Clemence and Noah plant marjoram at Ornery Heron Farm
On Monday, June 18, my fellow teen interpreters and I went to Ornery Heron Farm. Ornery Heron is a semi-urban farm located just off Highway 195. In total, the farm encompasses about thirty acres, most of which are not currently in use. This farm is rather unique. For example, the water supply is a small creek that runs from a spring just a few miles upstream. It is also a pesticide free location where alternatives such as “Feather Meal” replace common mainstays like Miracle Grow. This particular example proved to be quite interesting as we planted herbs in one of the many gardens. It was fascinating to see food production so close to home.
I think that Americans absentmindedly purchase fruits, vegetables, and meats, without having the chance to reflect on the process that comes before products arrive at the grocery store. I have grown up on acreage with a vast assortment of animals including cats, dogs, llamas, cows, and chickens. In addition, a portion of our property is farmed. Still, I find that I don’t spend much time thinking about food. Before our trip to Ornery Heron, I had never considered the difference between Corn Fed or Grass Fed beef nor the difference between Organic Ingredients and Certified Organic labels (“Organic Ingredients” means that 70% of the ingredients are organic while “Certified Organic” is 100% organic). In my opinion, it is important to think about everything that makes our twenty-first century lifestyles possible and consider the benefits of the methods that preceded our technologies. All too often, we become wrapped up in our own lives and fail to look at the grand scale of our ecosystem. Ornery Heron granted us the opportunity to slow down and connect with nature.
This article was conceived, edited, and carefully hand-polished by:
Hunter Olsen
MAC Teen Interpreters 