AGRICULTURE

AgriCulture: Homebodies – September 11, 2025

AgriCulture: After You – July 3, 2025

AgriCulture: Back to School

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin June 5, 2025The first turkey to get up high, at one week old – photo by Mark ScherzerBack to SchoolHi all, Mark here.I went back to college for a seminar last week. The teacher provoking... Read More ›

AgriCulture: The Nesting Instinct

AgriCulture: Big Yellow Taxi

AgriCulture: Lisette Has Two Moms

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin April 10, 2025 Lisette sticking with 272 and Louisette – photo by Mark Scherzer Lisette Has Two MomsHi all, Mark here. Happy Passover and Good Palm Sunday.The title of this bulletin is “Lisette... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Resilience

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin January 20, 2025 The snow before the cold — photo by Mark Scherzer ResilienceHi all, Mark here.It’s the evening of January 19. For the first time this winter, enough snow is accumulating outside... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Where Have All the Shepherds Gone?

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin January 3, 2025 I bottle feed a frail newborn as mom looks on — photo by Arthur Gary Where Have All the Shepherds Gone?Hi all, Mark here.As if to re-affirm our bond with... Read More ›

AgriCulture: A Season of Miracles

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin December 17, 2024 Enter the Season of Miracles — photo by Eric Rouleau A Season of MiraclesHi all, Mark here.Tis the season of miracles. This year, by cosmic design, Christmas and Hanukkah fall... Read More ›

AgriCulture: A Watched Pot Never Boils

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin December 12, 2024 Frozen in anticipation — photo by Mark Scherzer A Watched Pot Never BoilsHi all, Mark here.”Patience is a virtue.” I don’t know if that’s a view unique to the societies... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Just the Facts, Please

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin November 25, 2024These need explaining — photo by Eric RouleauJust the Facts, PleaseHi all, Mark here.Most of my life I’ve cultivated an air of detached irony. I offer satiric commentary about the day’s news. I... Read More ›

AgriCulture: The Day After

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin November 7, 2024 A long road ahead — photo by Mark Scherzer The Risks and the BenefitsHi all, Mark here.It’s odd to feel hung over when you haven’t excessively drunk the night before.... Read More ›

AgriCulture: The Risks and the Benefits

AgriCulture: Not a Walk in the Park

AgriCulture: The Logic of the Situation

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin September 28, 2024 A view clear to Canada? photo by Mark Scherzer The Logic of the SituationHi all, Mark here.I don’t know if it’s the warped workings of my brain or a reflection... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Home

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin September 12, 2024 Turkeys returning home from a visit to the fence photo by Mark Scherzer HomeHi all, Mark here.Home is a powerful magnet. When Dorothy tapped her shoes and intoned “There’s no... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Getting the Message

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin August 29, 2024Orhan and Lale, hanging in the barn photo by Mark ScherzerGetting the MessageHi all, Mark here.From time to time during my office day, I stick my head out of the bathroom window upstairs,... Read More ›

AgriCulture: The Bounty Around Us

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin August 12, 2024Folies Campagnardes, Bouquet and photo by Michel BergerinThe Bounty Around UsHi all, Mark here.It’s an odd time to be away from the farm, just when the garden is beginning to produce in earnest... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Summer’s Turning Point

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin July 30, 2024 The first brave turkeys venture outdoors, Photo by Mark Scherzer Summer’s Turning PointHi all, Mark here.I’m certainly not the only person who’s been dwelling on life transitions lately. During several... Read More ›

AgriCulture: To Everything There is a Season

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin July 10, 2024 The apricots’ one day season, Photo by Mark Scherzer To Everything There is a SeasonHi all, Mark here.Sorry for the late bulletin. Blame it on the after-effects, which always hit... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Stopping at the Porch on a Sultry Evening

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin June 25, 2024The sky at dinner at dusk from the porch, Photo by Mark ScherzerStopping at the Porch on a Sultry EveningHi all, Mark here.We need the long tail of the evening these days. The... Read More ›

AgriCulture: No Kumbaya for Sophie

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin June 10, 2024Sophie, font of wisdom, Photo by Mark ScherzerNo Kumbaya for SophieHi all, Mark here.Thanks to farming, I’ve largely abandoned the illusion that human society is somehow separate from the natural world. I’m comfortable... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Be Prepared

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin May 27, 2024 Tomatoes replace mugwort, Photo by Mark Scherzer Be PreparedHi all, Mark here.As my last bulletin may have suggested to you, I was not a successful Boy Scout. As reflected in... Read More ›

AgriCulture: One of Those Mornings

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin May 13, 2024 Newly arrived turkey poults eat egg yolks for fortification, Photo by Mark Scherzer One of Those MorningsHi all, Mark here.I am a creature of habit and an inveterate procrastinator. Both... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Getting Our Act Two Together

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin April 29, 2024 Doodle recently the center of Macho Matt’s affection, Photo by Brian Galletly Getting Our Act Two TogetherHi all, Mark here.I have been holding back from telling the sheep, so as... Read More ›

AgriCulture: In the Path of Partiality

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin April 14, 2024 Preparing to observe Photo by Steve Gutierrez In the Path of PartialityHi all, Mark here.It’s nearly a full week since the solar eclipse that had North America in a tizzy,... Read More ›

AgriCulture: A Dead Giveaway

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin April 1, 2024 At long last, the piano readied to move Photo by Mark Scherzer A Dead GiveawayHi all, Mark here.If you read the popular press at all, you by now have heard... Read More ›

AgriCulture: It’s a Bird-Eat-Bird World

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin March 17, 2024The well fed hawk Photo by Mark ScherzerIt’s a Bird Eat Bird WorldHi all, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Mark here.Just after lunch on a perfect spring-like afternoon this past week, Eric and... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Apricity

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin March 3, 2024Eric soaks up apricity Photo by Mark ScherzerApricityHi all, Mark here.Feeling the warm winter sun on my face, working my muscles in a steady rhythm, I was able to fully internalize the new... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Spring to Life

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin February 19, 2024 Pullet eggs and other signs of spring Photo by Mark Scherzer Spring to LifeHi all, Mark here. Happy President’s Day.I don’t know how it happened, but over the last week... Read More ›

AgriCulture: For Those Who Need a Little Extra Help

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin February 4, 2024Nilufer waits for a lift Photo by Mark ScherzerFor Those Who Need a Little Extra HelpHi all, Mark here.I have a bothersome earworm. In my case, it’s not a song, but a radio... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Sheep Overboard!

TURKANA FARMS, LLCWinter Stasis, Photo by Mark ScherzerSheep Overboard!Hi all, Mark here.The farm seems frozen in place just now. We are in winter stasis. The young pullets that arrived in late August have not yet begun laying eggs. It is... Read More ›

AgriCulture: From the Start, at Two with Nature

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin January 5, 2024Not quite at home in the country, circa 1954, Photo unattributedFrom the Start, at Two with NatureAn Introductory NoteThe morning of the third day of this new year found me packing up belongings... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Gathering Darkness, Glimmers of Light

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin December 21, 2023 December Day Dusk Photo by Mark Scherzer Gathering Darkness, Glimmers of LightHi All, Mark here.”Gathering darkness” is one of my favorite ways to describe the coming of dusk. In winter,... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Getting Real

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin December 3, 2023 Entourage of Affection: Doodle, Sophie and Pepsche up front, Orhan and Skunkie behind Photo by Mark Scherzer Getting RealHi All, Mark here.”They’re so calm and so healthy looking!” Steve’s reaction... Read More ›

AgriCulture: November Days 2023

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin November 13, 2023Matt begins the turkey sendoff Photo by Mark ScherzerNovember Days 2023Hi All, Mark here.Before dawn this very chilly morning, with just a subtle glow visible on the horizon and a heavy frost lining... Read More ›

AgriCulture: War and Thanksgiving Peace

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin October 29, 2023Turkeys stroll in a copse of trees Photo by Mark ScherzerWar and Thanksgiving PeaceHi All, Mark here.Ever since 1969, Thanksgiving has meant to me the coziness of home, a celebration of enveloping security.... Read More ›

AgriCulture: A Tale of Two States

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin October 15, 2023Two in One by Antoinette Schultze. Israel and Palestine? Photo by Eric RouleauBlind Rage: A Tale of Two StatesHi All, Mark here.This bulletin is generally intended to be a chronicle of my life... Read More ›

AgriCulture: The Sunny Side of Town

TURKANA FARMS, LLCGreen E-Market Bulletin September 30, 2023Looking at the Sunny Side: Jerusalem Artichokes in Bloom Photo by Mark ScherzerThe Sunny Side of TownHi All, Mark here.With Yom Kippur over and Eric returned to the City, I started this week... Read More ›

AgriCulture: A Partial Reflection

TURKANA FARMS, LLC Green E-Market Bulletin September 17, 2023 Leader of the Flock: Back from the Far Pasture Photo by Mark Scherzer A Partial ReflectionHi All, Mark here.Saturday morning didn’t start so well. The expensive self-propelled lawnmower I bought last... Read More ›

AgriCulture:

AgriCulture: Chasing a Dream

Hi All, Mark here. I loved the look of agriculture long before I ever had a farm. Yesterday I was struck by the geometric artistry of long rows of corn, lined up like so many soldiers in formation, undulating over... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Semi-Independent: Turkeys

AgriCulture: Becoming Farmer McGregor

Agriculture: Chekhov’s Gun

A deadly chewed rhubarb leaf Photo by Mark Scherzer “It’s just like Checkov’s gun!” Steve practically hooted into the telephone. As if my call was all about the plot of some comedic play, and not serious business. It was not... Read More ›

Agriculture: This Summer I Will Make a Garden

Broccoli heading for a new garden bed Photo by Eric Rouleau Tuning in this morning to Ici Musique, the Montréal radio station, we were immediately reminded that it’s Earth Day. The theme of Eric’s favorite program was songs involving gardens.... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Generosity of Spirit

When it became apparent that my sister and brother-in-law would be traveling through the Hudson Valley at the end of this week, I decided that it would make sense to move the ritual Passover seder meal to Good Friday, midway... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Spring Awakenings

Spring, the season of rebirth and regrowth, is almost upon us. Winter’s last full official day is Sunday, March 19. But Spring is an insistent force, and will be restrained neither by the calendar nor by cold wintry weather. If... Read More ›

Agriculture: Raising Doodle

Another small March snowfall this morning frustrated my outdoor work but served to remind me of how much I need to do for spring. Each time it snows, the branches and berry canes etched in white loom all the larger,... Read More ›

AgriCulture: Great Eggspectations

By Mark Scherzer I know you are all accustomed to my ruminations on the state of the world taking primary place in this bulletin, and the sales pitch for the farm being distinctly secondary. I’m turning that approach on its... Read More ›