Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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that had to do with soil fertility. Whether you are small scale or large scale, it
works on both ends.”For example,“We domake our own on-farmcompost.
We make two thousand tons of compost a year. We have a compost turner.
We bring in dairy manure, and we bring in hay or straw. I used to grow my
own hay for that, but I found it was cheaper to buy that.We also get the clean
green material [yard waste like leaves and grass clippings] out of San Jose.
There is a big push to keep good green material from going into a landfill.
We do get that material and use it. I would say we are probably bringing
in 75 percent of our [compost] feedstock between the dairy manure and
the clean green material.” Of course, this sounds like organic farming on a
large scale, with such a volume of manure, but in fact, “I would say we're
medium-sized, but we are farming it more like small-scale farm because of
the cropping, smaller plantings, the succession plantings. It is not different
from a large scale, but we are growing fifty crops, so it is more like what a
market gardener would do or a small-scale person that has a more diverse
cropping system.
Although Phil started out in conventional agriculture, he wouldn't go
back. “I have learned too much about organics. I've bought into it. The
pesticide deal, I would not like to get into again. I've done all of that. When
I was the agronomist for the large company, there were some years that were
particularly bad pest years. We would have the airplanes out spraying one
or two thousand acres a night, and we would do it four or five nights a
week. Now I have just seen how things can work a little differently. I don't
think I would ever be, if I were a conventional farmer, a large-scale farmer.
I like farming for my own. I think part of the problem with conventional
is that you are being pushed to getting bigger in equipment and acreage. I
think you really put yourself at risk doing that. Not that we are so stable.
We could have things happen to us where we may not stay in business. But
I think we have a little better of a chance. I think I was lucky at the time
and got into organic at the right time, and that may be the only reason I am
in business for myself now. It is hard to say what would have happened. I,
for sure, won't ever go back into conventional farming. I am going to make
this work, and if it doesn't, well then I'll work for an organic farmer or find
something that I can do.”
He sums up his farming experience: “I think in general the farm has been
pretty good to us, and it has given me the type of employment I have always
wanted. So there are some other benefits there that are hard to put your
finger on. I want to continue farming for myself for another thirty years. I
don't see any reason I would retire. I am doing something that I like every
day, something that is 90 percent incredibly enjoyable. I have always liked
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