host of customers over these years, and look forward to continuing to serve them while welcoming many new customers.

We took a week here at the Farm to regroup following the holiday buzz, and have streamlined a few of our systems even further. We’ve added a couple new and energetic staff members as we plan for a busy year ahead doing the same thing we have always done: Delivering top-quality, organic whole grains and flours grown with deep care, and custom milled on a weekly basis.

With our recently certified Regenerative food processing facility, as well as a number of our Regen certified products, we now offer not only the USDA organic certification, but a Regenerative certification as well. We feel confident that true and certified Regenerative crops will play a very large role in the future of agriculture, and consequently, our climate. And the Regenified certification is as comprehensive and thorough as any. The goal is not only to protect our precious soils, but to improve them. These have always been our main beliefs at Bluebird. We do not go through sometimes expensive, time consuming certification processes just to add another label on our brand. We do it because we believe. As always, we welcome feedback.

We’ve had our hands full with all this new snow while just keeping the Farm cleared for operations! Storm cycles are a double edged sword. While they add twice the work to operations, they bring beautiful moisture for our semi-desert landscape, and this is critical for it to thrive. I always am willing to put up with the greater work load for the overall gain.

Farm Bill update: Another extension has been passed, to the tune of 10 billion USD in farm aid. The majority of this aid will go to three crops: Corn, soy, sugar. None of which will be certified organic, Regenerative, or otherwise. Diabetes anyone? The incoming administration mentions not being in support of this extension? Obviously, there will be a lot to do on any actual Farm Bill – now two years overdue. The most recent extension ends March 14.

Meanwhile, please know that although there are few subsidies for organic crops, our inventory is very strong going into the new year and we will not be running out of our grains anytime soon. Although we think of the holidays as the eating season, really, it is just the beginning of the eating season! Hearty soups and fresh breads warm the soul during these deep winter months. So, please enjoy. We love the thought of our goods leaving our Farm directly for your table. Let’s hope field- to- plate never goes out of style.

Up next: The full “Wolf Moon” !

And the holiday season has begun! This is hard to believe yet as I write this on Thanksgiving weekend I’m quite aware the year is nearing the end-zone and next up is the “Big One”. Like many, I actually enjoy Thanksgiving as much as Christmas. More so, in some ways. No matter, the joy and thankfulness of both sanctify this darker and quieter time of year I love. November.

Blessed and glorious November that, once again, delivered. Big time, giving us the nice, steady rains I’d so hoped for, as these rains softened and opened the soil. Then before the ground could freeze, we received a substantial dollop of first-snow to the tune a foot or so, with more that followed. The snow itself had a lot of moisture in it, as temps stayed barely below freezing. Now we have pliant, soft ground under a beautiful winters’ quilt and this starts a great moisture profile for the next growing season. Thank you, November. My favorite month and perhaps one of the most reliable, like any old friend.

Now the chickadees chime in and the nuthatch crawl up and down the porch beams and winter seems to be settling in as the calendar turns to this final month. It was another fulfilling year here at Bluebird as we still worked out some adjustments and made more efficiencies within our new digs that are already over two years old! Many of you may have noticed that the quality and consistency of our products have remained good as ever. As is our promise, we are just doing more of what we feel we do best: Offering quality foods and punctual service.

Punctual as we can be on our end, that is. Many might have noticed the poor ole’ postal service has been struggling as of late, as have a few other freight companies. We can’t always predict these sorts of things. If you are planning holiday orders please consider giving both us, and you some extra ordering time! We love putting together gifts for so many, but we want to make sure they get to where they are going on time! There are lots of empty spaces out there, still. That isn’t a bad thing.

Thinking of empty spaces, the night skies have been quiet around here lately. If it hasn’t been raining or snowing, there have been some crisp stars and a waning moon. However, I’ve not heard the owls as of late, and the coyotes come and go like usual. To step out and stroll before bed this time of year is a lesson in listening. Deep listening can lead to reflection, particularly when the only sound is one’s own rustling. I remain amazed by Nature.

I am more amazed by Nature all the time, I should say. The sudden and heavy snow is beautiful in my mind, but not all creatures feel this. Most, actually, feel undo stress. Walking up our driveway the other evening several deer were using the roadway and were not anxious to bound out across the snowy fields. I saw where both partridge and quail had moved toward the crabapple tree at the edge of our yard where they’d been scratching away for fruit. Up on the hill above our place, I noticed small partridge tracks weaving among the bunchgrass tips that barely poked above the snow. Not much to eat there, but something at least. Being ground feeders, these poor little birds were having to make fast adjustments. Likely too fast for all to survive. Some silence is lovely; some eerie I suppose. Nature. Resilience. Easy for me to say beautiful.

This time of year we think of Peace on Earth if for some reason we’ve not been thinking about Peace the rest of the year? It is always my wish. And I wish that all of you have had a nice Thanksgiving gathering, and look forward to Christmas as do I. I hope we can all take some quieter moments and think about what we can do for others.

I appreciate all that you customers do for us here at Bluebird as we enter our 20th year! Couldn’t have done it without so many of you and we are most grateful. Here is to your health. Here is to many more years together. More so than ever, we truly do rely on one another.

Merry, Merry and I’ll be in touch with you next year!

Your Farmer, Sam

I simply can not get enough of fall. This fall’s weather has been as pleasant as any, perhaps even too pleasant. We did not receive the moisture I’d hoped for in October, though the final couple days promised storms. Still, it would be hard not to have liked the endless fine, cool nights; the mild, sun-dappled days. This was true most of last month. The latter leaving songbirds stuck around, well, pretty late! Now, the greatest month of all is upon us! Summer birds have left, darkening clouds gather, and badly needed moisture is coming in November – the month of “worsted gray…”

Autumn in the northern prairie couldn’t have been more classic as I made my way through Montana to the Schmaltz Family Farm in North Dakota. Then north from there to O’Canada. I’m not a big fan of driving around much, sometimes even just to town! However, if locked and loaded for a road trip, yee-haw! The drive from here to ‘there’ is stunning as one travels along some of Montana’s fine rivers: The Clark Fork; the Madison; the YELLOWSTONE, and on to the wide open prairie. Western North America has to be one of the prettiest and most varied places on this Earth.

As always, my visit with the Schmaltz Family was rewarding on many fronts. We exchanged deeper conversations about food, farming and places. I got to see how inventive, hard working and successful they have been with their full-scale regenerative farming practices. Their success isn’t so surprising – since they’ve been at it a dozen or more years now – but these restorative systems are very impressive. Their crop yields show for themselves, however, it is the noticeable quality that speaks the loudest. This quality and consistency come only after a great deal of investment and belief in a system that is constantly improving both soils and the food from these soils. Schmaltz’s farm is now working for itself in this sense. Still, the critical decision making and planning is all Kent and Blaine. This is a very involved process, and one that requires having a variety of scenarios since – like with all farming – things often do not go as “planned”! Gosh it was fun to see, and I couldn’t be more grateful for our relationship. Oh, we got some solid pheasant hunting in, too! Much to Clyde’s delight.

Fall is always a busy season at the Bluebird mill as the eating season kicks into full swing. October was a bit busier than the past few months, and we anticipate November being busier yet. Soup, bread, yummy side dishes; ‘ tis the season for firelight and hearty foods as the countryside begins to quiet and soon winter’s blanket will settle in. Our lean, and sometimes mean (not really!) crew here at the Farm are eager to serve up all the good grains and flours for your cozy kitchens. Brad Baylie who grows our soft Sonora white wheat in Connell, Washington brought in another solid crop for us this year. This versatile soft flour works great for pie crusts as well as other goodies.

It is hard not to think about politics this time of year. For those of us who voted early we are left to fret. Once again, things I often fret over never even get onto the political platforms: Environment, education, proactive health care. These issues are all relevant in many ways, and tied closely to the Farm Bill. Two years has passed since the last Bill expired and there still is no renewal of a new Farm Bill. Reelection campaigns are apparently far too important for any issues to actually be resolved during this time. Meanwhile – daily it seems – I learn of more and more (millions) of chickens continuing to be destroyed. More recently, right here in the good ole’ Northwest. And at the same time, an even more potent version of Round-Up (Glyphosate) has hit the market. This proves that not only is animal husbandry in steady decline, but private enterprise is alive and functioning – for better or worse – throughout the election season.

In related news, there continues to be growing concern over the use of glyphosate as a desiccant. This has prompted many cereal grains and pulse buyers to restrict purchases of crops where this pattern of burn-down pre-harvest remains. Truth to tell, up in Manitoba where I just was, some pea processors no longer will take sprayed down peas, and oat and barley producers have been told not to use the glyphosate for harvest any more as well. Now this is some good news!

We have so much to thank the Earth for. I am glad to see small inroads being made as an effort to better care of it, and as people once did not all that long ago. She is our Mother, after all, and somehow continues to give us great, great bounty.

Soon, winters’ chickadees will return, the owls’ nighttime voices will deepen, and coyotes are already talking about the growing darkness during the new moon. Next up, November’s full moon known as the Beaver Moon. And after, my favorite holiday at the close of the month! Plenty to be grateful for, indeed. Please gather ‘round, hold tight, and give thanks together for another year’s food from our always giving Mother.

Cheers,

Farmer Sam

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

school kids looking at soil health, Bluebird

Sam talks with with the Chelan Middle School agricultural class about soil health during a recent fieldtrip to Bluebird Grain Farms.

Most years I find myself sighing in relief when the mellow month of September finally rolls around, bringing with it the cooling nights and shorter days as summer’s growing season winds down. Indeed, September is the busiest harvest month when one considers the various fruits, grains, and vegetables that are gleaned here under clear, mild eastern Washington skies. However, aside from the first week or so of August, most of last month felt like September! Truth to tell, a couple nights were down in the 40’s and a very unusual rain fell that left 2 inches of moisture across the countryside. Never before had this amount of precipitation been recorded here in the valley not just for the date, but for the entire month of August!

Dawn; I now hear chickadees again, robins, bluebirds, but hummingbirds seem to be staying on longer than years past? Chickadees generally are a sign of autumn. Hummingbirds are often gone by September. June this year was May; July was August; August was September. What all this means and how September will shake out, I’ve no idea. Beautiful…?

Even though all of our Bluebird crops are harvested, we will still take the clear, hot weather as it will likely be the last for the year. As I noted in August notes, our harvest right here at Bluebird was earlier than ever as I harvested the einkorn in late July. The standing straw left behind had the understory of winter peas clinging tight and I’d considered rolling the Gleaner back out, then harvesting them. However, I would have done so simply to clean up the seed for planting as our fall cover. Instead, I hooked up the heavy off-set disk and in two passes, knocked all the stalks flat and spread the peas about in the process. This was the first tillage I’d done to this field since spring of 2023.

By knocking out the peas and turning down the straw, my hope was to have a nice environment for the peas to germinate up through the mulched field. Better, perhaps, than if I’d tried to direct drill them into the standing straw. When the bizarre rain came I knew we’d soon know what sort of cover crop we’d have. Here on the first of this month I’m pleased to report we’ve a wonderful, mulched in crop of winter peas and volunteer einkorn! To which I will apply a good dose of cold pressed liquid fish fertilizer and composting microbes. This will speed up the digestion process of the straw. My goal is to have one big biological, soil feeding combination of available goodies come next spring. It may be the largest amount of organic matter I’ve ever had to try and convert to soil. This could be interesting. Stay tuned.

Farm partner Brad Bailie in Connell, Washington took off a very nice crop of einkorn last month and as soon as we run the last couple loads of 2023 crop, we will be fresh into 2024 einkorn. The Schmaltz family just finished emmer harvest and they have their first Certified Regenified regenerative crop in the bins! We will be taking that in for hulling and grading at our recently Certified Regenified Bluebird facility here in Winthrop. Yes, one more “certification”. This regenerative certification is one that we feel is now legitimate and we believe in it. Even the USDA is beginning to put pressure on producers and processors to substantiate their claims on a variety of sales pitches such as “No antibiotics”, “Free Range”, and yes “Rengerative.” We want you to be confident that we are who we say we are. A 100% certified organic, and now certified regenerative facility using certified crops. That’s a lot of certs!

That said, our grain cleaning line was a bit quiet last month. This can happen in the depths of summer. Commodity prices themselves have been at a low for the past 10 years, and this can sometimes have an effect even on our small market of specialty grains. Right now between inflationary costs of operations, a strong US dollar and lower farm gate price-points, those growing under the subsidized system are reminded that Price support and Insurance support is how they are kept in business some years. This tax-based funding source is common for most non-organic US farms, however, even these farms remain at risk because here a full year since the last Farm Bill expired. The expired bill has been on a one year extension which, in turn, is now due to expire. The House version is still hung up on the House floor. Good thing for some farms that another support mechanism remains alive and well. This month the 39th annual Farm Aid concert takes place on the autumn equinox in New York State. To date, Farm Aid has raised $80 million for family farms in this country. Go Willie and Company!

Here at Bluebird where we have no price safety net, we’ve kept our prices the same as we try to do no matter how the tides rise and fall around us. This isn’t always easy, but it seems to be a good way to maintain long-term relationships. We are fortunate to have such a large repeat customers base. Thank you. It was nice to meet some of you at our Labor Day weekend open house. Brooke and I enjoyed our time with several folks we’d never met before, but that had been buying our products in some cases, for years now!

Schools are back in session country-wide. With this comes our local school’s Classroom in Bloom annual party in support and celebration of the amazing garden we have here on school grounds just across the road from Bluebird. This year marks the 20th anniversary! CIB helps feed the local students fresh and frozen produce throughout the school year, as they reap the rewards of their very own labor. CIB is one of the gems of our little valley and I’m proud of all those involved. I hope to see some of you at the party.

I hope you enjoy the late summer as nights lengthen and deepening shadows flow across the landscape to the easy sound of gathering birds, happy cicadas, and the flutter of just- fading aspen. September is perhaps the mellowest month of all. And I love it.

Yours,

Farmer Sam

May oh May… a more delightful May than this years’ I can’t imagine. A few days in the 70’s and 80’s; a few valley rain showers and snow squalls in the mountains; wind and calm, then temps in the 30’s as we leave the month behind. Quite the variety of weather, alright. That is what makes Spring here so fun. Lest I forget the birds! Chats and buntings; swallows and wrens; orioles and tanagers… Truth to tell, I could sit all day and watch and listen.

Alas, that would not be of much help to our wonderful crew here at Bluebird Grain Farms. They’ve been working hard at keeping our systems running smoothly, and shipping out orders nationwide from our little valley. Our supply of organic grain remains solid as we enter the last quarter before harvest, and we are having a good year entering the final month of the 2024’s front half. Nothing makes me happier than to hear good things about our grains and flours from a whole host of different customers. The real kudos go out to all of you who take an interest in food, how it is grown and where it comes from. Thank you!

All of this year’s crops are planted and growing right along. The northern prairies have received nice rains, our partners report. The earlier planted crops here in the Columbia Basin at Brad’s Lenwood Farms are a foot tall now, and cover crops at our own farm are beginning to stretch up toward the gathering daylight. Wow. Can we be just 3 weeks from Summer Solstice! Plants really kick into gear come this time of the year. Let the sweet, rich juices of June flow.

Yes, we could use more rain here. In the past, the month of June often delivered. The longer we get into the summer months without excessive heat, the longer we can hold off drought if the days are just cooler and cloudier. Once crops reach a certain growth stage – grain knee high – then the plants themselves harbor moisture and protect the soils. This is one reason we love the ancient wheats because they grow so tall, and create a shade effect that preserves moisture in their roots. This function is not dissimilar to trees, albeit on a much smaller scale. Soil preservation, high organic matter, nutritious food – these are just some of reasons to celebrate the wheats that once were.

But we’ve brought them back! We have been touting these qualities for nearly 20 years now and it is exciting to see continued interest and rising popularity of these time-tested grains. Their attributes and versatility both agronomically and culinarily continue to engage and teach us as years go by. I’m guessing this does not change anytime soon. To quote William Faulkner: “The past is never dead, it’s not even past.”

Our job hasn’t changed either, and that is seeing to it that all of you get these ancient grains freshly delivered on a consistent basis. This is one way we can improve on our food systems that still remain flawed. Currently, the FDA and USDA continue to try and sort out the recent Avian Flu mess that is a self-fulfilled prophecy, of sorts, as I mentioned last month. Feeding our animals the wrong diet – turning herbivores into carnivores – is not sustainable. Over 4 million laying hens alone have been destroyed and disposed of… How? Where? Will the dairy herds be next? Yuck.

In related news, remember the Farm Bill? The last one expired in September of 2023. I mentioned in last fall’s Notes how we would not see a new bill before the end of the year. The question is now: Will we see one before the end of this year? In a lot of ways this delay may be a good thing since it has morphed into a piece of broken and partisen farming legislation. However, very crucial programs such as SNAP still hang in the balance. Not so good.

We enjoyed a nice Memorial weekend granary tour here at the Farm. It is always engaging for Brooke and myself to see new faces, meet new people, have new discussions and teach and learn all at once. During the whole weekend I kept in mind what the past “holiday” really is about and that is to honor and memorialize those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation of ours. Yes, it is a great country. Democracy is far, far from perfect and remains a constant work in progress. However, I’ll still take it every day.

Here’s to health, decency and peace for the coming summer.

Yours,

Farmer Sam

Organic Einkorn Flour