It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Missouri. After a confined winter of rehabilitation exercises for my strokes, I have gotten out to do a story with our new managing editor, Kimberly Coldicott. Just getting out on the farm again feels great. Spreading the message about small farming is even greater. Many of you have written and called with a message of encouragement to get well soon. To that I say with all your help, support, and prayers I am doing just that. I hope that by gardening time, I am standing to work side by side with my Amish friends. I already have all my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and Morgan County Seeds ready for springtime planting.

After visiting Pierpont Farms in Columbia, Missouri, and doing a story on Angela and Rob Hemwall, my enthusiasm for high tunnels on small farms was renewed. The Hemwalls and I compare this enthusiasm to that of Paul and Alison Wiediger’s book Walking to Spring; a farmer published, practical guide about winter farming and direct marketing during the months of October through April using unheated high tunnels. The Wiedigers live in Kentucky, providing a perfect setting, for an in-depth look into the operation of unheated high tunnels.

We wish you great success with your farm’s high tunnel which we found could be part of a very successful direct-marketing plan for your farm.

Happy & Profitable Farming,

Ron Macher
Publisher/Farmer