Ford blazes bright trail with his diversified approach
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 02/23/2012 9:20 AM
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HOWARD LAKE, Minn. — A lot more is going on at Jerry Ford's Howard Lake farm than garlic production.
The 288-acre farm is diversified between crops, rotational grazing of replacement heifers, laying hens and vegetables. And don't forget the stacked enterprises including two acres farmed by young producers selling fruits and vegetables through their Community Supported Agriculture operation, Sleepy Root Farm.
"We have to keep an open mind to what the future of farming might look like," Ford said. "It's exciting to have options."
Ford's wife, Marienne Kreitlow, is the fourth generation on the farm. Her father, Willard Kreitlow, lives with the couple and is Ford's mentor.
"I am fortunate to have him around and to learn from him," Ford said. "He knows so much about this land. Willard has been farming all his life and was involved with conservation work in the 1940s at a time when people didn't use that term."
Willard implemented contour strips. The neighbors called it crazy farming, but it kept the topsoil on the hilly land.
He also mentored another young man, Kevin Stokes. Stokes purchased the dairy operation in the mid 1990s. The Fords and Stokes farm cooperatively. Stokes farms most of the cropland and Ford runs what he calls a "boarding school for heifers." In other words, he raises Stokes' replacements.
The heifers are raised on managed rotationally grazed pastures on highly errodable land. The land was planted in an alfalfa-brome-orchard grass mix. Crop ground was planted in a pasture mix with six types of grasses and three types of legumes.
They grow vegetables for themselves and offered potatoes to the Orono School District last year through the Farm To School program. The potatoes were purple and a hit with the elementary students. The school dubbed it the "purple people eaters potatoes."
Ford is a Texas native who knew little about farming, but he was a willing student.
When he asked his father-in-law which farm organization he should join, Willard mentioned the Sustainable Farming Association. The Fords have been members of their Crow River Chapter for more than 20 years. They are planning, with other SFA chapters, a "Festival of Farms" on July 14. He calls the event "one big farm tour."
The Fords also spearheaded the Minnesota Garlic Festival, which is sponsored by the Crow River Chapter.
His start in garlic grew from a friend's idea. The friend said the two could sell garlic raised on Ford's farm. Ford researched and discovered there are many northern climate hardy garlic varieties. He purchased three of those varieties from a Wisconsin grower in September 2002 and planted it in October.
"I did it all so wrong, but the garlic was so forgiving," he said.
While he prepares the garlic ground with machines, Ford prefers to hand plant it. The extra labor results in good quality garlic, Ford said.
Friends and neighbors are called to help with the planting followed by a meal and time for fellowship.
The garlic is harvested and stored and dried in a shed where he controls air flow and humidity.
It involves a lot of labor, but is a good niche market.
The seed can be costly, but he can sell the end product for $10 to $14 per pound.
"When people will say, 'I have five acres I want to plant into garlic. What should I do?' I tell them, 'Plant a quarter acre,'" Ford said.
The niche crop has its own festival that started from a simple conversation with a friend. Delano farmer Greg Reynolds said a sustainable state fair event was needed. He wanted something to attract people to the countryside where local foods could be offered and people from the city could meet farmers.
"I made a joke and said, 'What about a garlic festival?'" Ford said. "He told me, 'Go right ahead.'"
With just $100 for advertising, the Minnesota Garlic Festival was born. The first event took place at the Wright County fairgrounds and drew 700 people.
The second year 900 people attended and last year, at the sixth garlic festival, 3,500 came to the McLeod County fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
"It's a quirky little festival," he said. "It's like no other festival in the state."
Fourteen vendors sell garlic at the festival, he said. A waiting list exists for other growers who want to sell at the event.
For more information check the website sfa-mn.org/garlicfest.