HARVEST HOUSE FARM W/ LORI DAVIS

Week 4 Bike To Farm 2012,
Sat. Aug. 4th

posted by Christopher

Harvest House Farm sits 11 miles from town on Hwy. 191 near Gallatin Gateway. The ride out to the farm started out by eight of us crossing Main Street in front of the Sweet Pea Parade with cop cars flicking their sirens and about 2,000 people marching our way. It was quite a scene. Dodging a parade on a bike, honking my bike horn to get a clear passage through the mob. 'Hey get out of the way man, here comes a goofy looking guy on a bike.'
Awesome way to start the day. Really Awesome.

Eight of us road up Tracy Ave. making our way out of town and through miles and miles of farm land. Riding, chatting, and swerving down the country roads. The eleven miles went by quickly and soon we were greeted by Lori and her intern Lydia. There we had cucumber mint water, ice tea, and muffins waiting for us.
Awesome. Really Really Awesome.
The tour of the farm started once everyone got to know each other a little. We had Donna, Rich, Sean, Evelyn, Clint, Evan, Justene, and meself. All enjoying one another and talking about farming and riding bikes on nice summer days.

When we arrived it was a scene out of movie; there were people mulling about, working, fixing things. Two guys were looking at a giant salad spinner, figuring out how to fix it up to a bicycle to spin the lettuce. There was a bike rack, and people greeting us and taking pictures. We parked our bikes and walked up to the house.

Lori Davis has been living out there for more than 20 years, and in the past  3 years she has turned her place into a working farm to create a 'change of lifestyle'.  Now that her kids are grown up, Lori has been able to spend her time turning her beautiful home into a Community farm.  With 5 families and 14 half shares in her CSA, Lori's place is a perfect example of Community Supported Agriculture.

Thanks Lori for showing us around last week. Hope to see you soon.

Gallatin Valley Botanical by Chris Bangs

Sat. July 28,,, Week 3 of the Bike to Farm group rides.  We had 15 people show up and make the ride out GVB, Gallatin County's largest organic veggie farm.

Matt Rothschiller met us with his daughter Anya in his arms and guided us on a tour of their farm.  We were dazzled right away with the two nearest greenhouses.  Inside bursting with micro greens, tomatoes, basil, peppers, and cucumbers.  Next we went out in the fields and ate peas, and other goodies ripe on the vines.

The Rothschillers have done well for themselves in the local farming movement here in Bozeman.  This is such a great thing for people to see; happy farmers doing their thing, with kids right along side, living outdoors, working the land and the fields. As I pondered the idea last week of sourcing more and more local food, I began to think about the farmers I know in this valley, and how I'm glad that I am getting to know them, and to know their farms.
This idea of eating local food, and creating strong communities, supporting our farmers personally, being a part of our own food network, healing our relationship with food and world.  IT's crazy to think about.  Not long ago, everyone was apart of a community, supporting the local agriculture.  It was how we lived and survived. Now things are weird,,, Really Weird... Now we have sporty little acronyms that people are either hip to, or not; "cause like, I'm apart of this groovy CSA man, you know,"  Crazier even more, is how little we care.  I know, because I care, I just don't care enough, and now compare that to someone who doesn't even know what a CSA is, and well,,, you get the picture. You see it everyday. The modern American waste land; with neat and tidy Wal-Mart parking lots mixed in with the bright lights of a Disney tailgater, drunk college types, some ornery unhealthy people, a McDonalds/Monsanto (McSanto) add campaign manager, and VOILA,,, Madness, all wrapped up in a pretty little black dress, stuck on cruise control in our fancy hybrid SUV, and enslaved by the most corrupt (read largest) government history has ever known. Generation Triple Weird.

Wow, Weirds-Ville USA, generation WWW triple weird.  Or Not. You decide. Your dollar is your vote, not the names on the ballet. (not the names on the ballet)

Simply buying local organic food will change the world we live in.

Simply ride bikes,,,

Be the revolution...

Is anyone with me?