I hope you don’t mind me sharing a bit more of our agricultural course work with you. The best part was always field trips anyway and as an adult I love meeting new and interesting people.

Paul Otten definitely meets that criteria. Born in Brazil to a German dad and Minnesotan mom he says he was born on the farm that introduced soybeans to the country. He now manages Natura Farms near Hugo and he is 70 “years young”. The farm is unique in the fact that it is owned by a faith based private school in St. Paul that wanted a very practical way to impact health and leave a legacy of sustainable agriculture. So they bought a farm in the early 1980s. Still to this day it is managed by all volunteer labor. Otten admits it can be difficult to arrange on that but well worth it.

We met him this week to hear more about soil fertility. I will spare you the scientific stuff but as Otten says, human health and the health of society as a whole is made of building blocks. A good foundation is needed for a strong structure and for human health that foundation is the soil.

We have bought berries there for several years and love their farm.

In addition to strawberries they grow apples.

Mixed vegetables,
 

Raspberries, currents, grapes, blueberries and so much more.

What a great way to spend the morning.