Agricultural Field Trip

Agricultural Field Trip – Mike’s Farm

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENTS

• Identify sustainable agricultural approaches.

• Define agricultural challenges faced by rural farmers around the world and identify possible solutions.

• Describe appropriate technologies and techniques and distinguish what is appropriate from what is modern

Well, I had a very hard time finding a sustainable farm, so on top of visiting a local farm I did a lot of local related research.

I learned that some of the sustainable resources that are most important to local farmers are learning about soil classes, plant and animal sciences, traditional gardening skills, biological pest management, greenhouse design, sustainable livestock management, and agricultural marketing.  One of the most important learned technique is biological pest management. This is because pests are one of the largest challenges for famers, and without the use of conventional pesticides the battle is mostly trial and error to see what both works best and is cost effective.  

Also, speaking to locals here I have learned that most people feel we are in a draught that is worse than anything they have seen over at last the decade. Water shortage is another challenge that people of the agricultural sector face. Whether they raise livestock or grow produce water is a necessity.

Mike’s Farm is a small family owned restaurant, store, and farm.  Although this farm used to be self-sustaining its main purpose now is an educational resource, as well as a family owned and oriented business. 

The history of Mike’s farm is posted on their website, while I spoke to the family, I will take a few things from their pages to keep the integrity of their history.

   "Jess L Lowe, a native of Ozark, Arkansas, came to  Camp Lejeune as a young man serving in the Marine Corps.  While there, he met a local girl named Lucille Bryan. At the close of World War II, they were married and decided to settle in Lucille's home community of  Back Swamp, North Carolina . In 1945, the couple purchased a small farm next to her home place.

      On the small tobacco farm, Jess and Lucille raised four children. On the farm one would find corn, tobacco, and a garden full of vegetables to feed the family. There were also a variety of farm animals such as cows, chickens, pigs, and of course the family pet bulldog named "Bull."

    Tobacco was their main crop and when it came time to "put in" tobacco, neighbors helped each other. While everyone was working in the fields, Lucille was in the house preparing the barn day dinner for all the barn hands. Generally a dinner consisted of fried chicken, ham, butter beans, potatoes, collards, homemade biscuits, and tea. Most of the food came right from the farm.

      As the years went by and the kids grew, everyone ventured out into public jobs and stopped working on the farm.  However, in the mid 1980's, Mike and his wife Theresa began working the farm again as a side job, growing this time, not
tobacco, but Christmas trees. Eventually, they both left their public jobs and diversified the farm into other areas. A small gift shop was added and over the years has expanded with a full service bakery. Customers can enjoy a cup of coffee or hot apple cider while watching the bakery workers make homemade cakes, pies, cookies, and fudge.

      The farm, which is now called "Mike's Farm," offers educational school programs for children as well as an animal petting area. A Christmas light show attracts folks near and far, along with group campfire cookouts and hayrides.

      It has always been, and still remains to be, the intent of Mike's Farm to create a place with a warm wholesome family atmosphere for all of their customers. With this is in mind, a restaurant was also added to the farm, just like the home place that Jess and Lucille created for their family years ago in the farm community of Back Swamp."  http://www.mikesfarm.com/

So their history is a very interesting one. After eating at the restraint, picking a pumpkin over the winter, feeding the animals at the petting zoo, shopping, and enjoying myself I can say that I did learn a lot and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

 Educational Hay Ride!

The Ladies before dinner

LLAMA