EIF-B_Where We Come From

FROM THE FARMSTEAD
rows in my garden. I can see the green
foliage of beans, carrots, sweetcorn, tomatoes,
cabbage, hot peppers, beets, and
onions in neat rows along with tangles of
red raspberries, asparagus, and all kinds
of herbs.
Nothing on our shelves, however,
stands out more in my mind than our
8-Acre Vegetable Soup – a healthy mix
of veggies and venison, all of which,
in accordance to our family-mandated
branding rules, must originate from our
own property. The only ingredient not
from our little plot is the salt.
While my garden produces a variety
of edible and can-able crops, the planning
process, which begins in January
each year, is focused on a couple specific
goals, one of which is always the soup.
Pickles, pickled beets, sweetcorn, and
various kinds of herb pesto are produced
and preserved most years. Sometimes
we make dilly beans. Fermented hot
sauce, because it lasts a long time, is an
every-other-year thing. But a core focus
is always the soup, so here I sit, penciling
out how much seed we’ll need, taking
AUTO | HOME | FARM | CROP | BUSINESS | LIFE | HEALTH
Brian Franzen
Leora Claeys
Kate Schaver
Jody Schmidt
Trae Johnson
107 E. Quarry St.
Maquoketa, IA 52060
563-652-6937
Cathy Ryder
1017 6th Ave.
DeWitt, IA 52742
563-659-2699
www.ohnwardinsurancegroup.com
Matt Franzen
Susanne Owen Landon Goettsch Jodi Helmle
Our team has
you covered!
At Ohnward Insurance Group,
we understand the long
hours our farmers put in, the
increase in costs you face and
even weather challenges.
To meet your needs and help
you succeed, we offer a wide
range of insurance options.
86 EASTERN IOWA FARMER | SPRING 2024 eifarmer.com