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Volume Number 5
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Issue Number 4
MARKET NEWS THE RAMAH FARMERS’ MARKET IS NOW OPEN! The Ramah Farmers’ Market is located next to the Backwoods Pizza restaurant on Route 53, ½ mile west of downtown Ramah, New Mexico. Saturdays Only, July 3 – October 2 10:00am -1:00 pm Arugula, basil, beans, dry beans, beets, bok choi, broccoli , cayenne peppers, chard, sweet corn, cress, garlic, all kinds of greens, herbs, kale, lettuce, peas, sweet peppers, spinach, squash, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini, perennial plants, dried apples, wild oregano, Indian tea, much more! Baked Goods! Crafts! Organically Raised Range-Fed Beef and Locally Raised Mutton! Nolo Bait for Grasshoppers Available - $4.00/lb – Instructions Included “Surround” for your Fruit Trees - $4.00/lb Last Market on October 2nd will be held at the Ancient Way Fall Festival Site at El Morro Community, 1 mile east of El Morro National Monument on HWY 53 For information on Produce or Craft Booths, or contributing produce to the Community Table, or other info, call Jackie 7834440
2010 Ramah Farmers’ Market Harvest Festival Goes on the Road This year the Ancient Way Fall Festival Committee has big plans for both the 11th annual Fall Festival celebration and the local
August 2010
community: After several discussions the managers and vendors of the Ramah Farmers’ Market have agreed to move the RFM Harvest Festival location from the market site to the El Morro community located on HWY 53 one mile east of El Morro National Monument. The Festival, will be held on Saturday, October 2. The produce and craft market, starting at 10:00 am, will be under a large tent set up between the Ancient Way Café and Inscription Rock Trading & Coffee Company. All the usual vendors will be in attendance.
This year the Fall Festival will feature some new and exciting exhibitions, including a Zuni bread baking exhibit, complete with a traditionally built horno, and a Navajo weaving demonstration. There will be local, live music, a Bingo Tent with turquoise jewelry prizes, craft booths, and a blacksmithing demonstration. Returning from previous festivals are the Zuni Olla maidens, who will perform several times throughout the day. The Old School Gallery will feature a quilting exhibit and a photo contest
MARKET NEWS (cont. from p. 1) The RFM Harvest Festival consists of the usual produce and craft market at 10:00 am, followed by several events starting around 11:00 and the Homestead Harvest Display Competition, Giant Pumpkin, Squash, and and the Most Beautiful Chicken Contest. All community members within a 50 mile radius of the El Morro area are invited to compete. Complete rules every Saturday, and on the Website, ramahfarmersmarket.org. The Fall Festival committee envisions this year’s Fall Festival, with its new craft related events and the presence of the Ramah Farmers traditional, County Fair. If you have a garden, can bake, or have some chickens be sure to join in the fun! Or just come and watch the fun!
The Harvest Festival managers have accepted an invitation from the Ancient Way Festival Committee to combine the Harvest Festival with the Ancient Way festivities out at the El Morro community located one mile east of El Morro National Monument. This means moving both the usual Saturday morning market for that week and the Harvest Festival eleven miles east on Highway 53 to set up between the Ancient Way Café and Inscription Rock Trading. Harvest festivals are time out of mind old. They are also worldwide. Thanksgiving held mutually by the Pilgrim colonizers and neighboring Native Americans, of course, were celebrating the harvest and honoring the agricultural forces of nature thousands of years before that. Harvest festivals celebrate abundance, and the promise of surviving the coming winter. Harvest festivals are also an opportunity to express gratitude for a successful farming season.
was an immediate success with more than 230 community members events, all focused on local food production: the Pie Contest & Auction, the Largest Pumpkin – Squash – Vegetable contests, and the Harvest Table contest. pies baked by local pie makers featuring local ingredients. Each entry consisted of 2 identical pies, one to be judged, and the other auctioned off. The rules stated that the pies must by baked with at least one main ingredient from a local garden. Eleven bakers easily rose to the occasion by presenting pies featuring locally grown rhubarb, apples and peaches. Afterward the contest the pies were auctioned off. The pie auction has
the contest broke all auction records when Daniel Boyle’s Hopi squash
intended to show Festival goers the variety of produce grown in the Ramah Area. Growers were asked to bring fruit and vegetables and arrange them attractively on a table. One of the volunteers, noting a couple of extra award ribbons left over from the giant pumpkin contest, asked Lucia Amsden to judge the displays. Hobbit Gardens won. The following year, six gardeners entered what was now a competition. That year’s winner, Kurt and Cindi Anderson, introduced a surprising innovation: The Andersons not only brought produce, they put together an exhibit that showcased Kurt’s cabinet making skills and Cindi’s competition rules that now incorporated an entrant’s homesteading skills, as well as their premium produce. Competitors were now challenged to use only props that were produced on their homesteads, created by their relatives, or by their ancestors. Also, the competition was now split into two divisions, small and large garden. Growers participating in the small garden division were judged more on creativity and less on variety.
Chicken contest. In 2009, upon request from the chicken judges, this competition was split into four classes – (Any) Hen, (Any) Rooster, Homestead Raised Hen or Rooster, and any other poultry. Moving the Harvest Festival for the 2010 celebration will require careful planning, so no new activities are being planned. Competitors have suggested, however, that a canned goods competition would be a lot of fun, as there is a lot of local talent to tap into. Maybe next year!
FIFTH ANNUAL RAMAH FARMERS’ MARKET
Harvest Festival Saturday, OCTOBER 2, 2010 Produce Market 10:00-1:00pm Craft Market 10:00–6:00 pm Festival 10:00 am-3:00pm Ramah El Morro Pine Hill Zuni Fence Lake Vanderwagon Grants Gallup All Community Members Invited to participate!
The Ramah Farmers’ MARKET & HARVEST FESTIVAL will take place at the ANCIENT WAY FALL FESTIVAL located at the EL MORRO community one mile east of El Morro National Monument ~Don’t Miss~ Annual Pie Contest!! Pie Auction!! 3rd Annual Beautiful Chicken Contest Homestead Harvest Display Competition Giant Pumpkin/Squash/ Zucchini & Weirdest Vegetable Contest and Auction Events Homestead Harvest Display Competition – Bring your most beautiful pumpkins, winter, squash, corn, vegetables, fruit, canned your own homestead produce and crafts (only) and win a prize. Take home produce or donate to be auctioned off to raise money for the market! Harvest Table set up 9:00 am - Judging begins at 10:15. Make sure you get a copy of the rules! Giant Pumpkin ~ Giant Winter Squash ~ Giant Zucchini ~ Giant Vegetable ~ Weird Veggie Contest and Auction Prizes/Ribbons given for the largest Pumpkin, Winter & Summer Squash, largest vegetable and (really strange) Weird Vegetable (or Fruit)! Entries accepted 9:00-10:00 am. Judging begins at 10:15. Pie Contest!! Pie Auction!!– Cash Prizes! Bring TWO (2) identical pies, pastry, quiche or pot pies containing at least one main ingredient grown in a local garden, e.g. apple, peach, rhubarb, pumpkin, squash, etc. or quiche –eggs, spinach, chard. etc. or pot pie - chicken, beef, etc. First pie for judging, second pie for auction fund-raiser. $2.00 Entry Fee. Prizes/Ribbons for three categories: Dessert pie (Fruit & Non-Fruit), or Dinner pie. 1st - 30.00, 2nd -20.00, 3rd -10.00. Pie Entries accepted 9:00 -10:15. Judging begins 10:30. Third Annual Beautiful Chicken Contest – Bring your most beautiful chicken for display and judging – Four Classes: Most Beautiful Rooster, Hen, Home Bred Chicken, and non chicken Poultry - call for details. Chicken Entries Accepted 9:00 - 10:00. Judging begins 10:15. Make sure you get a copy of the rules! Please contact co-managers for complete rules & instructions, setting up Produce or Craft Booths, contributing produce to the Community Table, or any other info, Jackie or Denis (783-4440) e-mail ramahfarmersmkt@ yahoo.com. 2010 Harvest Festival Sponsors BUTLER’S OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY, INC. ` El MORRO FEED & SEED One mile east of El Morro National Monument
HIGH ELEVATION GARDENING Summer Art Goes to the Ramah Farmers Market!
Farm Speaking Out Loud
Look for the Kid’s table – most Saturdays – at the Ramah Farmers interested in hosting the kid’s table for a Saturday, please call the Old
Ramah Farmers’ Market Setting Up Website Volunteers are in the process of constructing the new website at ramahfarmersmarket.org. The new website will provide a wide variety of information and links related to the market, marketing of local crops and produce, sustainable agriculture, organic farming and gardening, home based processing, homesteading, traditional crafts and much more!
Ramah Farmers Market Now on Facebook Check us out on Facebook where we can keep you posted on events in between publication of the Beet. We are also planning a weekly update on what’s available at the market. Feel free to send your garden and livestock photos and keep us posted on how things are going at your homestead.
“Surround” Orchard Spray Available
by Bodhiarts So July had a decent monsoon season. The dry spell, and the days that we did not get any rain, and when humidity was in the single digits, we had dry soil to about a foot and a half to two feet deep. The soil moisture is fair, but deeper rooted plants still need water. The squash and some of the brassicas are wilting due to the intense sun. This will slow down production, and some crops, such as tomatoes, have even dropped their blossoms and are not producing fruit. In the harder packed, clay soils water is in a tighter bond. These soils can hold a lot of water but that moisture is not available to plants. One of the unusual things noted this year was that the rain at the beginning of the season had a very high pH. Test taking in Timberlake seems to indicate that the granite on the road that is dusted off by cars, trucks and other vehicles put enough dust in the area that it affected the rain’s pH. One would almost expect a low pH due to the fact that we have a coal powered electric plant within 50 miles. This high pH could have been an indicator; the high pH could be a reason for why, after the started growing.
One of the things we learned at the Tooley’s Trees workshop for protecting young fruit trees from sun scald and insect damage. The Ramah Farmers Market purchased 50 lbs of Surround at a bulk price and
now they are in very low populations, but hopefully, in the next couple years, if the wetter weather patterns hold, we should have an increase in
you would like to purchase Surround come to the market on Saturday for ramahfarmersmkt @yahoo.com and we
will also help gardeners in the pollination of fruits and vegetables. The increased moisture, seeping into the soil, could help in putting on a fairly decent pinon crop this year. In Timberlake, it looks like some areas will have very abundant pinon crops this year. Wild mushrooms and other herbs are quite abundant this year. In some areas mosquitoes have turned out to be a problem, but over all we’ve had a mild season. This is not saying that, with moisture and warm days, we won’t see an increase in the mosquitoes. Hopefully we will see an increase in the swallows, and even hummingbirds, and other things that eat mosquitoes. This year we had a lot of gnatcatchers nesting, and even a group of cross bills showed up, and some other (continued next page)
as a broad spectrum crop protectant against sunburn and heat stress, and as a protectant for controlling damage from various insects, mites and disease pests. Surround also serves as a growth enhancer. Surround can also be used on crops, and plants in greenhouses, home landscapes and gardens.
Grasshoppers We are receiving reports here and there that grasshoppers are
wheat bran coated with Nosema locustae spores. Grasshoppers eat the bran, thus becoming infected with Nosema. NoloBait is very easy to apply
EL MORRO FEED AND SEED
around humans, pets, birds, wildlife and won't contaminate waterways. It
THURSDAY 12-5 AND SATURDAY 9-6 Now available Oil Lamp Users! Strike Anywhere Matches – limited supply available Recycling Haul Service
the Market on Saturdays from the information table. We keep supplying it as long as people keep requesting it. Feel free to place an order with the ramahfarmersmkt@yahoo. com.
OPEN
Recylcers! Stop putting OUT those stinky fumes! Drop the bags by and we’ll recycle it for you.
El Morro Area Arts Council Ramah Farmers Market 12th Annual
Garden Tour Come see gardens you’ve never seen before!
Ramah Area Gardens
El Morro Valley Gardens Both tours will assemble at the RAMAH FARMERS MARKET SITE at 2:00 pm right after the Saturday market. The Ramah Farmers market is located on HWY 53, ½ mile west of Ramah next to the Backwoods Pizza sunscreen, and a hat. We will be car pooling to the garden sites. For more
Providing quality local beef to your family for life! Ranching since 1948 happy, yearling steers grown their entire lives on the wide open, verdant pastures at the foot of the Zuni Mountains. No antibiotics, insecticides or hormones have ever been used on these cattle.
Please call Bob or Nita, (505)783-4564 or e-mail davisrealty@wildblue.net soon, to get more information, and/or reserve your supply of quality beef.
HIGH ELEVATION GARDENING
(cont. from p. 3) birds that are normally not at this altitude. This may indicate that there is
change. This year, in Timberlake, wild onions have been seen growing
On the farm, the increase of organic matter on the ground helps in covering the bald spots where there had been nothing growing. There Grama grass, wheat grass and other grasses have had enough moisture to increase the population to the point that, if we have a good wet winter, we will have a lot of forage on the ground come spring. August has turned out to be a fair rain pattern and has helped any number of ways with the pine trees and the beetle kill that was present in the years past. In some areas there is still some insect related deaths in the pine trees. This year the honeybees have a wide variety of plants to work, with the buckwheat blooming fairly consistently over a long period of time. This allows an increase in their populations, and some of the wild hives have swarmed. If you’re keeping bees, you should watch out for
you could have a swarming problem. All in all it should be a good year for beekeepers in the valley.
Feed the Soil by Owl McCabe Owl lives and farms in Candy Kitchen. The other day, while walking through my garden with a friend, I was pleasantly surprised, almost startled, when out from the plants popped the biggest and fattest horned toad that I have ever seen.
Seeing this horned toad living and thriving in my garden made me realize just how much the environment of my garden site has improved land on the edge of a piñon and juniper forest. Because of a history of overgrazing and neglect, the site was depleted, and not much grew there
birds, and many other living creatures both hidden and too small to see. The transformation was not instantaneous and not without setbacks. I
made many mistakes and lost far too many plant "experiments." But things are different now. Conditions have now improved to the point that I can successfully introduce plants that previously wouldn’t have survived at the site for even a week (don't ask me how I know). And the reason for this change? I would say that it is the improved soil. The soil is now so healthy that I am hesitant ever to dig in it because every time I do, I cut an earthworm in half. Seeing this transformation of my garden site, I now know that the most important part of a garden is its soil, which must be fed to be healthy. In fact, my new motto is: "Feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plant."
and Margaret Tooley were doing, so I looked at their website. It mentioned that they used Kinsey Agricultural Services for their soil testing and gave a link. I followed the link and it opened up a whole new area of garden knowledge of which I knew very little. Being the science geek that I am, I was hooked. I sent off my soil sample, and, while I was waiting for the results,
a degree in Astrophysics, so I wasn’t lost in the science; it was just that there were so many new terms and concepts that I found it overwhelming. I have since purchased and read several more books on soil science. and understand it, so I am writing this article to share what I learned with everyone in hopes it may help others struggling with unbalanced soils. When my soil results came back, I was shocked. My soil pH was EXCESSIVE. I also had high amounts of potassium, and my magnesium level was too high compared to my calcium (I’ll explain that in a bit). From reading the soil books, I knew that this report was bad news, for the three main causes of alkaline soils are excesses of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, and, lucky me, I had high levels of all three. Before I get too much further into my story, I think I need to clarify what exactly is considered good soil. The ideal soil for growing consists because they allow for the diffusion of water and air through the soil. No pores, no diffusion. Also, the contents of the pores matters. Too much water in the pores, and the plants will suffocate; too little water, and the although the ratio of air to water in healthy soil can vary depending on how recently it has rained or how recently you watered the soil.
with the remainder consisting of mineral particles, which can range in size from clay, the smallest; to silt, medium size particles; to sand and gravel, the largest. A soil containing an even mix of the three sizes is called loam, a word that has become synonymous with good soil. However, if you don’t
El Morro Valley Ranch Organically Raised Natural and Healthy Range-fed Beef is now available at El Morro Feed and Seed. or you may order by calling
783-4521 or emailing elmorrovalleyranch@gmail.com.
have loam type soil, that doesn’t mean that you have bad soil. It’s just that loam is often preferred because it is easier to work with physically. In fact, other soil types have their advantages. For example, clay soil has the ability to hold more nutrients than any other soil type. You just have to work harder to get clay to drain properly and to have the correct density of pores. derived are also very important, and there are many theories and systems used to evaluate the mineral content of soil. Not having tried them all, I cannot say which one is best, but I am impressed with the Albrecht Model of Soil Fertility, the system that Kinsey Agricultural used to evaluate my soil sample. This model is named after the late Dr. William Albrecht, who did years of research at the University of Missouri. The model he developed states that not only must certain minerals be present, they must also be present in the right proportions. According to Dr. Albrecht, the most important ratio is the calcium to magnesium ratio. Except for very sandy soils, most have plenty of magnesium. Calcium, on the other hand, is often very hard and impermeable to water. Albrecht and others also recognize the importance of soil pH for A pH of seven indicates a soil that is neither alkaline nor acidic, but a pH of seven is not what you want. It turns out that most plants prefer a pH of most plants often cannot absorb key nutrients, such as iron. Chlorosis, the
high pH can render the iron unavailable to the plant. A high pH has a similar effect on other minerals in the soil. Below is a chart that shows the impact of pH on the availability of different key minerals:
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“ Come up stairs and check out our new of ethnic and vintage clothing” Tues.-Sat. 9-5, Sun 10-5 One mile east of El Morro National Monument “Our Coffee is Monumental” (505)783-4706 www.inscriptionrocktrading.com
minerals are available at adequate levels. Getting back to my soil sample, two of my problem measurements, the sodium and the magnesium, are actually related. Excessive magnesium gives rise to soil that one book refers to poetically as "hard cement," which means that neither rain nor shovels can penetrate very can barely dig into it with a shovel, and, even after a heavy rain, only the top inch or so has absorbed any water. That is the magnesium at work, and it worsened and possibly created my sodium problem. Because my soil would not absorb the rain that fell on it naturally, I found I had to water often from my well, and, although my well provides good drinking water, testing the water from my well has revealed a high level of sodium. Water evaporates, but sodium does not, so watering from my well leaves behind a residue of sodium. Thus, every time I water from my well, I add sodium
the sodium out of your soil. Thus, to get rid of the sodium, I just needed to improve the drainage of my soil. (continued next page)
HIGH ELEVATION GARDENING (continued from p. 5) To improve drainage, I added organic matter and faster absorption of water so that the soil was better able to absorb the rain that fell on it; and, second, it helped the soil hold on to the water longer, which meant I did not have to water as often, which meant that I was adding less sodium to the soil. Adding the gypsum (sodium sulfate) also improved the drainage. In fact, many of the books I read stated that calcium is the most important amendment for improving drainage. However, what calcium source you should use depends on the pH of your soil. If your soil is acidic, add lime. If your soil is alkaline, add gypsum. According to the books I have read, the calcium in gypsum frees up the sodium and allows it to dissolve
freed up nutrients which the plants, thanks to a properly balanced pH, were able to absorb and use. In turn, the plants eventually die and return to the soil their mineral resources as well as the carbon and nitrogen that they absorbed, thus feeding all the small life forms cycle of life. This is why a forest can be so lush without anyone
the problem of too much potassium. Unfortunately, there isn't much one can do about excessive potassium other than to compensate for the higher pH it causes. To lower pH, you can add elemental sulfur, but you must be very careful about how much you add and when you add it. Sulfur can chemically burn the plants that it touches directly. That is why adding sulfur is best done in early spring or late fall, when most plants are dormant, and when the rains and snows can dissolve the sulfur evenly into the soil before the plants become active. Also, if you need to drastically reduce pH, it is better to do it in steps rather than all at once. Adding 1.5 pounds of sulfur to 100 square
provides the nutrients that forest needs to thrive. Before my land was degraded by overgrazing, I suspect that it was fertile and living land. By adding compost and manure, and just a bit of mineral, I was able to restart a healthy living cycle in the soil. This is where I get my new motto: Feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plant. Now that you know some of the basics, there are a few simple tests you can do at home to check your soil health: The Soil Drainage Test: Dig one or more holes about 12 inches deep. Fill the holes with water to the top. If the water is not fully drained in 12 hours, you have a drainage problem. The Earthworm Test: This test will show you the level of life in your soil. In your garden, dig out a volume of soil that is one foot square and six inches deep. Take what you did out and place it in a container where you can see what you have alive. If your soil is alive and healthy, you should see many small insects and a few earthworms. If you have more than ten earthworms, you have healthy soil. The pH Test: As a simple test for a pH that is too high, take a spoonful
pounds per 100 square feet is considered drastic. So, if you have a soil pH of 9.0 or more, you probably want to take a couple of seasons to bring it
water to a small amount of dry soil until it’s wet but not runny. Sprinkle
By adding these amendments (gypsum and organic matter in the form of compost and manure) to my soil, I was able to make it into the perfect environment for the various bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, gastropods, earthworms, and all the other small life forms necessary in healthy soil. Obligingly, all those small living things moved into my soil and prospered. By feasting on the compost, these small life forms
people do not have such acidic soils, but there are a few places in the southwestern US where the soil is, indeed, that acidic. There is one more thing I would like to add. No matter what your soil problem, the best thing that you can do to improve your soil is add organic matter. If your soil is alkaline, organic matter will lower the pH. If you soil is acidic, organic matter will raise the pH. If you have a
to move out from your soil.
drainage problem, organic matter will help correct it. Organic matter added as mulch will help you retain water. Organic matter also provides the food, either directly or indirectly, for everything living in your soil. However, concerning adjustments to the critical mineral balances in your soil, you cannot make those adjustments without knowing the current levels, so, in addition to the simple home tests I mention above, you will probably want to submit a soil sample to Kinsey Agricultural or some similar higher end soil lab. Their report includes recommendations on what amendments you need to make to your soil and how much of each amendment you should add. Fortunately, most of the amendments are not too expensive, and those amendments that are pricey, such as a copper amendment, are usually required only in small amounts. I hope this article has been helpful for you. I welcome any feedback at petermccabe@petermccabe.com. Suggested Reading: Secrets to Great Soil by Elizabeth P. Stell Teaming with Microbes, A Gardener’s Guide to the Food Soil Web by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis Building Soils for Better Crops by Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es
El Morro Traditional Crafters Calendar 3rd Quarter 2010 Bargello Quilt Class
Kinsey Agricultural Services Inc. can be reached at www.kinseyag.com or
COMMUNITY HOMESTEADING EMAAC Summer Youth Arts Program
Local Food Cooking Class for Kids
Felting Workshop
Gallery Spinning Party
Finishing – Get Together
COME TO THE FAIR!
Homestead Harvest Display Competition Rules
Giant Pumpkin, Giant Winter Squash, Giant Zucchini, Giant Vegetable, Weirdest Vegetable Contest
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Quilt Show at The Old School Gallery!!! October 2, 2010, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Third Annual Most Beautiful Chicken Contest
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CALLING ALL QUILTERS!!!
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Local Photo Contest
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COMMUNITY HOMESTEADING Shouldn’t this be the same type of philosophy the American people carry? So should we vote for those candidates who have been in
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Ancient Way Fall Festival 2010
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Food For Thought by bodhiarts This voting season seems to be very negative. It's time that When a candidate is asked what it is they bring to the table, and all they can reply with is what is wrong with their opponent, I have to wonder, what do they bring to the table? I also wonder why anyone who has have been the one that has been in control for the last four years. If
place? Or should we send them a message? I know that it is only one person and I understand that they do try, and this is a do, or do not, where try didn’t work. Shouldn't we take into consideration what
With the gulf spill pollution that is in the news every day, we hear more and more about when is it to stop. I have heard some people express their ideas that there should be regulations or laws to protect the environment from such incidents: Sorry folks, the laws
enforce the laws that we already have and hold accountable the people that are suppose to enforce those regulations, and the people that violate them. The problem is, the new laws and regulations will not affect the companies that are doing the pollution, they will affect the small businesses and small industries that are the backbone of our economic system. A good example of that is what has happened over the last few years with the food laws: You cannot say that a food will poison you, or is poisonous, if it is produced by a large manufacture, because of food disparagement laws. But, the way the laws are, if you cook in your home, or make cookies for a bake sale, you have violated the law. The question is, should there be a common sense way of protecting the public from food borne illnesses, and still maintain the sanctity of the home? For some of us that bake, even just cookies for a bake sale, as it is now, we are violating the law. The only way we are going to get a common sense regulation on food is for people to hold their representatives and senators and express our dissatisfaction. Or, in some cases, reporting violations: For example, when
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representatives that are supposed to be protecting the public use numbers that are biased, or false information that serves to promote
place on home based processing, but a blanket ban on cookies is wrong. As a youngster I remember cookie sales. Bake sales sent the High School band
that are representative of a much larger population than actually exists.
paid for all after school activities. In these times, when money is tight, these type of entrepreneurs are needed. Unfortunately, many state regulatory
by food borne illnesses. It makes one wonder what is up: If a pandemic of a quarter of the population (US Population Year 2000 census
food system, and to take and look at what we consider safe unadulterated food, and by telling our present and future politicians. It’s how we save our own food traditions.
every TV show, radio show, and newspaper in the country. We have lost a great icon of American life when we no longer can use local bake sales to send bands and football teams on school trips. Bake sales that paid for after school programs was a way to promote community. We should all mourn this loss. In an average day, 22 different kinds of pesticides, herbicides abnormalities in the reproduction of animals and humans. The reason that most of the new farms have turned away from many of sick. Regulatory commissions that are suppose to take care of those reporting problems to the public, or to a government, do not speak out, or are not listened to, or are suppressed. They are ignored by the general food production system. Neurological diseases, and even diabetes, are directly related to food consumed by the public. But when the regulatory system does take notice and starts to do their job, they are removed from any responsibility in that area. For example, the medical regulatory system, which controls public health, was removed from dealing with food processing. In New Mexico, in This stops any communication on where, or when, any outbreaks that may take place anywhere in the United States are happening. The CDC does try to do what they can; they are only one department, but they are more inclined to chase disease that is viral, bacterial or otherwise. Something the medical establishment is not looking into is how processed food is prepared, and where food is prepared. When organic way, the tendency is to look at other effects and blame other conditions, so then food is irradiated, chlorinated, to the point where the stuff has no food value. For those of you that are interested in learning more about organic food or food other than that consumed in the United States, I recommend the movie about the French organic revolution, Food correlation between serious diseases in women and children, and the medical studies showed an increased number of women with cancer, children with early onset cancers, and men with reproductive health problems. This is a call for understanding and education, not legislation. The new laws that protect the large industrial food complex , are placing more and more restrictions on the way we choose to eat, and what we do with our food. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) says citizens have no inherent right to choose the food they eat.
Protect Our Chile Nativo Say “Yes" to Chile Nativo Who We Are: We are a group of concerned small farmers who seek to promote renewable; they will force the traditional farmers of New Mexico into an
New Mexico's open pollinated seeds of native crops, which include not only the local varieties of chiles, but also some of the oldest corn varieties, have sustained us for centuries. At the same time farmers have been able to save their seeds, which has kept them debt free. We are join us in our struggle. Chile Nativo: A Symbol of Diversity in Peril The Chile Nativo of New Mexico, regardless of where it is we have developed a rich relationship with it. There is nothing better during the summer months than the wonderful smell of chile roasting and in winter, the aromatic smell of the red chile dishes that have made New Mexican cuisine famous world wide. "Red or Green?" is the most famous question asked of any New Mexican. famous fruit will be turned into a monster we won't recognize if it is genetically dangerous precedent for others, especially our treasured maiz Concho where our chicos come from. What is GE Chile? Chile, as well as other crops that are genetically engineered, are designed to produce the Bt toxin which is active and is released continuously by every cell in the plant. This is what makes GE crops hazardous to our health and environment. Besides, you will not be able to save your seeds as this will be in violation of patent law. What at one time was yours will now be owned by big corporations. Once you opt for GE seeds, you will have to buy them every year for the rest of your life. Destroying the Farmers and the Environment Don't believe that GE crops are a solution to pest control. The bollworm in cotton eventually evolved resistance [to GE Cotton], thereby creating super pests. Instead of being a solution, it created other problems.
cotton oilseed cake. and suicide. (continued next page)
to understand why our politicians believe that it is in our own kitchens that we are getting poisoned. My recommendation is for you call up time we can take the regulatory people and make them accountable for what they do, and allow the small individual producer, or value added producer, to do a good job. There is some education that should be in
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GMO crops harm your health By now we all know that GE foods are a major health hazard. And through horizontal gene transfer, these genes can hybridize and create super viruses and even contribute to resistance to antibiotics. Safe Foods are our Birth Right: A GMO Free New Mexico Growing traditional crops organically creates a natural harmony between the farmer, consumer and soil by balancing sustainable agriculture with secure livelihoods. Defend Your Right to Safe Food
3. When asked, "Red or Green?" also ask, "Is it GMO free?" "Yes" to biodiverse organic Chile Nativo, "No" to toxic Chile. “Seeds are Sacred�
NM GMO Chile Film Wins Top Award
Beacon staff writer Roseanne Boyette describes threats to small traditional farming, unpredictable effects on the natural environment and food safety issues
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1. There is no GMO for increased yield or enhanced nutrition. GMO. and asbestos were safe are now telling you GMOs are safe. Independent safety analysis of GMOs is forbidden by law. herbicide [Glysophate]. This result is GMO plants that are saturated with the this country is made from this type of GMO. Think about it).
project] to fund research at the campus for genetically engineered chile plants. The outcome is to permanently alter this traditional staple of New Mexico cuisine safe, traditional, organic, sustainable chile culture. Instead it presages an unfolding tragedy, the eventual destruction of a cultural icon central to the heritage of Hispanic and Native New Mexico. bullhornjournal.com, that provide resources and talking points for local community members motivated to address this outrage to our health and cultural wellbeing. From the website:
Breakfast Served All Day
We Serve the Best Green & Red Chile in Gallup
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Contact your legislator! through some pretty slick marketing and campaign funding, our entire government to the point where both Democratic and Republican parties wholeheartedly support
due to misunderstanding on our legislators' parts on the issue of GMOs. When contacting your legislator, try approaching him or her in an informative manner and Genetic Chile Legislative Contacts: eliseoalcon@msn.com
david.ulibarri@nmlegis.gov Please call your legislator and voice your concerns.
Concentration in the Seed Industry Leads to Less Choice, Higher Prices for U.S. Farmers December 9, 2009 American farmers are feeling the effects of a concentrated seed industry. Seed options are diminishing while prices increase at historic rates. A new report, Out of Hand: Farmers Face the Consequences of a Consolidated Seed Industry, examines these troubling trends, substantiating the U.S. Department of
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development programs to ensure that the needs of farmers and the general public are met and that research is conducted in an open and honest way. Discussions on seed industry concentration typically center on the capturing the markets for most major crops through a series of acquisitions and
The full report can be downloaded at www.farmertofarmerr campaign.org.
through direct seed sales and seed trait licensing agreements with other companies. Monsanto’s biotechnology traits are planted on more than 90 percent of U.S. The report outlines events that led to extensive concentration, including weak antitrust law enforcement and Supreme Court decisions that allowed genetically engineered crops and other plant products to be patented. These factors have created unprecedented ownership and control over plant genetic resources in
The Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering is a national network of farm organizations that serve as a voice for family farmers on agricultural biotechnology issues. Farmer to Farmer seeks to build a farmer driven campaign focused on concerns around agricultural biotechnology and to provide a national forum for farmers on these issues.
says Bill Wenzel, national director of the Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic that these practices have had on producers and provide insight on what changes in Out of Hand uses industry sources, government data, and personal interviews with farmers and seed industry representatives to document the consequences of concentration in the seed industry. a general fear in agricultural communities that simply talking about problems in the seed industry will result in backlash from industry leaders, namely Monsanto. Paul Rozwadowski, a farmer in Chippewa County,
Todd Leake, a farmer in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, says he is concerned about the lack of breeding programs focused on bringing conventional soybean seed to the marketplace.
the Roundup Ready varieties. The disease package and yield come from conventional soybean breeding, not from any GE trait."
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biotechnology industry funding. For the last ten years, many public breeding in seed with expensive biotechnology traits." The report also examines the role patent law has played in encouraging concentration. Over the course of decades, Congress has visited intellectual property protection for breeders of living organisms and consistently argued that patents on sexually reproducing plants would curtail innovation, threaten the free exchange of genetic resources, and increase market concentration. These problems are now being realized. The report recommends that the U.S. Department of Justice closely examine anticompetitive conduct in the industry, enforce antitrust law, and engage the public in assessments of proposed and pending mergers. Other recommendations include revamping patent law as it pertains to crops because such patents are reducing farmer choice and researcher access, and directly contribute to the concentration of power over plant genetic resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should also reinvigorate public breeding and cultivar
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CONTENTS Market News ( PP. 1- 3)
High Elevation Gardening (PP. 3-4) Community Homesteading (PP. 6-10) Center Pages Sustainable Agriculture (PP. 10-14) RFM Community Outreach; Sponsors (P. 15) Editors, Writers, Poets & Photographers, Researchers: Susan Ackerman, Christy Blank Thanks Everyone.
Business Owners:If you would like to advertise with the Ramah Farmers’ Beet as a Busi yahoo.com so we can set up an appointment.
RFM Sponsorship Program The Ramah Farmers’ Market is rapidly expanding with more growers, more cus tomers, a community table, a longer market season, and a Harvest Festival. The Market fall potlucks and seed exchanges, workshops, and garden visits. The Ramah Farmers’ Beet is a free community resource for disseminating information on the Ramah Farmers Market, high elevation gardening, organic gardening, homesteading skills, local, state and national developments in Sustainable Agriculture, the Slow Food movement, local food security and safety, and other issues of community concern. local business sponsorships, and increasing circulation to 1000. We envision The Farmers’ Beet as a free community newspaper to be mailed and distributed. In order to improve our links with the community we hope to initiate a web site, and have already contributed funds accurate and informative newspaper articles. We also plan to reimburse newspaper writ ers, poets, editors and researchers. The increase in circulation will also increase fuel costs for newspaper delivery – we reimburse newspaper delivery volunteers for their fuel cost. We increased publication to six issues a year. All of these activities require money, time, and volunteers. We invite you to help support the Ramah Farmers’ Market Community Out reach Program by becoming an RFM Community Outreach Sponsor. All donation amounts
tional items (aprons, baskets, etc) for the Market year. Thank you, Community Outreach contributors; We couldn’t do it without you… BENEFACTOR Anonymous Ramah, New Mexico Bob & Mary Barry Ramah, New Mexico Frank & Vicky Giannangelo Ramah, New Mexico Frank & Barbara Lambert Ramah, New Mexico Harry Hutton & Harriet Lawrence Ramah, New Mexico Dana Letts Ramah, New Mexico Whooville Ramah, New Mexico SILVER PATRON Anonymous Ramah, New Mexico Jill Acheson Ramah, New Mexico C. Marlow Gallup, New Mexico Paula Tripodi Ramah, New Mexico BRONZE PATRON Steven Albert Ramah, New Mexico Reed & Fran Anderson Ramah, New Mexico Anonymous Ramah, New Mexico Anonymous Vanderwagon, New Mexico Jerry Ginsburg Albuquerque, New Mexico Stanley & Shirley Giser Grants, New Mexico Terence M. Gurley Gallup, New Mexico Lee & Susan Haygood Ramah, New Mexico
Rosalie Bianchi & Paul Juncker Zuni & Ramah, New Mexico Tom & Kate Manrodt Ramah, New Mexico Paul & Flora Merrill Ramah, New Mexico Katherine Rossignol New Milford, Connecticut Martha & Joe Rossignol Devonshire, Bermuda Vinnie Rossignol Crested Butte, Colorado SPONSOR Anonymous Zuni, New Mexico Anonymous Ramah, New Mexico Howard & Karin Brunner Ramah, New Mexico Allen & Pat Burnam Hayden, Arizona & Ramah, New Mexico Bob & Hannah Crooks Ramah, New Mexico T. M. Dolan Pie Town, New Mexico Jerry Jorgensen Ramah, New Mexico Susan McNabb Ramah, New Mexico Patricia Olsen Milan, New Mexico Kim Score & Chris Moeller Grants, New Mexico Beverly Moody Ramah, New Mexico BUSINESS SUPPORTERS Alpine Lumber Ancient Way Café Back Woods Pizza Battered Families Services, Inc. Butlers Davis Ranch Donald Sharp El Morro Area Arts Council El Morro Feed & Seed El Morro Valley Ranch Gallup Lumber Gallup Pumping Service Holiday Nursery Inscription Rock Trading JRL Enterprises Justin’s Earthworks
Maria’s Restaurant Mr. Shed Mustang Storage Stage Coach Café Star Cloud Farm The Trading Post IN KIND DONATIONS El Morro Area Arts Council El Morro Feed & Seed Gallup Independent Ramah Lake Realty Add my support to the Community Outreach Program Fund:
Amount of gift _________________ Name_______________________________________ Address______________________________________ City_________________________________________
State of New Mexico (pending) and is not a tax exempt organization.
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