Rhonda McCurry
When Clint Brauer left "The Hills" of southern California, he wanted a fresh start. He didn't know the true meaning of fresh would be defined in the role of raising local, organic produce on his grandmother's Kansas farmstead.
Last year, just south of Cheney, Brauer began growing lettuce, tomatoes and melons in on his family's clay soil. He says his grandmother, whose initials were "MG," lived a simple life and believed in doing things the right way. Brauer wanted to recognize her commitment to people and the land and named his operation MGHonor Farms.
BETTER TOMATOES: MGHonor Farms will plant nearly two acres of heirloom and medium-size slicer tomatoes this spring. He says most restaurants offer a high-end salad and people are hooked once they taste the unique tomato varieties. This drip- irrigation system was established to grow 1,250 tomatoes plant and red bell, jalapeño, habaneras and chili peppers.
This spring, he will plant 20 kinds of produce ranging from peppers and okra to chives and thyme on both the Cheney farm and his parents' traditional farm near Haven. He even has tomato plants growing in a greenhouse in Hutchinson. With seedlings and plants spread out among three locations, Brauer can take advantage of various soil types and growing methods to ensure a fresh product that his delivery customers and restaurant buyers will enjoy.
Kansas Farmer will keep up with Brauer throughout the spring and summer to give an inside look at what it takes to grow local produce. Check out the photos from our first visit to MGHonor Farms.
BEST FOR BROCCOLI:
Taking advantage of the warm late-winter days, Brauer contemplates when and where he will plant his broccoli seedlings. He brought these transplants from a greenhouse at Hutchinson Community College, a partnership he started last year with students to help maintain his growing operation.
BETTER TOMATOES:
MGHonor Farms will plant nearly two acres of heirloom and medium-size slicer tomatoes this spring. He says most restaurants offer a high-end salad and people are hooked once they taste the unique tomato varieties. This drip- irrigation system was established to grow 1,250 tomatoes plant and red bell, jalapeño, habaneras and chili peppers.
VINEYARD STYLE:
Brauer will grow his tomatoes vineyard-style with shade after learning cages weren't strong enough to support the nearly six-feet tall plants. Using a disk, he prepped the ground and used a springtooth to plant tomatoes in 26 rows. The newly-installed drip-irrigation system helps avoid losing critical moisture to evaporation.
EXTENDING SEASON:
This is the second season MGHonor Farms has grown produce in low-tunnels, the first being challenged by high winds that blew the plastic tarps off. Brauer says it was comical to watch him hold down tarping but he tried, because giving new plants a windbreak is critically important. Low-tunnels also protect against frost and pests.
HANGING ON:
Brauer says his romaine hearts have hung on for dear life during a mild winter and multiple days of high winds. The transplants were grown under fluorescent lights in a greenhouse. On their third night outside they were hit with a 28-degree frost. A few nights later the temperature came down to 25-degrees and with 70 mile-per-hour winds.
BEATING WEATHER:
To beat the seasons, Brauer says a grower must utilize a greenhouse or a hoop house. This day he harvested, washed and packaged 50 pounds of spring mix lettuce grown in a hoop house. There is an old chicken coop on his grandmother's farm that he plans to convert into a greenhouse one day.