Table Talk with the Farmers of Bells Bend

When I woke up to rapid fire thunder and rain, my phone binged with a text. “May and I are making biscuits if you want to come up to the house when you get here,” it read. This was my day to spend with Eric Woolridge of Bells Bend farm, and apparently it was starting with biscuits he made with his daughter May.

What I thought would be a full day at the farm turned out to be only a half day. First of all, they’re not out at the crack of dawn as commonly thought (which I found very disappointing). This time of year, there isn’t a lot to do, or at least not much they thought I’d want to write about. Plants are planted, major crops aren’t ready to harvest, and their suggestion that I wouldn’t be excited about watching them hang hoes on a wall in the barn is wisdom I decided I should follow.

What was exciting was the conversation taking place around the kitchen table between Eric, his wife Tyler Skelton, and his tremendous team of farmhands/collaborators/friends: Delaney Hunt, Travis Ksander, and Harlie Orr. All are committed to the farm’s success as much as Eric. So, getting to hear the insights provided by these five brilliant farmers is something I’ll always treasure. Since I heard the request ‘not for the article’ so many times this morning, I’m just going to share a range of the comments below without noting who said what.

- “The farm is a cycle of life and death… the more you’re removed from where your food is grown the less conscientious one might be about their choices.”
 

- Some farmer friends of theirs raise 50 chickens each year, because they eat one chicken per week. “They need neither more nor less.” 
 

- It became clear in the discussion that small farming isn’t necessarily a way to accumulate wealth, but I have no doubt that it’s an incredible way to cash in on the value of a life worth living. “Our farm may not be as picture perfect as some smaller ones, but the opportunity to provide food for as many people as we can, gives our work such meaning.”
 

- It also became clear that two of the most important themes regarding the focus of their work include family and community. “We want it to feel like everyone’s farm. Each employee’s ideas are valued and getting to know our CSA members has been an unexpected gift… It’s important to all of us that the farm is family oriented and not just a business. The community that a farm can create is really special.”
 

- I was interested in hearing that a lot of local farms don’t do CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). Because of a fixed schedule of 30 weeks to deliver fresh produce to families, there can be a lot of pressure and stress not experienced by farms mainly relying on Farmer’s Markets and restaurants as their main sources of income. On the other hand, positives include the stability provided for the farmers by receiving subscription funds on the front end that help with costs of seeds, never ending equipment repairs, and paying employees. “It’s pretty cool having a long-term connection and watching families grow up.” For CSA members who are flexible and interested in trying new foods, it’s a great way to know that you’ll be able to depend on getting the best produce a farm has to offer.
 

- This idea of nurturing is something that everyone at the breakfast table shared this morning. Each cares deeply about our planet and loves working in an environment where they are able to learn something new every single day.