Novak’s Grown-Right Vegetables grows three sizes of cukes: pinky-sized up to 3.5 inches, medium 3-4 inchers and large chubs. Joan Paggen said more people are canning this year and learning about benefits of fresh vegetables.
BENTON AG Plus
Sauk Rapids Herald
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023
Serving rural Benton, Morrison, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties
Oversimplified
PHOTOS BY TIM HENNAGIR
Ivy Novak keeps a careful eye on Novak’s Grown-Right Vegetables’ sorting machine Aug. 9 as a load of harvested cucumbers is processed and sized in rural Foley. Cucumbers from the Foleyarea based farm are used by St. Cloud State University’s Community Garden.
University of MN Extension by Tyler Rice
The garden has deep roots in sustainable agriculture and a local farm connection. Last year, community garden members produced quart jars lled with pickling cucumbers that were prepared in the Garvey Commons dining hall kitchen on the SCSU campus.
Day-to-day we might think of our agricultural crops as singular species with homogenous genetics multiplied by plant population throughout any given eld. Distinct crops require individualized management sustained by prescribed plant and soil nutrition, maintenance of water requirements, plant protection and elimination of any obstacles that inhibit optimum crop performance. Crop plants require us to support their habits by adapting our tools (machinery) to precise seed placement and, ultimately, the most ef cient biomass or seed collection en masse. The details matter, let’s not forget that, because as stewards of a crop, it is the return on investment — however that be measured — that will keep us in this agriculture business. If I can get philosophical for a moment, though, we aren’t only stewarding a grain, forage or food crop. If you think about it in a parallel universe where the literal fruits of your labor are mostly protein and energy destined for whichever end source provides the best return, then life doesn’t seem so complicated.
Novak page 2B
Crops page 3B
Pickle partnership cultivates unique bond
Rural Foley farm supplies ‘cukes’ for campus project
N
BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER
ovak’s Grown-Right Vegetables continues to cultivate a unique bond with St. Cloud
State University. The Foley-area based produce supplier is the exclusive cucumber connection for a massive pickling event. Tracy Ore is a professor of sociology and director of the SCSU Community Garden, which builds bridges between the university and larger community.
SPREADERS, SPREADERS, SPREADERS... New Kuhn 242
Two New Kuhn VB242s
w/horizintal beaters
On the Lot
Several other used Kuhn spreaders to choose from! Stop in and check em out and speak to Rod
1960-2023 Celebrating 63 years!
Just Delivered
FLUEGGE’S AG Farm Material Handling Specialist
ROD FLUEGGE “the boss”
2040 Mahogany St., Mora, MN 320-679-2981 BA33-1B-BL