Stepping It Up – Many Hands Organic Farm

December 9, 2024

Stepping It Up

This past week I took my yearly sojourn to Northampton (in the middle of that awful snowstorm, none-the-less) to visit my eye doctor of 18 years, Theresa Ruggiero, who specializes in people with “special” eye concerns – in my case, albinism, crossed-eyes, non-binocular vision, and low, somewhat uncorrectable (by use of eye glasses) vision. She challenged me to really take some strides toward working those two eyes together. Those of you who have two eyes that work in concert probably haven’t spent much time thinking about the ramifications of one’s eyes constantly fighting over who will be in charge, or vying for passivity. Take it from me, it is a drag on many levels. In the past Theresa has suggested that my eyes will probably never work together, regardless of vision therapy, but Thursday she challenged me to a binocular duel. After some thought, I have decided to get going on this certain total life experience improving challenge. After being reintroduced to yoga about a year ago by Jennifer, I am now practicing yoga ½ hour per day and feeling strong and centered. Time to go forth on the eye front to make a total commitment to visual, and likely structural and emotional balance. Wish me luck. What better time of year for a farmer to double down on a persistent handicap, with a little free time for self-care.

Expressing Gratitude this Week

Saturday night found Jack and me watching an American Experience documentary of the Love Canal crisis in the late 70’s. This mammoth toxic waste dump (over which was built a grade school and a modest income housing project for first time homebuyers -mostly white, and subsidized rental housing – mostly black) became a crisis when it came apart in the blizzard of 1977. Lois Gibbs was catapulted to national fame when she, a housewife and mother in the neighborhood, rose to leadership in the fight that culminated in the passing of the Superfund Legislation of 1980 to address this and other toxic waste dumps that were located all over the country.

Lois is about my age, and whereas I was an outside organizer, she rose from the neighborhood and learned how to organize her neighbors to mount and win this incredible campaign to get some sort of justice for the residents of this Niagara Falls neighborhood where many died or ended up with birth defects and lifelong serious health complications from the toxic waste that was literally bubbling up in their neighborhood and in the school play yard. Eventually Lois moved away to the Washington DC area where she has committed the rest of her life to working with local citizens all over the world to fight toxicity in their neighborhoods.

Sometimes we are called to rise out of our comfort zone to become exceptional people. Lois Gibbs, in my opinion, is a remarkable example of a person of this caliber.

Victory! Federal Court Strikes Down Lax GMO Rules, Halts GE Crop Introductions Without USDA Oversight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec 3, 2024

CONTACT:
George Kimbrell
gkimbrell@centerforfoodsafety.org
(571) 527-8618

Court Ruling Holds 2020 Regulations Exempting Most GE Crops from Oversight Contradicted the Agency’s Own Prior Conclusions and Are Unsupported by Science.

San Francisco, CA — In a precedential victory for food and environmental safety, a federal district court ruled today that genetically engineered (GE) organisms must be regulated. The Court’s ruling overturns the 2020 rule overhaul by the first Trump administration that had eliminated most government oversight over GE crops, trees, and grasses.

“This is a critical victory on behalf of farmers, the planet, and scientific integrity,” said George Kimbrell, legal director for the lead plaintiff Center for Food Safety, and counsel in the case. “USDA tried to hand over its job to Monsanto and the pesticide industry and the Court held that capitulation contrary to both law and science.”

The ruling is a rebuke of the first Trump administration’s efforts to practically eliminate oversight of novel GE technology and instead let industry self-regulate. Previously, nearly all GE plants went through agency approval before experimental planting and again before any commercial use. Center for Food Safety and allies sued USDA in 2021 to reverse this rollback, arguing that the rule change violated numerous environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Plant Protection Act. Today, the Court held that the regulations violate the Plant Protection Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The Court’s decision sharply criticized the defendant federal agency for its abrupt reversal after more than a decade of recognizing the harms of novel GE technology. The Court at various points held the agency decision was in “direct conflict with the conclusion of its own experts,” and was based on “perception and beliefs” that are merely “asserted as fiat untethered to a clear and sound analysis.” Despite USDA’s repeated admissions of the need for stronger—not lesser—regulations, the rule unlawfully ignored these concerns of GE crops’ risks.

As such, the Court found that the rule did not address “a single one of these issues” that the agency itself previously raised. The Court also found that the exemption of GE crops was “repudiated” by the “scientific evidence in the record,” specifically the conclusions and recommendations from the National Academies of Science. Finally, concluding that the agency’s errors were “significant,” the Court struck down the rules based on those violations alone, determining it unnecessary to yet reach the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act claims.

The plaintiffs in the case are the National Family Farm Coalition, Pesticide Action Network, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Biological Diversity, and Center for Food Safety, all represented by counsel from the Center for Food Safety.

Additional Background
Now in commercial production for several decades, GE crop systems are well known to cause several significant agricultural and environmental harms. Such harms include organic and conventional crop contamination from GE crops and market closures, significant increase in pesticide use, and the proliferation of pesticide-resistant “superweeds.” Because the vast majority of GMOs are engineered to be resistant to weed-killing pesticides, they have dramatically increased the amount of these chemicals sprayed in U.S. agriculture.

These GE herbicide-resistant crop systems have triggered an epidemic of herbicide-immune weeds, which now infest 120 million acres, leading to a toxic spiral of weeds immune to ever more herbicides, and increased spraying of toxic chemical cocktails to kill them. Genetically engineered crops, including rice to alfalfa to corn and many others, have caused farmers billions of dollars in market losses from transgenic contamination of conventional or organic crops, as food companies and foreign markets reject tainted supplies.

USDA has repeatedly acknowledged the need for stronger GE crop regulations since 2000, when Congress enacted the Plant Protection Act, giving the agency broad new authority to prevent agricultural, economic, and environmental harms. After several false starts to implement this new authority beginning in 2004, nearly a decade-and-a-half later, in 2020, the USDA—under the prior Trump administration— reversed course and dramatically weakened its oversight of GE organisms. Instead of strengthening rules that were already anemic, the 2020 revisions either exempts most GE crops from any regulation or subjects them to cursory reviews that sidestep serious analysis of their actual harms.

Statements from Other Plaintiffs on the Decision

“A growing body of science shows that GE crops dramatically escalate toxic herbicide use, causing harm to farmers, rural communities, and biodiversity. USDA needs to urgently prioritize a high standard of oversight for GE organisms to evaluate real risks for people and the environment,” said Dana Perls, program manager of Food and Technology at Friends of the Earth, a plaintiff in this case.

“For the past few decades, America’s family farms have struggled under the control of the corporate agrochemical industry, making it nearly impossible for farmers to find anything other than patented-GE seed and pesticide technologies,” said Jim Goodman, Board President of plaintiff National Family Farm Coalition, a plaintiff in the case. “Today’s Court decision is a victory for family farms, consumers, and the environment. If the agrochemical industry is allowed to determine the approval of their patented products, farmers will have no measure of fairness in the seed market.”

“This victory is an important step in making sure the GE crops triggering escalating use of harmful pesticides across millions of acres are actually regulated,” said Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity, a plaintiff in the case. “We know GE crops engineered to withstand what would otherwise be a fatal dousing of pesticides are playing a major role in driving endangered species like rusty patched bumblebees toward extinction. The extensive harm to wildlife and plants caused by these poisons must be properly studied so we can get adequate protections in place before it’s too late.”

Circle of Song Concert

The Circle of Song, our community chorus in which Jack and I, and also Dany, Paula and Marcia participate, is holding our annual Christmas concert this next Saturday, December 14 at 7pm at the Barre Town Hall, 2 Echange Street.

We have been working quite assiduously on a masterwork titled Requiem for the Living by Dan Forrest, a young contemporary composer. Come celebrate with us this large feat for a community chorus. Additionally, we will sing two songs under the leadership of our pianist, Cailan McClure – Ave Maria, and Aint-a That Good News. And afterwards we will eat and chat.

We start up again on January 16 on Thursday nights at the Barre Town Hall. We are always welcoming new folks, and if you are an alto, we might ask you to sing soprano 2! Contact me for more details.

The CSA is Over

Have you returned your bags or filled out the evaluation?

Fall Evaluation – please fill it out. It will take just a couple of minutes.

Save Money on the 2025 CSA Share – Order before the end of the year

Yes, you can get in on some end of the year savings if you sign up by December 31. We have gotten rid of the sliding scale, as it was too confusing to folks, and are back with one price. Production costs for us go up across the board, and we also plan to give our salaried staff a $1/hour pay increase in 2025. And we appreciate early commitment to this venture, which comes to 50% of our budget, and are encouraging you to commit early by offering this discount.

Small shares – $475 before January 1; $500 in the new year
Medium shares – $640 before January 1; $675 in the new year
Large shares – $835 before January 1; $875 in the new year
SNAP shares – $Small – $425; Medium: $525; Large: $725

CSA Order Form

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A New Offering from December to May: Bi-weekly Egg Deliveries to Athol, Holden, Worcester, Gardner and Shrewsbury

It started on December 2. Sign up now for the best eggs from the happiest, healthiest and completely free range certified organic chickens that you will encounter. Visit the description and details page.

Egg Subscription Order Form

Volunteering at MHOF

Mondays and Fridays 8-12 with lunch. Like the cold? This is the volunteer experience for you. Enquire.

Jennifer’s recipe for the week

As the last vegetables from the summer farm share come to an end, a familiar sense of sadness settles in. The vibrant colors and fresh flavors of the produce, harvested at their peak, slowly fade as I open my refrigerator to find only the hearty root vegetables that have survived the colder months: carrots, potatoes, and squash. Each year, as the CSA season winds down, I feel a small sense of loss. The convenience of local, fresh produce — and the joy that comes from cooking with it — gives way to the challenge of finding store-bought vegetables that, never taste or cook the same.

But this year, there’s an added layer of gratitude. Thanks to the abundance I preserved from Many Hands Organic Farm, I have a stockpile of tomatoes, corn, broccoli, parsley, apples, and pears, ready to nourish me through the winter months. The chickens, leftover turkey, and pork from the farm also provide a comforting reminder of the seasonal cycle and the food that will sustain me until next year. While I look forward to the return of fresh, vibrant vegetables next season, I am also reminded of the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda and its emphasis on eating with the seasons.

It has also been such a gift to work on Many Hands Organic Farm this year, helping to raise the food from the CSA and care for the animals. Being involved in the entire process has deepened my appreciation for the food and where it comes from. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in this cycle of growth and nourishment. I look forward to being a part of this process again in 2025.

This Week’s Recipe

As I reflect on the transition between seasons, I want to share a comforting recipe for Haddock Chowder, a warming dish made with carrots, cilantro, and potatoes from Dan’s farm. This soup embodies the richness of winter vegetables, paired with the lightness of fresh fish. The carrots add a natural sweetness, while the cilantro brings a refreshing herbal note, creating a balanced dish perfect for the colder days ahead. Here’s the recipe.

Do Your Christmas Shopping at MHOF

Check out our gussied up “Available at the Farm” page and be advised that the garlic powder is almost sold out! Thanks for shopping with us!

Available Now at the Farm

AEA Blog | 12.4.24

An Introduction to Critical Points of Influence
Take advantage of hormonal shifts to power your plants.
By John Ela | 2-minute read

“Critical Points of Influence” is a phrase coined by John Kempf to describe the narrow windows during a plant’s development when it undergoes a significant hormonal shift. At these points, a great deal of the plant’s future yield potential or disease susceptibility is determined. The points are “Critical” because they present opportunities for a grower to take actions that can have outsized effects on yield and quality. The plant relies on a few key nutrients at each Critical Point of Influence; delivering the right amount of the right nutrition in the right form at these points will help growers influence their bottom line.

The physiological effects at these Critical Points of Influence are similar throughout all plants and crop types. They may happen in different orders or at different times of the year, but the general principles apply to all crops, whether they are annuals or perennials, single- or multi-fruiting, woody or herbaceous.

In this series of blog posts, we will describe 6 of the Critical Points of Influence, the ways we can influence the crop at each point, and the nutrients that the savvy grower needs to manage at each of them.

Those 6 Critical Points of Influence are:

Bud Initiation
Bloom / Pollination
Cell Division
Fruit / Grain Fill
Ripening
Vegetative Growth

Vegetative vs. Reproductive Dominance

Generally speaking, as a plant grows, it shifts between two dominant modes: vegetative and reproductive. There are a variety of ways to think about these two modes: expansion and contraction, masculine and feminine, shoots and roots.

A Critical Point of Influence occurs when the plant shifts from one mode to the next.

It’s important to note that both of these modes exist simultaneously throughout the plant’s life, and that “dominance” generally involves a slight advantage to one of them. For example, it may be 55% vegetative to 45% reproductive energy: both exist strongly within the plant, but in this case, the vegetative energy will be dominant. Because the edge is so tight, often it doesn’t take much to push the plant into the other mode, which is power for the grower who wants to influence their plants.

Auxin & Cytokinin
The vegetative and reproductive modes are controlled by two primary plant hormones: auxin and cytokinin. It’s worth diving a bit into how these two hormones work, as it will greatly enhance our understanding of the Critical Points of Influence.

Auxin is produced in two locations in the plant:

Growing shoot tips
Developing seeds

Auxin acts as a magnet for sugar within the plant; wherever auxin concentrations are highest, that’s where the plant will send its sugars from photosynthesis.
By contrast, cytokinin is produced in:

Growing root tips

Auxin and cytokinin are to some degree competitive; each is trying to gain dominance within the plant. Auxins produced at the shoot tips will move down through the plant into the roots, where they will shut down cytokinin production, and cytokinin moves up the plant and slows down auxin production. Cytokinin will trigger reproduction, while auxin will trigger growth.

In the coming blog posts in this series, we’ll discuss how various nutrients synergize with auxin and cytokinin, and how to use those nutrients to alter plant behavior to your benefit.

Farm Doin’s

Marcia spreading seaweed

Marcia turned 69 this week

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Monday, we scurried to get some more seaweed out on the farm, but alas, it snowed on Thursday, and at least for now, that project is on hold. We did get one movable bird house fixed, only 13 more to go.