Old School Skills: Organic Farming
Blischke has been living the life of a farmer for the past 13 years. Before that, she commuted to Boston where she worked as an administrator for the federal Women, Infants and Children program that helps low-income families obtain milk and other nutritious foods.
After her first child was born in 1986 she traded her suit, blouse and high heels, for jeans, a tractor and braids. Money was tight then, and it is now, but the tradeoff is that her children Travis, 21, and Stephanie, 14, grew up surrounded by the bounty nature provides.
The farm has expanded from producing just fruits and vegetables to one that sells eggs, herbs, honey, home-made soap, goat’s yarn, lip balm and hot pepper sauce.
Most of her products are certified organic.
She uses modern techniques and equipment, but the sweat and hard work is the same as it was more than a 100 years ago when the South Shore boasted hundreds of farms. Today, there are only a handful, and most only grow produce. Profits are rare, and every year is a struggle, Blischke says, as she stops hoeing a row of potatoes to watch two birds whiz by overhead.
It supports our drive at Farming Secrets that all farmers seek ways for more sustainable farming for the benefit of all. Ask for our Free “Starter Tool Kit” by going to: http://www.farmingsecrets.com/ to find out more.
