Farm and Ranch Living August/September 2021

Farming is a practice born of place—including some places that seem downright inhospitable to it. Our ability to plant seeds and help them flourish in all sorts of climates is remarkable. Among the places I’ve had the privilege to visit, few illustrate this idea better than the Hopi nation, where an innovative method known as dry farming was crucial to folks’ survival for thousands of years and remains central to the culture. On page 40, you’ll meet Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a Hopi farmer and educator whose work, he says, is rooted in traditional knowledge, modern science and faith. Of course, what works for growers in northeastern Arizona is bound to differ from that of their neighbors at the opposite end of the state. Just ask Jenny and Micah Garcia, who…

Volunteer Field Editors provide many of the great ideas, stories and images you see in every issue. Visit farmandranchliving.com/ fieldeditors for more information or to apply. Natalie Bright Canyon, Texas Courtney Buser Stoughton, Wisconsin Rachel Ekberg Loma Rica, California Kerysa Ford Phoenix, Arizona Karen Giebel Republic, Washington Donald Lee Grob Norman, Oklahoma Bethany Heldman Morgantown, Indiana Rob Kennedy Maryville, Tennessee Amber Kersenbrock Colby, Kansas Callie Miller Geneseo, Illinois Carrie Miller Kinsman, Ohio Lisa Minnick Logansport, Indiana Jennifer Myers Gardners, Pennsylvania Barbara Schumacher Mountain View, Missouri Cheryl Stunkel Buckeystown, Maryland Lisa Trice Cambridge, Maryland…

THANKS FOR THE THUNDERSTORMS Lily Gertsch’s photo “Welcome Weather” in the February/March issue (page 51) spoke volumes to me as I recalled my father’s constant worry about the weather and how the entire family would pray for rain. The day that the rain finally came after a long dry spell, our entire family would stand under the protection of the covered porch and let the rain hit our faces while we watched our thirsty crops come to life again. To this day thunderstorms and heavy rains bring a sense of peace and contentment. SUSAN CALLOWAY AUSTIN, TEXAS NEXT UP My husband wanted you to know that your April/May 2021 issue was the best he has read. He thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve skimmed through and plan to read it next. Thanks…

1. THE LITTLEST COWPOKE Our son Aiden, decked out in his cowboy hat and bibs, loves to visit the animals on our farm. JESSICA MICHALAK FORT PLAIN, NEW YORK 2. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON While my husband worked on our tractor, I noticed our son with a wrench in hand, “working” on his own John Deere. Such joy to see my two farmers hard at work together. SHELBY HOLT/DAWNING PHOTOGRAPHY SEAMAN, OHIO 3. A FAMILY OF FARMERS Our son Jordan and his wife, Chelsey, live on the farm with their daughters, Baylor and Mila. They have many animals: cattle, hogs, horses, goats, chickens, dogs and farm cats. Chelsey and her parents have a dairy farm, and Jordan is a grain and hog farmer with his dad. Chelsey took this photo…

Every summer Mom and I went to Grandma’s farm to help preserve her garden produce. We lived in town, so spending a week on the farm was an adventure for me. With six cows to milk, chickens to feed and hogs to slop, Grandma had little time to plan elaborate meals. For breakfast she served oatmeal. Because I was a picky eater, I would skip this course. At noon we had boiled potatoes and fried side pork. We never had salads or desserts; the vegetables we preserved were to be saved for winter meals. In the evening, we ate fried potatoes and side pork again. Bedtime was at sundown—with no electric lights, why waste money burning kerosene? Mom and I slept on straw mattresses that Grandma had made by hand.…

Rural life often revolves around planting, growing and harvesting your own food. But there is another, often overlooked component to this lifestyle: preserving the bounty. I have been canning since I was a little girl, helping my mother and grandmother in the kitchen. They would place an old double steamer on the stove to preserve all kinds of fruits, tomatoes, jams and pickles. The steamer was eventually replaced by a water bath canner that held 12 quart-size jars. My father grew a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. With the exception of bananas, we never had anything store-bought. My mother spent a good many hours every summer and fall working in the kitchen to can all the food my dad grew. We were a family of eight, so it was…