Rebuilding Community Through Small Farm Infrastructure

by Jackie King

7/30/08 The above title is the title of an article written by Arthur Bolduc from Ohio in the July 2008 issue of ACRES USA magazine.  The article rejoices in the renaissance of rural communities in Ohio.  Who or what started this renewal?  How were the communities impacted?  Of what importance is this renewal to Navarro County? My husband, Donald, and I were fortunate to be featured in the Summer 2008 issue of Landscapes, a publication of Texas Land Bank Farm Credit.  I am not boasting of our inclusion in the publication. 

But the article has opened doors to spreading the word about our passion – natural, organic, sustainable and local farming and ranching.   A Texas Land Bank customer from Troy, Texas who saw the article called us and asked if he could see our Navarro County-based Farmer-Rancher Network in action at the Dallas Farmers Market.  After several minutes watching our Network last Saturday, he exclaimed that we have a great business and is there some way he could join in.  I told him we sell beef grass-fed on organic pastures.  The Troy rancher felt he needed to feed grain to achieve finish weight.  

I told the Troy rancher that customer preference is for grass-fed beef but there would be customers who still seek grain-fed beef.  I asked if he had enough profit in his selling price to accommodate organic grain and he said yes.  He did not hesitate to contact Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill in Elgin and seek an organic feed ration for his steers.  Maybe he will consider strictly grass-fed in the future!  I look forward to learning market response to his product. Today Donald and I were invited by the Hillsboro Texas Land Bank to speak at the Hillsboro Rotary Club.  Donald had a business appointment in Dallas so I had to go it alone.  Today was the first opportunity to share to a group outside our Network the part Donald and I are playing in the resurgence of small farm agriculture in Navarro County. 

After I explained to our audience our production methods of grass-fed beef, I shared that county farmers are successfully marketing at Corsicana Farmers Market, Dallas Farmers Market and Eden’s Organic Garden Center in Balch Springs near Mesquite.  As I have written before, the farmer who brings outside dollars home spends most of those dollars in his/her county of residence –- causing a ripple effect through our rural economy from one dollar to seven dollars on average.  Want to hear more good news? I shared that farmers want to spend even more dollars at home to convert their produce into value-added products that they can sell long after heat and future frosts nix this season’s crops.   They want to prepare ketchups, dried fruits and veggies, salsas, sauces, pestos, jams, jellies, pickled products and other goodies for resale at farmer’s markets, online and to retail outlets like restaurants.  Can he prepare these resale items in his home kitchen? Not legally.   

What is keeping him from extending the season –- from tossing his end-of-season produce onto the compost pile?  A commercial kitchen.   What is keeping him from entering more sophisticated markets?  An incubator kitchen. I told the audience that on Monday, Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Commissioner Todd Staples held a round-table discussion requesting suggestions on the allocation of $257,000 in federal monies the state is receiving to support production of specialty produce crops of Texas.  Next year’s allocation is $1.8 million.   I joined in the conversation by phone. While one large commodity seller at the table suggested airline ads for Texas watermelons, I requested funding for actions closer to home.  I want to see county commercial kitchens that farmers can rent for a modest hourly fee and regional incubator kitchens that can help farmers develop brand recognition and marketing plans.  Commissioner Staples stressed the marketing programs offered by TDA through GOTEXAN. 

It only costs $25 to join and is well worth the nominal expense.  I asked the audience how a farmer’s efforts affect his community?  Referring back to the Ohio article, the farmer’s determined efforts can result in new rural jobs closer to the farmer to minimize fuel expenses -- organic feed stores, stores selling organic soil amendments, and hardware stores that sell greenhouses to extend the growing season. The farmer’s efforts could create pressure for new special auction houses for dairy goats, farm tools, draft horses, and horse-drawn implements. Making room at farmer-friendly farmers’ markets would allow the sale of local farmers’ value-added products and properly processed meats, poultry, cheeses, and breads. (The City of Coppell has such a market  -– why not Corsicana?) 

This provides additional revenues for the community and safe, nutrient-dense, and locally grown and processed foods to the community. Reopening some mills for organic grain and additional small-scale meat processing facilities with cutting skills that rival those of Argentina would support the organic farmers.  Extending the farm gate for raw milk from inspected dairies to the market could cause explosive economic growth for the farmer and explosive good health for the consumer. Raw goat’s milk is delicious and good for you!   There would be a need for grist mills for local organic grains, fiber mills for alpaca and llama fibers, welding shops, small-engine repair shops, gift shops, bakeries, candy shops (organic, of course!), flower shops, meat markets, new rail heads and a host of agri-tourism opportunities.  What a boon for rural economies!  Many new jobs paying good wages. 

Many direct sales for the farmer ensuring the best profits for their efforts.    I told Hillsboro’s Rotary Club that Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association has a board member with grant writing skills.  We plan to ask communities for proposals and help them find funding for these kitchens, fiber mills and other community businesses that directly benefit the local farmer and rancher. 

If the stakeholders in a city want to consider the daunting task of renewing their rural town squares, let me know.  I would love to see Navarro County and Hill County experience a renaissance of agriculture-related businesses in their wonderful rural towns. So, to recap – Who starts this renewal?  The farmer.  How are communities impacted?  New jobs, new tax bases, new sales taxes from agri-tourists. Of what importance is renewal to Navarro County?  The preservation of an immensely rich heritage, local availability of nutrient- dense foods,  jobs, influx of outside dollars and attractive destinations for hungry consumers. Support your local farmer.  Local food is thousands of miles fresher.  Until next time.

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