Tag Archives: land

November 19, 2011

workin’ the land…

so if ya recall …. our land looked like this before the bossy got to it ….

bossy land (before)

this was back in july, after we decided to go ahead and rent it and transform it from its 20 years of pasture mix to the new home … temporary home…of bossy acres.

but first things first!

despite renting, we wanted to ensure that we were working with a solid foundation…one that is full of the nutrients that is needed for healthy, productive vegetables, herbs, and wildflowers. so it was worth it to us to begin with the soils….and to invest in the soil.

after all …. one of the most important factors in healthy vegetables, is healthy soil.

nice, crumble to the soil

so we brought in midwestern bio-ag ….a local company that understands the importance of building healthy soils and focusing on biological farming rather than chemical use.

we started with numerous soil samples to get the best picture of where our soils sat with respect to not only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but other key nutrients and trace elements that were crucial to the soil’s health.

soil plugs for analysis

about a week later, we sat down with our agronomist, steve lazarski, and received a full 9-page comprehensive analysis of our land, it’s abundancies as well as its deficiencies.

time to form a game plan of organic soil correctives using natural resources like rock phosphate, high-calcium lime, manure, and organic fertilizer.

organic soil correctives

throughout the next couple of weeks, we hauled a lot of manure….spread the organic fertilizer and all-natural soil correctives and getting one step closer to even healthier soils and a great foundation for bossy crops!

strip tilling beds

and of course….we did everything with very little inputs …. utilizing free horse manure from the neighboring farmer resulting in very little gas and hauling costs….not to mention our use and belief of minimum tillage. we chose stripping or strip tilling to cut back on the amount of land that we tore up as well as the inputs of tractor, implement, and fuel use.

knee deep

old school

we also used a walk-behind spreader to broadcast our organic fertilizer and soil correctives….enjoying the september weather and a nice walk up and down our beds.

finger guns!

it was so exciting that i couldn’t help but pull out the finger guns!

bossy land tilled

bossy acres was comin’ alive!

Leave a comment | tags: compost, dayton, farming, fertilizer, land, manure, midwestern bio ag, minnesota, organic, tilling, tractor | posted in bossy acres

November 19, 2011

tell me of this bossy …

By bossy acres

have you ever had a burning desire and

passion to just get out there and pursue your dream?

that’s the story of bossy acres.

it all started when i got my first taste of working on an organic vegetable farm back in michigan….funny farm organics, in the very small town of grant.

long hours…sweaty backs….dirty hands….deep in the soil….the intoxicating smells of the earth…of nature….and the sounds…oh the sounds….of birds chirping…of grasshoppers leaping from one plant to the next…..of peace.

i loved it.

and then there were the farmers’ markets. gorgeous displays…all the people…..chattin’ veggies….recipes….seeing their smiles and hearing them rave over our tomatoes … rainbow carrots…it was a high.

i loved it.

from there, i moved here to minnesota – took on another internship that focused on organic veggies and livestock. i quickly established an even greater appreciation for my food and meat and dairy. i learned homesteading in a whole different way ….. making our own maple syrup…keeping bees….brewing beer, hard cider, and wine….baking bread….being resourceful….living off the land ….

i loved it.

and then that fire in the belly thing hit and there was no turning back.

it was time for bossy acres.

it was time to pursue our dream.

our passion of living a life that is sustainable and in many ways, self-sufficient.

a life of meaning, of balance, of health.

and so that’s the journey we’re on today.

of nourishing ourselves and our community.

Leave a comment | tags: bossy acres, community, farming, food, health, land, organic, passion | posted in bossy acres

November 19, 2011

securing the land

By bossy acres

on july 4, 2011 we decided to pull the trigger and finally start bossy acres!

we posted an ad outlining our interests and specifications in renting land – hittin’ up various listservs and even craigslist. within a few hours, we had a pretty good week of appointments lined up with various landowners and farmers.

after makin’ our rounds – checking out a handful of places – we found the place for us!

nestled among the wonderful biodiversity that native grasses, towering trees, wetlands, pasture, and lakes offer….there it was…..a humble, 2-acre plot. one, that for the last 20 years, has been in pasture mix and only hayed by the neighboring farmer.

bossy land (the before)

so there it sat…full of potential….free of harsh chemicals….ready for the bossy!

another bonus…..it’s just an easy 35 mile drive from our place here in south minneapolis. not only is that convenient for my daily commute, it’s a manageable distance for serving our various markets in the cities, as well.

bossy e frolicking on our land

we were fortunate to find a landlord that farms with the same respect for the land as us…..one that grows organically and understands the importance of biodiversity and working with the environment around us.