Farmers Blog

Space Farm 7:  A national collaboration with NASA

Seven farms across the nation are joining together in collaboration with NASA to celebrate and honor the NASA Space Program.  “It is a year of milestones” said Layla Dowdy, a NASA headquarters spokesperson.  “Fifty years ago we launched the first American in space.  Thirty years ago we started the space shuttle program.  Twenty years ago we launched the Hubble telescope and this year the international space station will be completed.”

NASA is now focusing its attention on creating a sustainable environment in space so that future generations can actually live and work there. The Kepler Mission for example focuses on finding other habitable planets that could potentially support human life. A key component of any future sustainability, whether on a different planet or on the international space station, will be having the ability to grow food in space. The seven “Space Farms” here on Earth will showcase demonstrations on how that can be done.

Belvedere Plantation is the East Coast Representative 

Each of the seven farms has been chosen to participate in the program due to their extensive agri-tourism operations and their fall corn mazes. The group of seven are working together to design their 2011 mazes to depict different NASA achievements. Games and activities in the mazes will reinforce the educational missions of the Space Program so maze-goers can learn and have fun at the same time.

Other activities proposed for the farms include traveling space displays which could include hands-on NASA sponsored activities and free educational materials. The group is also working together to schedule astronaut visits and a speaker series. There may even be a national essay contest where winners could earn a private tour of their regional space centers. The details and specific activities will be made available at a later date.

NASA has ten regional research centers located in the United States, each of which has a different responsibility. The individual Space Farms have been paired up with their local space center in order to highlight that region’s contribution to NASA. For example, The Rock Ranch in Georgia will feature achievements of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida where the Shuttle was first launched.

The participating farms include Belvedere Plantation in Fredericksburg, Virginia; Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke, New York; The Rock Ranch in Rock, Georgia; Vala Farms in Omaha, Nebraska; Dewberry Farm in Brookshire, Texas; Cornbelly’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Fest in Lehi, Utah and Dell’Osso Family Farm in Lathrop, California.  The farm owners are very excited about the venture. “We are honored to be chosen to be part of this program” said Brett Herbst, owner of Cornbelly’s and The MAiZE Inc. which actually designs and carves the mazes. “Not only do we get to collaborate with other farm operators across the nation, we are going to be part of history by paying this tribute to NASA.”

Belvedere Plantation is a 645 acre heritage farm, built in the 1760s on the historic Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Belvedere Plantation is a working farm, with grain crops such as corn, wheat and soybeans.  The corn maze is a showcase feature of the Fall Harvest Festival, which also boasts a pumpkin patch, Fun Barn, fun-filled outdoor attractions — and farm-fresh memories for the whole family.  History reports that  General and Mrs. George Washington were entertained at Belvedere Plantation; local owners, the Fulks family, are proud to be part of space history by cutting a tribute to NASA in this year’s corn maze.

Well, it’s that time of year for the not-so-little-anymore ospreys to head out into the wild blue yonder!

Currently, the two juvenile Ospreys are exercising their flight muscles in preparation for their migration to South America. They will follow their instincts south at the end of August or early October, fly down through Florida, island hop through the Caribbean, and end up on a body of fresh water.

Juvenile Ospreys will usually spend the next year in South American before returning back home. Farmer Ian did take some video of the Ospreys getting a work out, but as all he had is his iPhone it’s a little hard to see the ospreys until the very end.

Speaking of leaving the nest …

Farmer Kyle, Farmer Donnie’s and Donna’s fourth son, has left the nest and will soon set up his own!   We wish to congratulate Kyle and Kristine on their up coming nuptials here at the end of this week.

The Happy Couple

Both Kyle and Kristine are graduates of Messiah College class of 2011 . Kyle was a member of the Messiah men’s soccer team, and during his tenure the team achieved 3 NCAA  Division 3 national championships. He majored  in Youth Ministry. Kristine participated in Dance ministry during her time at Messiah and Majored in Nursing. We hope all of you Dear Readers will join us in wishing them health, and happiness in their marriage.

That’s right Read Readers, the pumpkins are in the ground! Seeds that is, and all too soon little itty bitty baby pumpkin plants are gonna start poking up their heads and shooting up towards the sun. This year oh faithful fans we’re gonna be taking daily pictures of the Pumpkin Patch. You’ll be able to see the the pumpkins sprout, throw out the green vines, flash their yellow flowers, and balloon into ripe orange  fruit. We’ll also be taking pictures of the maze as it grows, gets cut into this year’s design, as the bridges get erected, and finally as people get lost within it’s rows. Speaking of Mazes, this year our maze theme will be NASA! We’re co-operating with that famous Federal Agency in a nation wide educational program. Belvedere is joined by 6 other corn maze farms through out the U.S. of A, so stay tuned for more information like maze design details! While you wait for more news enjoy this video of Farmer Mac planting the pumpkins with his John Deere equipment.