By guest writer Tammy Dillingham - Secretary, Winnsboro Farmers' Market
“Old McDonald Had a Farm, EIEIO.” Who doesn't remember singing that song when they were young? Did you ever wish you had a farm like that? If so, you're not the only one!
Think about the song. What did Old McDonald have? There are a lot of verses in that song. Old McDonald had a cow, a pig, a duck, a horse and a lamb; and chickens, of course. The song doesn't mention a vegetable garden – after all, what kind of noise does a squash make? But I bet Mrs. McDonald had a garden!
Many of the local farmers at the Winnsboro Farmers' Market are working on their own version of Old McDonald's farm. Some of us jumped right in with both feet, immediately starting with a wide range of animals, vegetables, and fruits. Others have started more slowly, trying to figure out what farming is all about and what works for them. But we all seem to have the same goals – to get outside, work the land, enjoy life, share our interests, and eat well. We're interested in knowing what we're eating – how the animals were raised, what they're fed, how the produce is grown, what chemicals (if any) are being used. We want to be close to the land, close to our roots. To a large extent, you might even say we're doing our best to regress 70 or 80 years, to a simpler time.
Our farmers are all local now, but they come from all over and from various backgrounds to lead their own version of the farm life. Some of our farmers have lived their entire life in east Texas or other farming areas. They've been around farming and animals for years. They grew up with horses and cattle, pigs, goats, rabbits. They helped out on the farms, planting and harvesting food for the dinner table. They knew where their food came from, what went into it, and they had an appreciation for the unbeatable taste and pleasure of eating food that they grew themselves. Even a very young child can be proud to help Mom and Dad plant seeds, water the garden, and pick the tomatoes for dinner. (Okay, so weeding isn't quite as much fun.)
But others of us lived in cities (as far away as Chicago and Los Angeles, or as near as Dallas). We worked in offices all day and seldom had the chance to get out and enjoy nature, much less to raise our own food. If we were lucky, we were able to have a small backyard garden, some of us were so desperate they grew anything in a pot on a high rise balcony; and some of our cities had a farmers market where we could get fresh produce. But years of working in offices, dealing with traffic and daily commutes, and generally being in “the rat race” can get old and can definitely make one wish for “the good life”.
Personally, I lived both of these lives – for about 10 years of my childhood, my parents owned enough land for a couple of horses, a steer or two, a pig and chickens. After college, though, I was part of the rat race in Dallas (for more years than I care to admit). It was those years as a child that made me want to leave the city, offices, and traffic behind. We're working now on our own “old McDonald's farm”.
Unlike the huge, commercial farming operations that focus on one type of produce or one animal, most of the farmers at our market are raising a variety of foods, for their families and for yours. Our farmers not only grow their own vegetables, but they're planting fruit and nut trees, berry bushes and vines. Just like Old McDonald, they're raising cattle, pigs, chickens, goats, rabbits, bees, and turkeys. They may even have a stock pond for their own supply of fish. Several of us can our own produce, for out of season use, and maybe bake bread. Some of our vendors make soaps; others sew or knit their own clothes and other household goods. For some of us, we want to think of a store as a place for staples only – coffee and tea, rice, flour and sugar, paper products, fabric and canning jars.
Most of our animals are pasture or forest-raised. In some cases, they are completely free range (allowed to roam the farm without confinement, but with shelter provided). In other cases, they are fenced in pens or pastures. But those areas are large, with abundant grass, trees and water. Talk to any of our farmers – we'll tell you how spoiled our farm animals are! Ask about the pigs that love having their bellies rubbed or the cattle that hang out by the garden fence to get those wonderful fresh veggies.
I recently asked some of our farmers what it was about the farming life that appealed to them. The responses were quite similar: knowing how the food was grown or raised, what chemicals were added (or not), and the use of GMOs. We want to know what is going into the animals and (through the compost pile) into the produce. Probably all of our farmers would agree that it's a wonderful feeling to sit down at the dinner table with the family and realize that all the food came straight from the farm to the table. And (a response that I can definitely relate to): “dirty fingernails, ‘good clothes’ that turn into ‘play clothes’ overnight, high water bills, and an excellent insight into food and ways of life most Americans have no idea about since the 1940's.”
Join us this Saturday at the Winnsboro Farmers' Market for our very own “Old McDonald Farm Day”. Meet the farmers and some of their farm animals. Ask how we raise our animals, how we grow our produce, or how we can it. We're proud of our farms, our animals, our produce, and our lifestyle. We'd love to tell you about it. We will also be treated to the music of the Clarksville Country Club, dulcimer players.
And come back the next Saturday, May 2, for Derby Day. Kids can build their own stick horses. Also vote for your favorite vendor’s Derby Day hat or bowtie. Feel free to participate by making your own hat at Art & Espresso (111 E. Broadway in Winnsboro) this Friday (April 24th) from 5pm – 9pm; supplies provided. Saturdays from 8 am until Noon on Market Street in Winnsboro, Tx.