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Organic Dreams: Farmer
hopes to expand |
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Davison Twp. – There is a large tract of land
with boundaries on Henderson and Davison roads with perfect soil for
growing crops or raising cattle next to Rob Malcomnson’s Marsh Haven
organic farm. The land has been sold to a developer and re-zoned
residential. Someday soon this land my sprout houses instead of healthy produce. Instead, Malcomnson dreams of having this land planted by local high school students to be used for their school lunch program. What would be a better way to learn about living off the land and healthy eating than to have them plant and use their own food? Malcomnson is always thinking of ways to bring the consumer and the farmer into a closer relationship than the traditional grocery store chain. Malcomnson, 33, lives with his parents and grandmother on a 15 acre parcel purchased by his father in 9166. Malcomnson call this modest house and land his “home base” for his organic farming operation and cattle that consists of 21 separate pieces of property spread out over several miles. Most of the land he uses he said, “Was just being wasted by people who have purchased the land from older farms.” Farm equipment and produce must be hauled between all of these parcels. Malcomnson imagines on day owning a large spread with plenty of cattle. “Organic food is in higher demand, especially beef, but I don’t have the land to add more cattle,” he said. Anyone wanting any of his beef must fill out a reservation form. Right now he is sold out. Hay, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, rye, potatoes and tomatoes and a few other vegetables are grown on these farm parcels. He also has a berry patch for the immediate family. There are seven pastured cows (Angus) that follow him through the pasture like gigantic puppies. He also raises pastured chickens. He runs the farm with very little help. “I just have really long days,” he said. His father, John, works part-time and Scott Coffman helps when he can. Coffman works full-time at General Motors, but manages to find time to help at the farm. “Scott is a farmer at heart,” Rob Malcomnson said. High school students help at harvest time. The farm was redirected to grow everything organically in 1992 after Malcomnson returned from his studies at Michigan State University in Environmental and Resource Management and a nine-month agronomy (field-crop and soil management) internship at the Rodale Institute Resource Center. The farm is certified by the National Organic Standards Board. Malcomnson said certification is note as hard to receive as is believed. “You just have to make sure you keep good records,” he said. Malcomnson is also trying to educate the public. “We vote with our food dollars. Unfortunately the average consumer isn’t educated to know the difference,” he said. Malcomnson wants the public to taste the difference between food that has been trucked thousands of miles compared to produce fresh from the farm. Understanding the costs is also important, he said. “Not just the price difference at the supermarket,” he said. Costs can also be factored under quality of life, lower nutrition, less taste plus all the costs that do not enhance the food like advertising, packaging and transportation. Lecturing and consulting at area farms are two of the ways Malcomnson spreads the word about growing and eating organically. On Sept. 11, the Malcomnson’s hosted the 2003 Ecological and Organic Farm Tours. This event was sponsored by the Michigan Organic Food and Farm Alliance, Michigan Agricultural Stewardship Association and MSU Extension – Kellogg Biological Station. They were one of three farms participating in Lower Michigan. On Sept. 20, Malcomnson spoke at Growing Connections 2003 – Organic Harvest Festival in Milford. This event provided lectures and booths about organic foods and information on where to obtain them. Marsh Haven’s products go to several sources. He sells his hay to local horse farms and certified dairies. Half of his soybeans are sold to a distributor to go into food grade products like tofu and soymilk. |
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