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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — APRIL 30/MAY 7, 2021
Book tells the story of America’s forgotten farmers
One little hole in the ground. book. No, this is much more of a “We Are Each Other’s Harvest: Celebrating prayer for the Black stewards of the That’s all it takes, as big around as land, and for those who’ve listened to African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy” your little finger, a pencil eraser, a coffee their hearts and stood, one hand stirrer. A tiny fissure in the Earth, that’s by Natalie Baszile filled with dirt and the other with what you need to grow dinner next week c.2021, Amistad seeds. or next winter, flowers for your table, sus$29.99 / $36.99 Canada tenance for your animals or, as in the Whether you are a farmer, know 368 pages new book “We Are Each Other’s Harvest” one, or accept the fruits of one’s by Natalie Baszile, a tie to your past. labor, this book is the perfect meditaTHE BOOKWORM tion. Lush as a spring morning but Years ago, while taking weekly proviSEZ Natalie Baszile gives praise sharp as barbed wire, “We Are Each sions to an elderly relative, Natalie By Terri Schlichenmeyer to Black farmers and ranchOther’s Harvest” is a book for the Baszile learned that the presence of food ers, showing that what may well-grounded. in a neighborhood (or its lack) could be a seem like a newly-discovered racial issue. Shortly afterward, she discovered her Look for the reviewed book at a connectedness to the land goes way back. ancestors had been involved in farming, long before It is, in fact, a slice of the past that’s rich bookstore or a library near you. You she was born. That’s not unusual: as we learn in the as a fertile field, but also loaded with may also find the book at online book retailers. introduction here, nearly all African Americans rocks that crushed many dreams. The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has today can claim farming is in their genes. And yet, while the stories Baszile lets loose need a been reading since she was 3 years old and never It’s never been a smooth thing, though. goes anywhere without a book. She lives in wider audience today — they can’t be silent anyWisconsin with three dogs and 10,000 books. v more — anger at the past isn’t the reason for this Over and over in previous decades, Black farmers paid faithfully each month to buy farms from white landowners, only to ultimately, cruelly be denied ownership. Others persevered, and then lost their land through lack of financial literacy, or problems with banks, the USDA or the Farm Service Administration Send your letters to: — the latter which, suggested one farmer, seemed to Editor, The Land have been created to make problems. And yet, there were bright spots: like folks a cen418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001 tury ago, Black farmers know that sticking together e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com is best for all. They’re speaking up and persevering, in planting and paperwork. Black farmers have All letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) learned to think around bigger issues by forming to verify authenticity. Black-owned co-ops, teaching new farmers, making sure the next generation wants ownership of the business, and ignoring old myths which say women don’t farm. Black farmers are mentoring. They’re redefining the word “farm.” They’re doing what it When it comes to assessing stands visually, typiFOLEY, Minn. — Despite some colder temperatakes to keep possession of their land because for tures, alfalfa stands appear to be looking nice head- cally we would start from the top down. Looking at them, there just isn’t any better way to live. ing into May. However, there can be differences the tops of alfalfa plants, we look for symmetry of the between nice-looking fields and fields that will pro- buds coming from all sides of the crown. So you know where your food comes from. Bonus points if you grew it yourself. Even better, when you duce decent yields. This is why all stands need to be Asymmetrically plants indicate winter injury did assessed each spring for winter injury to make sure occur and yield potential may be lower. At this point read “We Are Each Other’s Harvest” after you’re that winter injury issues aren’t going to surprise you. you will also want to check to see if the root system done weeding. For stand assessments we need to focus on two-parts: is up out of the ground. Alfalfa taproots which have Using a little of this (fiction excerpts, poetry, and been pushed out of the ground by over an inch will quotations), along with a little of that (essays, inter- stem counts and root and crown health. With stem counts, we usually measure this as most likely be short lived during the spring provided views, first-person tales, and history), author stems per square foot. The relationship between stem they don’t break off. Next, dig up plants from three or density and yield is constant, making this method four representative locations in the field including at reliable in estimating yield. To perform a stem count, least the top 6 inches of the taproot to examine. Cut mark off a 2 square-foot section in each area you take the crown in half and examine the color and rigidity a count. Count only those stems which are 2 inches of the inside of the crown. You want to see a firm, offor taller. Divide your count by 2 and average across white interior with little to no signs of rotting. all section. This will get you to the necessary stems Discolored and spongy crown interiors indicate rotper square foot needed to check yields. Typically, ting and a plant that may not live another year. If you have questions, email ndrewitz@umn.edu, or stem counts over 55 stems per square foot indicates a good stand. In that condition, we would expect you call (608) 515-4414. could lose some plants and still produce good yields. This article was submitted by Nathan Drewitz, With stem densities of 39 stems per square foot or University of Minnesota Extension. v less, we would expect yields in those stands to be low enough to consider replacing.
Letters to the editor are always welcome.
Time for alfalfa stand assessments
