A Community Gardening Blog

The Brazos Locavores have linked up with the Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market’s newest vendor – Wild Type Ranch - who made their debut at the market during our October 31 Halloween Celebration.

Wild Type Ranch produces sustainably-raised beef and veal in Cameron, TX, about an hour north of Bryan and distributes throughout Central Texas through a variety of farmers’ markets and subscriptions to various drop-off locations.

Founded in 2005, Wild Type Ranch is composed of an amazing 333 acres, but what they pride themselves on is quality. “The founding principle of Wild Type Ranch is respect for all life. We believe in responsible stewardship of the animals, the land, and the world which sustains us.”

The grand tour will include a wagon ride through the pasture, views of newborn calves (due in the weeks before our trip), the opportunity to hand feed “cow candy” to some of the pasture residents, a presentation on breeding and maintaining healthy cows, then back to the workshop for questions and refreshments (including sample of their beef products, hot off the fire).

NOTE to VEG*Ns: Even if you’re not a meat eater (I’m not either), this is a great opportunity to enjoy fresh air, a wagon ride through the country, and the magic of newborns (again, some of the momma cows are due to give birth in the weeks before our arrival…)

Excited? Here’s the scoop:

Who: Everyone! The trip (as always) is free and don’t forget to bring the kids!

What: December Field trip to Wild Type Ranch

When: Sunday, December 13 (1PM – 5PM)

Where: Meet-up at Brazos Natural Foods and carpool out to the farm

RSVP: to Heather at brazoslocavores@gmail.com by Wednesday, December 9th so that I can print enough driving directions and alert the farm to the number of visitors.

For more information on the farm, visit their website. See you there!

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We have another exciting trip planned for November! The Brazos Locavores will experience a Texas favorite offered right here in the Brazos Valley – the TAMU Pecan Orchard.

The original owners, respectful of the land, wanted to share it with others and preserve the land for generations to come. They first established the orchard in the 40’s, soon after creating a second orchard in the 80’s. In fact, they just completed the final addition in February 2009.

Today, the orchard contains more than 20 acres of land, making up the 3 orchards.The TAMU Pecan Orchard is located 8 miles out side of College Station, Texas off Highway 60. This is a trip that you don’t want to miss! We will be touring the beautiful venue while learning about the various pecan trees, the different types of pecans, as well as on-going experiments taking place at the orchard. Even better, with this being pecan season, we will have the opportunity to purchase bags of pecans harvested on-site.

Here’s the scoop:

What: Brazos Locavores Field Trip to TAMU Pecan Orchard

When: Saturday November 7^th (1:00- 4:00)

Where: Brazos Natural Foods (we’ll be meeting in the parking lot at 1:00 and carpooling out to TAMU Pecan Orchard)

Who: Everyone! Don’t forget to bring the kids!

RSVP: to brazoslocavores@gmail.com by Wednesday, November 4th so that we can let the Orchard know and prepare for the number of attendees

See you there!

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For fourteen years, the Osth Family has worked the land to provide naturally-grown food to their family and the local community. In addition to their membership in the Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market, the Osths offer a weekly newsletter detailing the farm products for sale, then provide weekly delivery in College Station.

Situated forty minutes east of College Station, the Osth Family has generously invited us to visit for a their 88 acre farm. Included in the farm tour will be a demonstration of how they’ve trained draft horses to work the land, a visit to the developing orchard with bee hives, introductions to the many farm animals that make Osth Family Farm their home (goats, pigs, chickens, cows, dogs, and horses), games for the kids, and refreshments for all.

Osth Family Farm produces a wonderful variety of products including eggs, soap, produce, and farm crafts, all of which will be available for purchase after the tour.

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Yonder Way Farm in Brenham has made the purchase of local and sustainably raised beef, pork, and chicken easier than ever before. You can now order directly from their website (follow the left hand column on their website down to “ORDER HERE”) and even better… they deliver to the BCS area once a month!

Be sure to check out the Yonder Way Farm website fore more information or join the Brazos Locavores when they visit Yonder Way Farm later this month.

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Dooley Farmily Farm owners Randy and Rafannette Dooley and their kids, a daughter 14 and son 9, have been farming the same land that was Randy’s father’s since the 1920’s. Intimately involved in every aspect of farming life, they long to share their love of the farm with the Brazos Valley community.

I had the opportunity to interview Rafannette through an email exchange over the weekend. Having learned more about the farm, I’m eager to visit, taking it in first hand. “We don’t mind explaining to people how we do things and why we do what we do. We are happy to let people try their hand at milking and share many recipes,” shared Rafannette. I do believe I foresee a field trip to Dooley Family Farm in the Brazos Locavore future…

But you don’t have to wait for the Brazos Locavore trip to enjoy the bounty at Dooley Family Farm. Here are some excerpts from my interview with Rafannette and directions on how to contact the farm for a share of the harvest:

SGF: Tell us a little bit about the history of your farm.

DFF: Our farm was settled in the 1920’s. My husband’s father had to leave school and the farm to go to war in the Navy. He sent payments back to his mother and father to pay for this land while he was gone. My father-in-law passed in 2006 and it went to my husband and his 3 sisters and 1 brother. My husband has lived here full-time since 1989. I married into the farm.

SGF: Have you always been a farming family?

DFF: Yes. Farming practices have been handed down from generation to generation, as well as how to be a steward to the land and animals here. We do things the way my husband’s grandparent taught him – the old way. We never tire of teaching and telling others how to do things in a slower fashion. For more reasons than one – not just taste, although it’s probably the best reason to learn.

SGF: You mentioned to me in an earlier email exchange that you started farming “green before it was cool.” What made you decide to grow organically? What practices do you do to farm “green?”

DFF: We are not a certified organic farm, but most of what we do is organic. We plant some heritage and heirloom seeds, some not. We grow using organic fertilizers like manure, well water, cottonseed compost, other compost, and such. We try to as much as we can that relates back to what nature intends. We recognize the fact that our bodies were designed to accept and know how to deal with what Nature has given us. What we have and do is our way of life.

SGF: Tell us a little about the products you have available, both now and at other times of the year.

DFF: Right now we have plants growing. We have planted cantaloupes and other varieties of rock melons and charentais, okra, cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon, pumpkins, herbs, beans, onions, and more all the time going in.

We also have dairy cows that we milk daily for fresh raw milk, butter, cheeses and yogurts.

Our chickens will be back on-line for the fall with free-range brown eggs. We do have a Texas egg license, so that any business or restaurant that wants to buy can.

We have just acquired an antique cane mill, from which you can make syrup. We will have sugar cane planted this next year and will be able to demonstrate the mill.

SGF: Where do you sell your farm products?

DFF: We sell directly from the farm. We sell as things are ready, and milk all the time.

SGF: Do you have a Pick-Your-Own setup? Should people call ahead with orders/to visit?

DFF: We have pick-your-own available and, of course, will pick every day as things are ready. People should call ahead, even though we have product everyday.

SGF: What is the best way to contact the farm with questions or to plan a visit?

DFF: Phone (979-828-5004) or email (dooleyfarmilyfarm@aol.com)

Dooley Family Farm is located between the town of Franklin and OSR, just northwest of Bryan about 28 miles.

Be sure to contact the farm for more information and to enjoy some of the best local produce, dairy, and eggs the Brazos Valley has to offer!

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