Farm Visits April 12, 2012

I had originally planned to go to Leeton, Mo today but had a change of plans and headed to Moberly, Missouri and Baldwin City, Kansas. I usually don’t check farms so far apart but both of these vendors are new waiting list vendors and are ready to come to the Market on Saturday.
Moberly is located a little north of Columbia and about a two and a half hour drive from Kansas City. Dan and Joanne Nelson, the owners of DanJo Farms, were vendors at the market years ago. Joanne gave me the tour of their commercial kitchen, which was being used today to wash produce. Having a commercial kitchen on their farm makes it possible for them to make and sale such items as baked goods and jellies. Dan showed me around their out building which houses all their freezers and coolers. Coolers are very important to any good farm operation so produce can be cooled down after harvesting. In addition to produce Dan and Joanna raise a few cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys which they sell at their farm. Eventually they hope to sell their processed livestock at the market if any space opens up. All of DanJo Farms produce and livestock are Certified Naturally Grown (www.naturallygrown.org) which means they use natural practices free of synthetic chemicals to produce food for their local communities. This weekend they will be bringing swish chard, asparagus, green onions, spinach, potatoes, lettuce and assorted herbs. If all goes well they might also be bringing a small amount of apples, Asian pears, apricots, pie cherries and peaches to the market if the few fruit trees they have produce this summer. For more information about DanJo Farms and their CSA visit their web site at www.danjofarms.com
I had planned to go to Vandailia, Missouri today but after talking to the Martins I will postpone my visit later in the spring when they have everything planted.
Next stop Baldwin City, Kansas to check Vinland Valley Nursery. I love visiting the greenhouses in the spring it just makes you feel good. Lucky for me everything is inside at this stop since it is raining. Vinland Valley Nursery is owned and operated by Doug Davison and his family and has been in business since 1998. They emphasize environment friendly gardening minimizing the use of harmful chemicals and use only organic products. Doug had a beautiful selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants and herbs. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this very cool purple plant that looked like clover. I think Doug’s passion is native ornamental plants which provide basic shelter and food resources for wildlife. You will find Vinland Nursery at the market this Saturday. For more information visit their web site at www.vinvalleynursery.com
Next week I am definitely heading south!