Code,518008
Subject,Alan Halko
Date,3/7/11
Interviewer,Shelly Devers
Abstract,"Alan Halko, owner of Spring Hill Farm and Market describes his experiences with the countryside initiative program, the Cuyahoga national park system and farming."
Tags,
Special Notes,
minutes:,
0,"Biographical Information: Born in Cleveland, Ohio.  Current owner of Spring Hill Farm and Market on Riverview Road in Brecksville.  1870 Farm House"
1,"Community: 200 years old in Brecksville.  Smaller homes, new larger and affluent community."
2,Involvement with the countryside initiative program. First read about it in 2000 from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Non-profit organization starting farms in the national park. Already farming on a small scale before the country side initiative program.
3,"How he became involved: Learned more from the Ohio Ecological food and farm association yearly conference, which he was already a member of."
4,Decided to see some of the farms that had already been started which spurred his decision to write a proposal in 2001.  Was offered farm based off of proposal. Ran into problems with the parks service due to an ecological study about how the farm would affect the national park.  They were unable to move in right away due to this study.
5,Alan's farm was excepted from study so he was able to move in June 2002.
6,"The program was clear about what was expected from him and he knew what he wanted to do already.  Wasn’t ready for surprises and dealing with the national park.  Met with some restrictions, the park service and the farmers were both learning about the program and how to run it for the first few years."
7,"Interested in the ""Back to the Land"" movement in the 1970's but he was side tracked at the time.  Before the proposal he was farming on a small piece of land in Huntsburg, part of Geauga county.  Began using land to experiment.  Started to raise chickens and blueberries and raspberries.  Built his own greenhouse where he started to grow and sell plants.  Leaned about the Shaker Square Farmers market so he started to sell his products there."
8,Describes a little about the Shaker Square Market.  People came rain or shine and appreciated the home grown food that was being sold.  He loved the farmers market and felt like he was doing some community service which he decided to expand on.
9,Currently involved in the Hale Meadow Farmers Market and may also join a Wednesday Market.  The Wednesday market is a private market being started by a company to provide fresh produce for their workers.  Also sells off of his farm and to a Community Supported Agriculture program.  Where you buy shares and then receive groceries every week.
10,"CSA: Some farms have their own, which Alan is considering.  The CSA that he is currently involved with is run by a woman who does not grow but buys from multiple local farmers.  She has about 80 members and she delivers and distributes in the Terminal tower in Downtown Cleveland."
11,"Alan discusses what type of produce he grows on his farm.  A variety of vegetables, tomatoes peppers eggplants summer squash edemame beans winter squash pumpkins.  Started apple trees last spring.  Also keeps laying chickens for eggs, which are free range, broiler chickens in a pasture and thanksgiving turkeys."
12,"Techniques or technology that Alan uses: Don't use any chemical fertilizers or sprays, all organic.  Does not use a lot of equipment.  This past year was his first year of only farming, prior to that he worked a full time job as well.  Does scouting for pests so that he doesn't have to use spray.  Using sprays kill the helpful bugs too."
13,Past two years he has been trying some season extension which made it possible for him to sell until Christmas time.  He is hoping to be selling greens at the winter market this year.  Usually started in June-October but is able to start a little earlier now and go longer into the winter.  But he enjoys the break in the winter to get other work done around the farm.
14,"Currently has an application turned in to the USDA to fund a high tunnel, a large hoop structure covered with plastic which will allow him to extend the season and grow into the winter time.  Always has eggs."
15,Family involvement: His kids Son 9 and daughter 12 are starting to learn but it is hard to get them involved sometimes.  Wife works part time and takes care of house and kids but helps on the farm if he is in a jam.  Right now he doesn't have any hired help but he is hoping to get something more consistent this summer.  He increased his sales 60% in the first year that he focused only on the farm.  Hoping to seem more gains in the next few years.
16,"Special memories with his family on the farm:  Son loves to work on projects.  Built a pen for the chickens with his son, who loved the power tools.  Son mentioned that spending time with just his dad was very enjoyable.  Thinks that as his son gets older that it will bring them closer together."
17,"What is special about Cuyahoga Valley: It the only national park of its kind, not a wilderness but more of an urban national park.  People from the area are constantly using the area for recreation.  A lot of history with the sandstone query and the scenic railroad which make it special.  Thinks it helps bring business to the market."
18,
19,Formed relationships with his customers.  The farmers market is a community event.  Repeat customers are common.  Everyone at the market is always in a good mood.  Brings people together over produce and recopies.  Has a lot of customers who come to him every week or two for eggs who want to get to know more about him.  He has an old German couple every few weeks who he has built a relationship with.  Enjoys  building a relationship with people from his business.
20,
21,Doesn't think the community has changed much since he has moved in.  Explains that he lives in an area where there are only four homes spread far apart and the rest of the area around him is the national park.  They are isolated from the rest of the town.
22,"Typical day on the farm in the summer involves getting up early, taking care of the dogs and the chickens.  IN the winter he also needs to tend to the wood burner which heats the house.  In the summer he is picking and setting up the farm stand.  After he picks he has to wash and get everything in the cooler.  Then he does maintenance.  Works from sun up to sun down. In the winter he works on wood and equipment and taxes.  He also plans for the next year, a little slower paced.  Needs to make sure he takes a day off every now and then to spend with the family."
23,
24,"Primary business comes from the farmers market which includes 55 vendors.  Explains what is sold at the market.  The market is open three hours.  At his farm he sells but not as much.  He wants to devote more time to it and improve his marketing, this year he already increased his business about double from last year."
25,
26,Has become friends with a lot of the other farmers involved in the farmers market.  Explains a garlic cleaning party that the farmers all have together during the year.  Sometimes on a Saturday they go out for a drink after the market closes where they discuss their farms with each other.
27,
28,The market is a good thing for everyone involved.
29,"Describes other events that the farmers all get together for, some personal but other involved with the farmers market and Ohio Ecological Food and Farm association."
30,The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm association conference.  Some of the first organic farmers in Ohio started in the association.  A large variety of people and activities based on local foods.  Classes are available to the farmers at the conference.  Classes are led by other Ohio farmers. Gets the farmers ready for growing season and motivates them.
31,"Describes the classes that he took at the conference this year.  Classes about; growing apples, Dutch belted cows, creating your own brand."
32,
33,"Explains future plans about expansion.  Wants to see how new projects turn out and needs to deal with issues he is facing such as problems with water.  Hoping to find a way to get some from the river, which will help him expand.  Problems with sandy soil. Focus on expanding market."
34,
35,
36,Sees that local food is growing and how it has changed since he started 7 years ago.  Has a sixty year lease on the farm.  Hoping son will want to continue.
37,Wants to look into cattle but doesn't have enough land.  Possibly looking for a partner.
38,How he will expand and change his marketing strategy this year.  Wants people to know more about his family and business.
39,
40,Explains the farm tours that were given to the people interested in turning in a proposal for farm land from the countryside initiative and how it pushed him into writing his own proposal. Also explains how it worked for him.
41,
42,
43,What he liked about the farm that they chose.  Liked the idea of moving into a house that he didn't need to fix up.
44,
45,"What the farm looks like now.  1870 farm house, bank barn, shed and what was most likely a milk house at one point.  Built two chicken houses himself, also built electric fence to keep deer out.  Built a greenhouse on the farm and a hoop structure that he uses for ground farming.  Hand dug wells."
46,
47,
48,
49,Favorite time on the farm is during the spring and describes his favorite location.  Explains why he grows a large variety of produce.
50,
51,How he chooses what to sell at the market.  Mostly based on what is seasonal.
52,
53,"Has faced challenges with predation, such as hawks and raccoons.  Only a few bad draughts.  Issues with time and money.  Water is the most important and biggest challenge."
54,
55,Process of starting an orchard.  What conditions are necessary. Had to get an okay from the national park in order to proceed with planting his own orchard.
56,
57,Explains the adventure of starting the farm and a few more issues he faced with the land.  Talks about how the turkeys are like dogs and how they recognized his whistle.
58,
59,"Needed an archeological study.  Found buried concrete when he tried to plow, which needed to be taken care of by the national park."
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62,