Saturday, September 7, 2024 | Country Acres South • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #278 Madelia, MN 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave Sauk Centre MN 56378
SOUTH S OUTH UTH Saturday, September 7, 2024
Focusing on Today’s Rural Rura Environment
Volume 3, Edition 4
Maria Coffman uses high pressure air to loosen the outer wrapper of a garlic bulb Aug. 8 at her farm near West Concord. The Coffmans process their garlic for four days during the week leading up to the Minnesota Garlic Festival.
PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
Tom Coffman removes the stems off dried garlic plants from the bulbs Aug. 8 at his farm near West Concord. The Coffmans dry their garlic with the stems on because they feel they are easier to work with and cure better.
From
teaching opportunity to hobby
Coffman family raises garlic, apples BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF W WRITER
Garlic waits to be processed Aug. 8 at the Coffmans’ farm near West Concord. The Coffmans harvest approximately 9,000 garlic bulbs each year.
ST R
Publications bli ti The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
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COUNTRY: Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on October 5, 2024
WEST CONCORD — Entering En Tom and Maria Coffman’s sh shed on an early August day, bags of garlic hang from the ceiling and lie so dry in stacks to be sold, in a wagon in the drying rroom or wait to be pro processed in aw wheelbarrow row. G Growing garlic started as a way for tthe Coffmans to teach their chi children life m lessons of work and money, but has become their own hobby.
“It’s been a good project for the kids,” Tom said. “Of course, they’re growing up, and now we keep it going just because I like to do it.” Coffman’s Garlic and Apples is located near West Concord. Each year, the Coffmans harvest around 9,000 garlic plants from a quarter acre field as well as apples from 30 Honeycrisp trees. The Coffmans sell the majority of their garlic at the Minnesota Garlic Festival, which occurs the second Saturday in August each year. The event is a highlight for the Coffmans and their main marketing. “They’ve kind of limited the entry into it as far as the garlic vendors,” Tom said. “(Because of that) you could sell enough there to make it a good effort.”
Coffman page 2
5
The Minnesota State Fair Amy Kyllo column
11 Choosing joy in devastation Rollingstone
6
From green to gold to ghouls Caledonia
13 Driven by community Winona
10 Farm safety checklists
17 Habitat management with a twist Hayfield