Co-op Seed Days
February 21st, 2006 by Northern FarmerEvery once in a while I try to post something that’ll help folks that move out to the country. Some information that you won’t find very often in farming or homesteading books or magazines, or anywhere for that matter. This one is titled, “How To Rustle Up A Meal When The Cook Is Goneâ€.
Now every morning there’s a few hours of outside chores around here no matter what the weather. And when it comes to around eleven thirty in the morning I’m half starved, desperately looking for a big meal. This morning when I got to the house there was a note hung up on the cupboard, “had to go to town to pick up the taxesâ€. Now what should I do, I don’t feel like a sandwich. But they had thought of me in advance and cut out an add from the local co-op that said “feed and seed days, free meal!†Sounds good to me, so I get in the pickup and pray that it’ll make the two and a half mile journey alright, because believe me it’s been acting strange lately. Now this is the good co-op that I’ve mentioned a few times in the past here.
The pickup made it and I was one of the first ones there, and they had just put the food out. Now, this co-op doesn’t serve some stale sandwiches like the big name co-ops. This was an all out meal, made by some of the best cooks in the northland, namely a couple of ladies that work at the co-op. I was hungry as a bear in spring so first things first, loaded up the plate the first time and sat down to some serious business. Shot the bull with some other farmers, bet nobody can guess what I was talking about, and had a meal equal to an average Thanksgiving one. Got that done and maybe some folks figure that’s it, but it isn’t. There’s certain rituals a person has to perform if he or she wants to maintain their social position out here in the country. Namely, talk to all the seed dealers that have their tables set up in the shed that normally houses the milk trucks. You never have to buy anything, but it is important to make the rounds and act interested. But if you do it right you’ll end up with a years supply of free seed caps advertising their seed companies. Don’t matter because once you get them home there are many ways to get their names off of them. Don’t need to be an advertiser for some ag company.
I was doing my duty talking to some seed salesman and he asked if I preferred roundup ready seed. That’s like a trip wire for me and I had to respond; besides I was done eating, eh. A little pointer here, always eat first in case they want to throw you out. I politely told him that if there was ever anyone on our land that had anything to do with that company that sells that product they would be strung up by the neck with a rope and hung on a dead elm tree. How’s that for diplomatic? What can I say, that’s how we talk out here. Of course, I was overheard by quite a few folks and to my surprise every single one agreed with me. Then to further the surprise, the seed salesmen, agreed, telling me about how they are so overloaded filling out paperwork to satisfy Monsanto’s demands. When all was said and done with that I learned more than I ever hoped to about people’s feeling toward that issue. I am not alone!! Even the seed company hates them.
After that I talked to a guy that represented a thing called Bio Ag. Now it looks to me like these folks are the good guys. Their job is to help farmers become sustainable, not the slavery model being touted up in the schools and ag media by the ignorant. And low and behold, the good guy co-op is having a meeting next week to help farmers become sustainable and tout up organic methods, plus another free meal. Am I in heaven or what? So if I can keep up going to winter meetings with the right co-ops, I should be well fed for sometime to come.
February 21st, 2006 at 6:33 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA………….
That was a pretty amazing meal converstation you had there!!!! Seems like you aren’t all alone up there in the North Country. I wonder how many old farmers feel the same way but are intimidated by the big, ag-bus. not to express themselves.
Let your LIGHT shine!
February 21st, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Course if I were standing there face to face with someone who said Big Ag should be strung up by the neck, I would agree with that someone. LOL. It is interesting to see how disallusioned representatives of big ag are. I love your sense of humor and your willingness to speak out. Every time I try to speak out it comes out as speaking in tongues. I wonder if any one here can translate. Bawk, bawk, bawk.
February 21st, 2006 at 10:54 pm
KS,
I have a few chickens and that sounds a little like what I hear out in my barn yard.
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:41 am
Steven,
I’ll tell yeh, I can’t hardly go amongst folks anymore without spreading the word. Tonight I go to church and will be taking seedsaver catologs with to give to interested folks, and if anyone else is interested I’ll get their address and request catalogs for them on the internet. I love watching the reaction of people when they realize the deception happening. Never be silent!!
KSMM and RL,
Christina, stop acting so meek, I’m blogging like nuts because of your “slugs for thugs” campain, which happens to be somewhat of a threat for me:)
And it’s funny how in this day and age the effect of direct eye contact and the statement that anyone from big ag will be strung up by the neck on our farm has on people.Maybe they know it’s not a pile of bull, eh.
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:39 am
One day I’m going to tag along with you and see in person how diplomatic you are!! It certainly sounds like you have so much fun!!
February 22nd, 2006 at 10:53 am
It’s so encouraging to hear this - it’s not yet happening “south of the border” here.
February 22nd, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Hey Tom, you’re about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
I think you will continue to be pleasantly surprised by the responses you get as you spread the truth and shock (I mean educate) the brainwashed masses. Keep on dishing it out, and whatever you do, for goodness sakes don’t be shy! 
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:01 pm
HH,
I have my ways.
I don’t know if you or many of the rest could handle tagging along with me
SCF,
Your wrong, it’s happening with you folks in Iowa and many others.Your doing right!! Keep on keeping on down there!
Emily,
Subtle as a sledgehammer huh. Yup, I guess you hit the nail on the head. And believe me, there’s more coming.
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Tom,
I’ll have to see if I can find a dead elm tree here on the farm! I am speaking at an event at the end of April that should be drawing thousands…you can bet that I will mention seed saving, NAIS etc. Just spoke to a council of Boy Scout Leaders in Va and talked about NAIS - boy were they shocked and boy are people getting mad!
Keep on!
February 22nd, 2006 at 5:30 pm
TNFarmgirl,
Preach the truth!!! That’s the wonderful thing about this, a person doesn’t get run over in a debate. You get mostly silence from the opposition.
February 22nd, 2006 at 11:00 pm
Well, Tom. It is good for my image to let the meek side come out every now and then. Must tell you it is very unnatural. I do tend to speak my mind. However, when you have little mind, you say very little too. Hee hee.
I was really pleased to see your forthrightness transfer on to the school children. That was awesome.
I am too getting bolder these days, but I have to be careful and not get to carried away. I do that every now and then. If you read my Sass and Spunk post you may understand a little better.
Blessings!
February 23rd, 2006 at 6:57 pm
KSMM,
After listening to your Plain Talk CD I kinds figured your joshing when you say your at a loss for words
Keep on keeping on down there!
Tom
February 25th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Well, I can be speechless…with duct tape
That tape embarasses me a bit. I talk fast and alot when I am nervous.