Spring update and syrup visit
lisa albrecht
Just thought I would let everyone know about my truly wonderful adventures with the USDA. Thanks to your tip in the workshop, it looks like I might be getting a hoop house next year!! I did a bit of research on obtaining a hoop house through the NRCS EQIP program, as was suggested in the workshop. Here are a few helpful links to the program.
Initial info:
http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip.html
Detailed 94 page info on what farmers can apply for(includes hoop house on page 63):
http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqip11/EQIPcookbookFY11.pdf
Here is the application to sign up for the program. (HINT: If you show up to the USDA office with this already filled out, they will be very impressed!!)
http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip_policy/EQIPapp_CCC1200.pdf
So, since I am in Waupaca county, I showed up at the USDA service center for my area which just happened to be in Waupaca. They were really impressed that I even knew about the program, much less had a form already filled out and ready to hand in. I had to register my farm in their database. They somehow had a topo map already of my farm with the fields labeled as to where the hoop house could be located. The clincher is that you have to make at least $1,000 of income from your property in order to qualify for this program. Because I traded my hay crop for snowplowing services this year, this automatically qualified me for the program. Otherwise I would have to be selling an awful lot of green peppers and tomatoes at the farmer's market this year!!!! But you can probably come up with a similar plan to use your land to trade for services and thus qualify for the program. The deadline has already passed for getting a hoophouse for this year, but you can
apply for it now, as I have done, and get in line for next year's hoop houses!! I will find out in the Fall whether I will be awarded one in the Spring! You also get bonus points toward getting one if you are a beginning farmer!!!She told me that everyone who has applied for one in Waupaca county has received one. THEY HAVE NEVER TURNED ANYONE DOWN! Can't hurt to try!!!
I began my plant starts for the gardens weeks ago. Check out my plantings on Folia. http://myfolia.com/gardener/flumefarmgirl#photo_container_173756
That is a great source to share info on gardening in general and specific info on individual plants.
I am going to show up on Thursday to Dave's sap boiling. I live so close to him that I would have to drive back to town to pick anyone up. However, I still need directions. Hope everyone is well. Happy, happy Spring Everyone!!!
-lisa
tech contact
I really do have to do a bitch about this (though congrats to lisa if she gets one) for I went directly to the place in the stevens point annex building where this 'eqip'grant had just been talked about and because I had enough common sense, found out it was expired for this year by only weeks. As a traumatic-brain-injured guy who survived a fall to his skull from 35-feet, I have found every government/assistance/nrcs to be close to useless to a disabled person like me unless I have a full working staff that can accomplish the tasks that need to be done to help me get grant help, just to plant better crops.
This is why i have a hard time dealing with the government. Sorry for this vent but based on 100% true facts.
Brian Wiza
Johnson, Scott
Enjoy the day,
Scott
Scott Johnson
Director
Central Wisconsin Environmental Station
10186 County Road MM
Amherst Junction, WI 54407
715-824-2428
www.uwsp.edu/cwes
jo...@farmshed.org
Maplewood Gardens is located a half mile North of Elderon on Highway 49. The address is 680 Hwy 49. Here is a map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=680+Hwy+49,+Elderon+WI+54429 Dave's farm is actually a bit farther up the road than where the map says it is. You can see the diverse gardens in the photo. It is on the West side of the highway.
Have a great day on Thursday. When you get there Dave might already be in the maplewoods, which is at the far West end of the property. You should park near the house and walk back to the woods to find him. If anyone else is interested in going on Saturday let me know.
Thanks,
John
John Sheffy
Farmer Community Organizer
www.farmshed.org
715.343.5956
drga...@wittenbergnet.net
It is good to hear that you had a good experience with USDA. Currently
they are at the top of my Undesirables list for their recent action
involving GMO'S and the Terminator gene. It will be good to see you on
Thursday. I will have hired help for gathering. If no one else shows
up, perhaps we can bottle up a bunch of the syrup that I have already
made. That would be helpful and gain you supply of syrup for helping.
If a lot of folks show up it will be difficult to do enough supervision
to get much accomplished. The season has been a disaster so far. I
have made only a sixth of a decent season and more than half the time is
gone. I am hoping this week is better, but the forecast is not really
encouraging. Thursday still looks like the best day to be out here. See
you soon. Come over to Northland Wednesday evening for the music, and I
will be better able to tell what is happening Thursday.
David
drga...@wittenbergnet.net
I am looking forward to seeing you all later this week. I can't guarantee that the weather will cooperate, It certainly hasn't so far this season. Bring pancake fixin's. I have a big old griddle and some blueberries.
David