Today we can finally relax a little. It’s been a while since I posted. We’ve been through a lot since the last post. July 7th started out with farm pictures for the Fogle’s 40 Organic Acres Facebook page. Woody in his Papa Bernstein bear hat and the girls and I. No big deal, except I really don’t like to have my picture taken, but after that day, I’m not going to fuss. These pictures could have been our last. Woody went to mow Field 4, which we can’t see from the house. He and the mower slipped into the pond. He was trapped under water and under the mower. He had given up and decided to push one more time, he was able to lift the mower off of him enough to get out and swim up the 8′ or so he was underwater. God wasn’t ready for him just yet. We are so, so grateful! Bumps and bruises healed.
It seems like ages ago the Iowa State Fair booth in the Ag Building was set up to greet many of the million visitors to the Fair. We worked several times and educated folks about all things Aronia. We met many wonderful growers and folks interested in Aronia. I have to share about two folks stick in my mind. The first was a middle-aged woman who was told she was pre-diabetic and had to take a medication. She related that she began eating about a handful of berries six months ago and made no other dietary changes. On a recent visit to her doctor her blood work was so much better, they discontinued her medicine. She told the doctor it was due to the berries, that was the only change. He didn’t believe her. Yet many of us know “Food is Medicine”. She will continue to tell folks and eat her handful of berries! If that wasn’t amazing enough, not more than 10 minutes later, a gentleman came by and told us he’s been using Aronia concentrate for the past year and he feels more like 50 than his 80 years. He has even persuaded his daughter to use the concentrate and give it to his grandchildren. He was completely sold on the health benefits.
The amazing part of this Fair presence was that more folks had heard about Aronia than last year. What a difference a year made. It’s exciting to be in the emerging Aronia industry.
We harvested Aronia berries on August 22nd, the last Saturday of the Fair! We had wonderful youth and adult helpers representing two softball teams, a 4-H group, the church youth and some old friends. We hand-picked almost 2000 pounds of berries on that Saturday. Needless to say we were all exhausted. It’s hard work and I am reminded every year I need to get in better shape. We hope to be fully recovered from the cicada damage next year and have even a bigger harvest. We are planning to use a mechanical harvester next year.
After harvesting, we plunged head into the Warren County Farm Tour. Not knowing what to truly expect, we worked with our neighbors, Larry & Jan Fife of the Ring King, to provide Aronia themed foods. We also had doTerra essential oils, Scentsy, Paws at Home Pet Care, information about Aronia’s benefits, plants, and information on how to care for organic plants. We thought we may have a 150-200 folks visit. Last night, when the driveway was cleared out and all the food was gone, we figured we’d had closer to 500-600 visitors. Two hundred families had entered for the gift basket! It was crazy!!! We were overwhelmed with the interest in the unique farms that make up a portion of Warren County. Our thanks to all who visited, organized, and promoted the 2015 Warren County Farm Tour.
We are especially grateful to our entire family, without whom we couldn’t have made it through the past two months!