Thoughts From The Rising Eagle Ranch
Wednesday, Oct 26th, 2011
We purchased our ranch in the Cascade Mountains, north of Mount Lassen and south of Mount Shasta, over a decade ago. After a career in aerospace and defense, my plan was to kick-back and enjoy the pastures, oak woodlands and pine forests. My ranch neighbors took me to local watershed group and cattlemen’s meetings and I got hooked on improving the environment while raising cattle; two mutually supportive endeavors. Ranchers and farmers I know are committed to sustainable agriculture and protecting land, water and wildlife in order to maintain a business and way of life for their family. Our creek is bordered by cow/calf ranchers who prohibit development through use of Williamson Act contracts, a very successful conservation program in the state. We self-monitor creek flow for our irrigation water needs as well as other beneficial uses of water for …
Plants Are Like Children
Friday, Oct 7th, 2011
As I was driving down the country road today, I started thinking about “conservation” and what that means to our farm. Many in our state say that instead of developing new water supplies, all farmers have to do is conserve water and use it more efficiently. Most farmers are conservationists and we are very aware of the water that the plants need, plus we recognize that there are other farmers and managed wetlands that reuse the water from our farms. This process is repeated throughout the Valley. In a flow-through system like the Sacramento Valley, water management is designed very carefully for the water to flow throughout the region in this manner. Our plants are like children–from the day they are born, to the day they mature and put forth their bounty. Like a child there is not one time …
Environ Mental
Monday, Sep 26th, 2011
How often does life get too busy that some facets run on auto pilot? I think it can inadvertently happen to most of us. Sometimes I get so focused I lose touch with some of the amazing elements of my daily environment at home or on the farm. You know how it is! Sometimes it takes a guest or visitor who points my attention to a specific flock of birds, swimming insect, spider web, flowering plant, scent of soil, or cloud formation. When that happens, it is helpful for me to become deliberately “Environ Mental”. I am fortunate to farm an environmentally rich crop in an environmentally rich region. It is important for me to take time to be deliberate about seeing, understanding, and appreciating the environment where I farm. It is valuable to focus on the Macro environment, as …
Sustainable Farms Need Sustainable Families
Friday, Aug 26th, 2011
My Dad died last week and I really miss him. I grew up on the farm doing something with my Dad everyday. When I came home from school, Dad and I would check fields in his truck, ride the harvester, or spend time in his office. My brothers and I could go to farm meetings or board meetings with Dad; no place was “off limits” when we were with him. I have countless fond memories of the time we spent together. As I reflect on how Dad farmed rice, I realize he truly cared abut being a sustainable farmer. He never burned rice straw, he started farming a portion of his farm organically in the sixties, and crop rotation with cover crops was always a part of his farm plan. We worked long summers leveling fields with survey stakes and …
