One of our fig products! Hmmmmm

Our first fig product cooked was our fig fritters. We have had a great response. We did several taste testing samples and one event which we sold the figs as well. Our response was Hmmmmm! Hmmmmmm! Good. Some of the comments: What are these?, No, this cannot be figs, Fig Fritters?, Can I get another? I was elated on the response so make sure you put your order in early for a baking showcase at your next year event.
Here is a view of the fig fritters. Enjoy :-)

My youngest caught his first fish!

He was so excited about this feat. He went to an event earlier that day where we could fish but mommy forgot the fishing rod so I promised him we would go fishing once we got back home. Of course, we did and this is the result of being on the pond bank for about 10 minutes. I always knew my children would love nature but they have taken to the next level. Their love for large animals like our farm animals, small animals like the tadpoles, ants, and rolly pollies, our first vegetable garden, hunting, fishing, muddin' on the lawn mower or 4-wheeler is good living to them. I am glad we are able to provide this type of atmosphere to them so they can explore whenever. Loving Nature makes you feel good. Try it you will like it!

Out of State Guest Farm Tour

This was very exciting to have visitors from out of state interested in natural raising of livestock and fruit. Our guest wanted to know the importance of raising animals and fruit naturally would benefit them eventually. Some very good questions but of course that is what our society is moving towards as we speak. The children enjoyed the animals as well especially the dogs. This was an exciting day for RD & S Farm, LLC and we are looking forward to many more visitors in the future. Our goal is to educate the masses about the importance of healthy living through healthy agriculture. No Farms, No Food is the motto today. Here is a peak at our guests.
Come join us one day for a quick tour.

Pet Friends are Growing :-)

Our extended family of pets as you all know are the tadpoles and frogs. Both animals are doing great. My youngest is having a truly grand experience taking care of the animals and watching them grow. At this time, we have acquired more tadpoles because he had such a fun experience with the first we went and gathered more to have a great frog world beginning day. I know it will be a good transition because my son cannot wait for them to become frogs. My childhood tadpole raising experience was great because when I let my frog go he stayed around the house catching insects for a very long time. I am hoping for the same experience for my son. Here are some pictures to let you in on our world of pets.

My youngest newest pet addition

Hello all,

We have a new pet addition to our family. Today, we gave him a small turtle. I expressed to him that we will watch him for a few days and put him back into the pond.
It is all about learning the behaviors of animals and experiencing the care for them.
He is having such a grand time being in charge of something. Watching him is so enlightening for a parent because you all know I love nature. So to see your child mimic your behaviors but do it sometimes even better is so satisfying. Here is a glimpse through the eyes of my four year old. Enjoy!

RD & S Farm, LLC is moving up!

Yes, RD & S Farm, LLC has officially entered into the world of retail. Our fruit has been placed into a local whole food grocery store. I am so excited about this new endeavor but you know it took work to produce a product for that industries satisfaction. We will pursue placing other goods in this store and many others. So be on the look out for products with our very own Head Ram In Charge picture/logo at a store nearest you. Thanks for all of your support.

Tadpole now has back legs

Hello everyone,

Just giving you an update on my youngest son journey of raising a frog. Our tadpole now is displaying the back legs which means we will soon be letting it go. It has been very rewarding to watch my four year old feed, check on, and just sit and watch his new found pet. I feel like this experience helps him to learn the responsibilities of raising an animal and of course the beauty of life itself. The rapid changes beings go through on a daily basis that are not necessary negative but a life circumstance but every being is equiped to withstand those life changes. This journey for him really has given him a new outlook on responsibility, care, nurturing, and of course separation. Take a look at the new legs:-)

First Official Day of Fig Harvesting

Hello everyone,

July 11, 2009 was our first day to harvest our certified organic figs. This was really a very busy day because it was also my family reunion but farm work is never done. The figs had to be picked because they were well you guess it, ripe. I have not officially weighed them but I can estimate 10 pounds easy. I had an encounter also with one of the birds swooping by my head wanting me to leave their favorite meal of the season alone but no can do these figs will be for the wonderful customers of RD & S Farm, LLC.
Take a look at what we have to offer.

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances rural communities. Sustainable agriculture or alternative agriculture is an approach to agriculture that "deliberately integrates and takes advantage of naturally occurring beneficial interactions."

Sustainable agriculture is not a singular approach to production agriculture, but rather a range of practices--a system-- including:

• integrated pest management,
• organic farming,
• crop rotations,
• crop selection,
• planting practices that reduce soil erosion.

Sustainable agricultural practices are also applied to the production of livestock.

The term sustainability refers to economic development that takes full account of the environmental consequences of economic activity and is based on the use of resources that can be replaced or renewed and therefore are not depleted.

(Source: Michael Allaby, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Ecology [Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994], 376.)

In 1999, Americans spent $618 billion for foods originating from the U.S. farms. Of that only 20 percent was paid to farmers, the rest covered expenses for transportation, processing and distribution.

Source: Farm Service Agency. www.fsa.usda.gov

There are many websites that explain and suggest techniques of sustainable agriculture or farming.

One company that I would like to reference is Growing Power, Inc. heading by the CEO Will Allen of Milwaukee, WI. This organization with the leadership of Mr. Allen is sustainable agriculture. He has implemented many of these techniques which is feeding the North side of Milwaukee and teaching worldwide these techniques for anyone to re-create anywhere.

Check it out:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k39D2myzRFQ

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutSMk2mpdM&feature=related

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kENge18wIqg&feature=related

Filmmaker Bonnie Bucqueroux and her dog Schmoopsie look at the sustainable agriculture movement, including a visit to Michigan State University's Student Organic Farm, where Dr. John Biernbaum discusses the options people have to grow their own food or to buy from local growers.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqNBeSp1MRw

My youngest learning about a frogs life cycle

As you read on the earlier entry of our days journey of sustainable agriculture day. We also brought back a little friend for my youngest. Well of course he made it his friend. A tadpole from the swale at the community garden that he had to fill back up with water because of our 100 degree heat lately and for all of his hard work the garden manager caught a tadpole for him and put it in a cup. Now we are taking care of a tadpole at our farm as well. Here you will be able to see the first day of a frogs life cycle. Stay tune!

Celebrating Sustainable Agriculture

Today started off pretty early with a trip to our community garden, Tougaloo-Rainbow Sustainable Garden where my youngest son and I planted pumpkin seeds. We help to water the two garden plots and left with a treat cucumbers and tomatoes. Next, the journey led us to Belhaven Market where I was looking for my farmer friends from Sweet Magnolia Farm to get some squash and swiss chard but they were not there today. So we ended up making business connections with some old friends and again left with a treat tomatoes and butternut squash. Lastly, our journey led us to the High Street Farmers Market where again saw some old aquaintances and purchased some squash (finally) and peas and the treat from this stop was some beautiful art for my sons. So you see our day was most fulfilling now I am getting ready to cook a fabulous vegetarian meal for the day we are celebrating sustainable agriculture.

Local 4-H Club uses Web Conference for Meeting

Tonight was I first ever web conference meeting for our monthly meeting. I think everyone enjoyed it especially the parents because guess what, NO DRIVING. I am looking forward to many more meetings like and of course we do have face to face meetings. The children were especially elated to hear and see me on their computer without leaving home. We have a great special assignment that needed to get out their to the 4-H'ers so I could not wait to next months meeting.
I love technology :-)