Grounded by the Farm

Summertime wouldn't be the same without watermelon! It cools us down, hydrates us and brings smiles to faces! Few of us have had the chance to visit a watermelon farm or talk to a farmer, but Rachel Syngo's family has been "in the biz" of growing watermelons for generations.

They proudly grow on multiple farms in southwestern Florida and work with farmers up the East Coast to provide the tasty fruit as much of the year as possible! We talk about how and where watermelons are grown, the trends that seem to be gaining traction, food safety, how you get seedless watermelons and more!

Links mentioned in this episode include:

See how watermelons are harvested and transported https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=303319994388874

Where to find Melon 1 online:

• Facebook Melon 1 at https://www.facebook.com/melon1inc/
• Instagram Official Melon 1 at https://www.instagram.com/officialmelon1/
• Twitter Official Melon 1 at https://twitter.com/officialmelon1?lang=en

More Grounded by the Farm online:

• GroundedbytheFarm.com for photos, blog posts, show notes and more
• Ask the Farmers Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/GroundedbytheFarm/
• Groundedbythefarm_ on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/groundedbythefarm_/
• Grounded by the Farm on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1RgGoXaVDcFTZ9EcWJDzfw
• @groundedbythef on Twitter at http://twitter.com/groundedbythef

A vodka watermelon cocktail from FarmWifeDrinks.com https://www.farmwifedrinks.com/vodka-watermelon-cocktail/

Wondering what's on the minds of the people who listen to and follow Grounded by the Farm, we asked you to send us your questions and boy, did you all deliver!

In this episode we get a quick look at a range of topics from international farm visits, unusual discoveries, misconceptions about farming, the impacts of covid on farmers and quite a few questions around meat & fruits / vegetables. Janice Person, host of Grounded by the farm answers in this unedited, independence week episode.

Link to the Facebook page for the live event, Wednesday, — Facebook Live Animal Crossings New Horizons Farm Tour at 2 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/GroundedbytheFarm/live/

Check out the latest (including photos, videos, etc) on our website groundedbythefarm.com

As mentioned in the episode intro, LOTS of links for the show notes so we have related podcast episodes and other sites/

Previous episodes of Grounded by the Farm mentioned or related to this episode:

• How I got from a total city girl to immersed in farming https://groundedbythefarm.com/how-i-got-here/
• Rice farming, youtube & more with Matthew Sligar https://groundedbythefarm.com/rice-farmer/
• Bailey Farms peppers episode https://groundedbythefarm.com/how-americans-love-of-spicy-food-gave-this-farm-room-to-grow/
• Remember checking things through the state department of agriculture is how Christian Spears found local farmers for Tennessee Brew Works https://groundedbythefarm.com/crafting-a-beer-that-has-a-depth-of-local-flavor-connecting-to-farmers/
• What's happening in ag / on the Farm with covid-19 episode with Happy Trails https://groundedbythefarm.com/americas-food-system/
• Marybeth Feutz talks about beef in two episodes https://groundedbythefarm.com/picking-out-steaks-under-appreciated-cuts-of-beef-part-1-feutz/ and https://groundedbythefarm.com/caring-for-beef-cattle/
• Looking for the perfect avocado — https://groundedbythefarm.com/the-perfect-avocado/

Other Sites/Resources Mentioned:

Meeting farmers, getting to know what they are like — includes photo of the Turkish farmer mentioned https://jploveslife.com/agriculture/ag-awareness/what-are-farmers-like/

Photos of information about dragonfruit plants https://www.gardenloversclub.com/ornamental/cacti-succulents/dragon-fruit/dragon-fruit-plant-care/

artichokes. http://artichokes.org/artichoke-farms also great recipes and information available at https://www.oceanmist.com/products/artichokes

pineapples.

Pages about some of the interesting commodities (artichokes.org mentioned above is actually an example

• Watermelon. https://www.watermelon.org/
• Pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc) https://www.usapulses.org/
• Dairy https://www.usdairy.com/
• Beef https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/
• Bison https://bisoncentral.com/bison-nutrition-cooking/

A few of the state agriculture outreach websites:

• Got to be NC Agriculture https://gottobenc.com/
• Pick Tennessee https://www.picktnproducts.org/
• Missouri Grown https://missourigrownusa.com/
• Pure Michigan https://www.michigan.org/farms-and-cider-mills
• Illinois Farmers Markets Association map page https://www.ilfma.org/illinois-markets/ilfma-markets

My allergy to and fear of bees https://jploveslife.com/food/learning-about-bees-conquering-fear-video/

Learning about a down cow https://www.dairycarrie.com/2013/12/09/cowabuse/

Ground beef buyers guide https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/ground-beef-buyers-guide/

When you search for Dino GIacomazzi online, you find a farmer who is focused on the environment. You also read a lot about dairy farming, but last year, the Giacomazzi family sold the cows & shifted their focus to crops including the almonds they had nurtured for the past 5 years. Dino shares how that came to happen and how environmental sustainability learned in the dairy is leading to innovation in reducing water use. He also has sons (12 yr old Miro & 7 yr old Gio) join us to discuss the new business they started while out of school due to the corona virus.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

• Photos / video of almonds on the tree https://groundedbythefarm.com/almond-trees/
• Buying almonds from the Giacomazzi Brothers https://giacomazzibrothers.com/ or GBNuts.com
• Video of Dino and his father Don with a post I wrote while visiting years ago https://jploveslife.com/agriculture/animal-ag/giacomazzi-dairy-farm-video/
• Article highlighting some of the environmental work in almonds Dino is doing https://newsroom.almonds.com/content/ag-secretary-goes-for-full-almond-experience
• Video of the Giacomazzi Brothers https://youtu.be/1sdK0FdnM_g
• Nut milking exposed video (so funny) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJCTIPWPNtw

Other links of interest:

https://californiagrown.org/blog/meet-a-farmer-dino-giacomazzi-of-giacomazzi-dairy/

You can learn a lot talking to a rice farmer about the way he works with the land to produce one of the world's most common foods. We talk with YouTuber & Matthew Sligar of Rice Farming TV.

Matthew talks with us about the way rice is grown in California and we discuss some of the other ways rice is grown. Some of the things that people who enjoy eating rice may be interested in -- what's the difference in brown & white rice, why is some rice cheaper than other types, etc.

We also talk about the way Matthew utilizes his creativity to share the story of rice in video as well as a brand new children's book.

Links mentioned during this episode:

Blog post that provides photos & more: https://groundedbythefarm.com/rice-farmer/

Where to find Matthew Sligar online:

• RiceFarming TV on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChGgTSaa-uh9u5EQWX4H1Zg
• RiceFarmingTV.com

Rice recipes from some farmers who love to cook https://groundedbythefarm.com/rice-recipes/

Where to find Grounded by the farm online:

• groundedbythefarm.com
• YouTube Grounded by the Farm
• Instagram GroundedbytheFarm_
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groundedbythefarmpage/

Matthew's videos we mentioned:

• Offering trick or treaters a grain of rice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JccascD6cUc
• Explaining what it's like to be a Rice Krispy Treat farmer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Zr4SVYpKU

• Making sushi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KEZ_n1BtIc
• The difference in brown and white rice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my3niPHe7w0

• Planting Rice! Tractors Working on the Farm Day 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNBiqEGOYCk
• The full 2020 crop year playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRSculVic7tuqozS60BrUgkb6jrplbMka

• 2019 harvest — a story of breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDuKZpZ6_ig
• 2019 rice harvest is Brazil https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvU_NEm9OGw

When you think of the many foods we love that are made of wheat -- pasta, breads, baked goods and so much more -- it's easy to think of wheat as a single thing. But reality is, there are many different kinds of wheat and what makes the best pasta but may not make the best noodles for another use or the best breads.

Montana wheat farmer Michelle Jones talks with us about growing wheat, how the wheat she grows will be used and what she's learned as a member and leader of some grain grower organizations.

Key links for this episode:

• Post with photos, etc -- https://groundedbythefarm.com/what-kind-of-wheat/
• Michelle's website -- BigSkyFarmHer.com
• Wheat 101 post that includes the map of where each type of wheat is grown https://bigskyfarmher.com/2018/01/27/wheat-101-a-guide-to-wheat/
• Michelle's instagram https://www.instagram.com/bigskyfarmher/

Other links of interest:

• Talking about semolina with a chef https://jploveslife.com/agriculture/ag-awareness/w-is-for-wheat-semolina-wheat-can-get-chefs-talking/
• Making your own bread from wheat berries https://plowingthroughlife.com/the-local-loaf
• Grounded by the Farm blog https://groundedbythefarm.com/blog/
• Interview with a barley farmer https://groundedbythefarm.com/ever-met-a-beer-farmer-that-malted-barley-has-to-start-somewhere/ and the companion interview with a brewery https://groundedbythefarm.com/crafting-a-beer-that-has-a-depth-of-local-flavor-connecting-to-farmers/ and videos with each https://groundedbythefarm.com/craft-beer-tennessee-brew/

There have been a lot of things happening in America's food system over the past few weeks and while we have talked about some elements in various episodes so far, the big picture still is a question for many. That led YouTuber Kay Johnson of Happy Trails Hiking to take a different spin on her live Foodie Friday show. This week's podcast is the bulk of that interview.

We discuss some of the various things we may be seeing in the day-to-day (at grocery stores, restaurants, and how farms are connected). We talk about dairy, meat, some of the baking supplies and more.

You can see the full event on Youtube at https://youtu.be/dQzP0G6GJxA

Key links mentioned:

• Grounded by the Farm's website https://groundedbythefarm.com/
• Grounded by the Farm's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1RgGoXaVDcFTZ9EcWJDzfw/featured?view_as=subscriber
• Happy Trails Hiking YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0HmirE1SUNoSnDOgeIKfqg

Previous episodes of Grounded by the Farm that are referred to are included with the timecode below.

Questions asked of Janice Person, host of Grounded by the Farm:

1:56 Do farmers still have meat and produce that they want to sell?

2:47 Can you tell us a difference in selling to restaurants and schools, etc and selling to grocery stores?

5:36 What's been happening with milk?

6:14 Is there a way that we can help farmers? (remember the farm direct boxes discussed https://groundedbythefarm.com/the-perfect-avocado/)

10:19 Can we talk about meat a little bit? (two episodes talking with a vet & beef producer https://groundedbythefarm.com/picking-out-steaks-under-appreciated-cuts-of-beef-part-1-feutz/ & https://groundedbythefarm.com/caring-for-beef-cattle/

14:18 What's happening with grocery bills?

15:01 Cooking and baking having an impact too?

18:05 I keep hearing people say our food supply chain is broken like that. What's changed in the last few months

20:18 Our routines have really shifted. That includes restaurants.

22:08 It seems more people want to be involved or informed? (includes some mention of gardening https://groundedbythefarm.com/building-a-community-garden/)

23:19 Do you think that our food supply will go back to normal like normal? Like it was before?

Natasha Nicholes has been building a community garden & the community that inspires more people to grow food in their backyard for years. She started locally, growing a efw plants at a condo and grew to a backyard before getting permission to plant lots on Chicago's South Side & online. Her community lives the moniker "We Sow We Grow" meeting gardeners where they are and seeing all celebrate each other's accomplishments and helping them manage challenges.

Links

Read more and see photos at https://groundedbythefarm.com/building-a-community-garden/

The We Sow We Grow Gardening Chat community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/wesowwegrowchat/

You can support We Sow We Grow through PayPal donations https://bit.ly/3f28bYb as well as buying various products like the "Dirty by Nature" t-shirts on TeeSpring https://teespring.com/stores/we-sow-we-grow

Natasha Nicholes' blog Houseful of Nicholes https://housefulofnicholes.com/ she has a category that shares a lot of gardening information including some projects to do with your kids https://housefulofnicholes.com/category/food-farm/wesowwegrow she walks through basics like how to read a seed packet

Time codes of interest:

Finding a Family Passion for Gardening 1:36

Growing in Containers & Square Foot Gardening 5:35

Pride on Chicago's South Side 7:21

Becoming a master urban farmer / master gardener 11:50

Tough years & good years 17:18

Creating community & a non-profit 19:50

Lots of people turning to gardening 22:21

Difference in scale farm - garden 24:55

Growing all the things 27:13

Planning to Plant 29:45

Where to Start 30:52

Supporting the community 32:48

The search for the perfect avocado is a search many of us have been on. But avocado farmers like Mimi Holtz, who is known simply as Mimi Avocado online, know what to look for and what impacts the tasty goodness we all crave. Listen as she shares favorite recipes, some of the everyday ways the Holtz family enjoys avocados, insight on how the crop is grown and tips for delighting kids.

Links mentioned in this episode:

• a video tour of the farm https://groundedbythefarm.com/avocado-farm-tour/
• detailed post from podcast https://groundedbythefarm.com/the-perfect-avocado/
• Mimi Avocado's blog (includes great recipe, farm stories, etc http://mimiavocado.com)
• Website where the Holtz family sells avocados & other fruits & vegetables direct https://www.californiaavocadosdirect.com/

Key topics & timecodes in the episode include:

• Selling produce by the box including expanded vegetables due to COVID19 1:23
• Varieties of avocados they grow (Haas, Fuerte, Bacon, Reed, Nabal, Gwen, etc) 4:30
• Favorite ways to eat avocados 9:20
• How to store avocados at home 12:35
• Understanding avocado growth 16:40
• How long do trees produce 20:00
• Food safety 22:00
• Pruning and picking 24:20
• Avocado box subscriptions 26:50
• Blogging as Mimi Avocado 28:00
• Ways to draw kid's interest 30:00

A detailed transcript and photos are available at http://groundedbythefarm.com/enough-food/.

Links for this episode are at the bottom of the list of timecodes, etc.

Val Wagner and her husband Mark farm and raise a family of four boys in Monango, North Dakota. We talk with her about how they plan for and store food for a family that size as well as a bit about the crops and livestock they raise.

The latest episode of Grounded by the Farm speaks to something many of us are facing this week whether we are at home in big cities or rural areas — we are focused on having enough food at home. Buying, storing, and cooking more meals.

The last time I was at home cooking this much was when I lived in the Mississippi Delta, an area I frequently called the middle of nowhere. I personally am looking at food differently. Although I have many grocery stores and restaurants within a mile or two, I am planning for my meals, thinking about what I need to have in the house for a week or two instead of going out to the grocery store every few days or stopping by restaurants so much more often.

My friend Val Wagner who lives in North Dakota came to mind as she lives well away from a grocery and has a big family. I knew she'd have a lot of tips to share.

Meet Val Wagner & Her Family 1:05 Not Everyone Visits North Dakota 1:40 Growing Sweet Corn 5:31 How do you store sweet corn & other food long-term? 7:46 Having Freezers Ready 11:14 Getting Meat Processing Done 13:15 Focus on Herd Health 17:35 2019 Was a Bad Weather Year 21:44 Thinking about Empty Grocery Shelves 23:33 Planning Further Out, Eating at Home More 27:03 Caring for Special Dietary Needs 33:18 May Need To Consider New Normal 36:47 Supporting Local Businesses 39:21 What if you want to buy local meat? 42:55 Find Val Wagner Online 45:54

• Wag'n Tales (wagfarms.com) her blog
• @wagfarms on Twitter
• Val Wagner or Wag'n Tales on Facebook
• posts about their sweet corn https://wagfarms.com/2012/05/18/some-sweet-sweet-corn/ and https://wagfarms.com/2012/08/17/the-ultimate-gift/
• More info about the metabolic issue Eli has https://wagfarms.com/tag/ornithine-transcarbamylase-deficiency/

Other Links of Interest

The website Grounded by the Farm http://groundedbythefarm.com/ and the contact form for ideas on local food or to offer suggestions for the show https://groundedbythefarm.com/contact/

Post about working cows at the Wagners' farm https://jploveslife.com/agriculture/animal-ag/city-slicker-working-cows-dakota-vacation-highlight/

How to freeze sweet corn https://www.beyerbeware.net/2013/07/how-to-freeze-sweet-corn.html

Discussion on cattle care with a veterinarian https://groundedbythefarm.com/caring-for-beef-cattle/

Farm near Memphis that sells beef direct to consumers https://www.facebook.com/SpringValleyFamilyFarms/

Moving cattle close to home and barn https://groundedbythefarm.com/beef-cattle-farmer-veterinarian/

Favorite popcorn to have around https://groundedbythefarm.com/growing-popcorn/

A good pantry recipe red beans and rice https://jploveslife.com/food/red-beans-and-rice-recipe-instant-pot/

post about a friend's farm that sells avocados directly https://jploveslife.com/food/avocado-farm/

Links mentioned during this episode:

Previous episode talking steaks, burgers, types of cattle and animal use/waste https://groundedbythefarm.com/picking-out-steaks-under-appreciated-cuts-of-beef-part-1-feutz/

Video of Marybeth with the cows talking about feed https://groundedbythefarm.com/beef-cattle-farmer-veterinarian/

Marybeth's website is myfearlesskitchen.com easy recipes you can make at home & great resources on meat especially

Experts on sustainability and the impact of animal agriculture include

• Dr. Jude Capper https://twitter.com/Bovidiva and https://bovidiva.com/
• Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam https://twitter.com/BioBeef and https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty/alison-van-eenennaam

Contact Lyles Station lylesstation.com and read more here https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2016/06/telling-the-story-of-lyles-station

That time I worked cows https://jploveslife.com/agriculture/animal-ag/city-slicker-working-cows-dakota-vacation-highlight/

Recipes from the Farm on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/recipesfromthefarm/

Additional Show Notes:

First time to do an interview via phone, so now I have a whole new set of lessons to learn about audio. Sorry occasionally the echo is rough here.

Stress in cattle can sometimes impact the meat. There are four things farmers do to minimize stress:

1. Provide enough of the right type of food — pasturing makes this pretty easy some times of year but you also have to consider the winter, etc and how much you need to supplement with hay, etc.
2. Insure a supply of clean water — Keeping it going year round can be a challenge with freezing, etc. but it is critical
3. Give them shelter — Windbreaks, maybe a three sided shed, all have the ability to help cattle with the cold and wind. In the summer, access to shade on hot days is critical. Amazing their herd instinct keeps most of them together even when it is so hot.
4. Pay attention to predators — The Feutz family has their cattle in small pastures closer to the house which helps as do dogs.

We discuss the health and care for beef cattle, how the decision differs from pets. How something simple for humans like a broken leg can create intense issues for a cow and how the herd mentality and need to keep moving really makes recuperation near impossible. As well as how flies which can seem pesky to us can present real health challenges if left uncontrolled in cattle.

Talk a bit about veal production and how that works, how Marybeth's opinion has changed as she's talk to veal producers and come to understand how they treat animals. The meat is different for a couple of reasons 1) veal calves are raised on milk so the meat stays a light pink color and 2) the calves have smaller areas to walk around in and consequently don't get as intense muscular build so even short ribs are more tender.

Explains filet mignon placement and why it is tender vs short ribs.

Talk about cow farts, cow burps and the environment going into why cow farts aren't a concern at all, but burps are methane releases from the fermentation process that naturally happens in the rumen. The information online Marybeth sees frequently is incredibly misleading because animal agriculture has such a small impact on climate and carbon, especially when compared to the various pieces of the energy and transportation.

Experts on sustainability and the impact of animal agriculture include

• Dr. Jude Capper https://twitter.com/Bovidiva and https://bovidiva.com/
• Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam https://twitter.com/BioBeef and https://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/people/faculty/alison-van-eenennaam

On manure management. They have started a program for containment & use of manure on their farm, the family's garden and are donating some to an educational farm nearby called Lyles Station lylesstation.com. Lyles Station was one of the first African American farming communities in the state and still runs a lot of programs to help children understand history, our food and more. You can read more here https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2016/06/telling-the-story-of-lyles-station

We talk a bit about getting attached to cows and knowing when it is their time which is different in a cow-calf herd like the Feutz's versus steers raised for beef. In a cow-calf operation farmers have cows for 15 maybe even 20 years sometimes whereas raising steers is usual a year or a year and a half. They are especially attached to Michelle who was born on inauguration day in 2009 along with a bull calf they named Barack. Michelle is a great mom and looks after other cows calves almost like day care. Marybeth knows it will be hard to lose Michelle, but also understands they are here for a purpose and need to serve the purposes they can.

Cows can drink 50 gallons of water a day and will eat you out of house and home faster than a teenager!

We talk cowboy boots, knee high rubber boots and Danskos too.

Working cows with Val https://jploveslife.com/agriculture/animal-ag/city-slicker-working-cows-dakota-vacation-highlight/

Red beans and rice recipe mentioned https://jploveslife.com/food/red-beans-and-rice-recipe-instant-pot/

Marybeth's website is myfearlesskitchen.com a lot of ideas on easy stuff you can make at home

Short rib recipes slow cooked https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/slow-cooked-short-ribs/, sweet onion teriyaki https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/sweet-onion-teriyaki-beef-ribs/, slow cooker Italian https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/slow-cooker-italian-short-ribs/ and garlic herb short ribs https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/garlic-herb-slow-cooked-pork-ribs/

Ground beef buyer's guide https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/ground-beef-buyers-guide/ and 79 recipes you can make with ground beef https://www.myfearlesskitchen.com/79-amazing-ground-beef-recipes/

Recipes from the farm Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/recipesfromthefarm/