As I write this, I find myself skating across a thin layer of frozen mud, propelled by 3,500 gallons of manure.
No, this is not an attempt at extreme sports; it’s just another day on the farm. Don’t try this at home, friends, but yes, I often write in the field, while driving a tractor and hauling manure. It’s one of the quirky perks of farm life – where multitasking is a survival skill, and the seasons throw curveballs that constantly reshape my daily chaos.
At this time of year, every day feels like a tug-of-war between the muddy, warm days of early spring and the last stubborn grasp of winter’s frozen nights. It’s a battle that unfolds right beneath my boots. While most of you are enjoying the radiant warmth of the sun, I’m wading through muck and trying to find a rhythm to this muddy season.
Just last week, I had the experience of being pulled backwards down a hill by the manure spreader. Yes, you read that right. In the Driftless Region, where the land is anything but flat, these kinds of mishaps are bound to happen. The topography here is beautiful, but it sure does make farming tricky. A lot of our efforts go into keeping the soil in the fields where it belongs, and not sliding down the hills into places it shouldn’t be. Those beautifully contoured fields are more than just picturesque – they’re carefully designed to use the land in the most sustainable and efficient way possible.
This brings me to the age-old question that I often hear from my wife: To haul or not to haul? Is the mud frozen enough to make hauling manure possible today? It’s a question that requires more than just a glance at the weather – it’s a careful judgment call. And with all this mud, I can’t help but wonder if there’s any good use for all this sliminess.
I’ve recently heard of something called “forest bathing,” which is apparently the latest “instacool” activity. To practice forest bathing, all you need to do is take off your socks and shoes and walk barefoot through the woods. I don’t know about you, but I think we can do better than that. What about “mud bathing”? If you’re looking for an authentic natural experience, I can offer acres of slimy mud for mud bathing, mud swimming, mud rolling, and, yes, mud smearing. Welcome to the ultimate mud spa. While forest bathing may sound refreshing, I think my “mud therapy” is an experience that could rival any wellness trend.
But, really, is there anything good that can come out of all this mess? Perhaps one thing other than my ragingly good mudspa idea: maple syrup! The thawing and freezing of the land may be a nuisance to me, but it’s a crucial part of the process for those delicious maple trees. The freezing nights and warm days help get the sap flowing, and before long, we’re savoring that sweet, sticky goodness on our pancakes. If there’s one thing that makes the mud worthwhile, it’s the promise of maple syrup season.
As I was walking through the library with my son the other day, we stumbled upon a book called “The Butter Battle Book.” It caught my attention, as it’s a story about a ridiculous argument over how to butter bread – whether you put the butter on the top side of the slice or the bottom. I thought it was a fun concept, but in my house, there’s no debate about it. My wife bakes the best loaf of bread ever known to bread-kind, and I’ll happily eat it any way it comes.
I’ve always believed I don’t have “opinions” per se – just facts. I tell my wife that my thoughts are based on facts, and since facts are irrefutable, my opinion is automatically correct. For example, I believe butter is good for you – no arguments there. While others may disagree, I am steadfast in my belief, as butter makes everything better.
So, what’s the takeaway from all of this? Whether we’re navigating the muddy fields or debating the proper way to butter bread, there is always an upside to the slop. Maybe your upside tastes mapley- but if you’d like something a little more Instagramy, I’ll get your mud bath ready.
Meet your farmer – Jonathan Gerdes. He and his wife run a farm-to-table raw milk dairy and farm airbnb in Caledonia, Minn. If he isn’t in the barn, you can find him dating his wife, playing with his kids, leading youth group, or flying in the sky. Visit gerdesfreshfarm.com for more info.
Whipped Maple Butter
Leave a Reply