You say MOSA, I say MOO-SA

After much ado about something, another  inspection has come and gone and we remain very truly yours...certified organic for another year. Yes, I stressed a little. It is my calling and my husbands cross to bear. Someone must worry about all the little stuff or that last bolt will not get screwed into the bridge project on Rt 24 in Forrest and civilization as we know it...will come a fallin' down.

So we are three for three, organic inspections that is. The first year was the worst, weather speaking. Cold and rainy our elderly inspector left no blade of grass unturned. The process lasted ALL day and he ran us over the coals. Still I felt he was fair and that we had indeed earned our certificate.

Last year was another year of not knowing what to expect as we added swine production onto our application which the year before dealt only with land and dairy cows. Our inspector Doug was thorough but very realistic. He shared great ideas from other organic farmers and we came away in good standing. As is my compulsive nature I took notes throughout the day (only about 5 hrs) and was able to use those notes to quiz Keith in prep for this year. Yeah, I heard that. You all are just wishing YOU were the ones married to me are you not ?

Last Friday we had the same inspector as last year. Piece of cake huh ? Well, not so much. Oh, he was fair and reasonable but he focused on a few areas he did not focus on the year before (trickster) and at the end of the inspection, we had THREE areas where he was recommending improvement . I was unhappy (with myself.) I should have KNOWN he would need proof our straw being organic being as that was a new standard as of June 2011. A couple of weeks ago I started looking for that growers organic certificate, I had it but misplaced it and then I forgot all about it. DANG IT ALL THE WAY TO SALLYNOGGIN AND BACK !

In fact, I was so ticked at myself I called a realtor and put the farm up for sale. Oh yes I did. Two months ago I did. Still waiting for that group of young healthy motivated folk to make us an offer. Waiting...waiting...
Be sure to click here if you want to see our bedroom clean for the one and only time this year
http://home.lyonssullivanrealty.com/32796750-NorthCHATSWORTHIllinois/104586/LCBOR

So yes, its true. We need to improve in three standards out of  a total of over 200. If MOSA gave out percentage grades that would put us at about a 98.5. Think I could be satisfied with that ?  Well at the time, no, I was not. Today, I am very thrilled with it and very happy we can get on with the business of farming.
But, as I promised myself last year, I will keep up with the paperwork so there will be no surprises.

                                                        Sure I will.