Agriculture in West Virginia - WVATS Newsletters

WVATS Newsletter Articles - 2002

Dee and Larry LeMasters are parents of five children with special needs. The family is participating in the West Virginia AgrAbility Program to make their dairy farm accessible so the family can continue farming. The current barn is an inaccessible stanchion structure that only allows for six cows to be milked at a time and requires someone to bend over to attach the milking unit. West Virginia AgrAbility Field Operations Manager Inetta Arbogast assessed the LeMasters' farm and determined a new parlor-style barn would best suit Larry and the family. The new parlor will allow twelve cows to be milked simultaneously from raised platforms to eliminate bending. The new parlor will have an enclosed temperature controlled room where Larry can look into the barn to supervise the children's activity and a shower area with easy access. In addition, the Natural Resource's Conservation Service (NRCS) is working with the LeMasters family on solutions for waste management, fencing for the cattle, and building a "fish-for-fun" pond where fish can be stocked and sold for prorfit. Dee LeMasters is working with Inetta Arbogast to write the grants necessary for funding these projects and hopes to share her knowledge with other farmers. Dee has volunteered to be a member of West Virginia AgrAbility's Peer Network and to share her story of "The Rocky Marsh Ponderosa - A Haven of Hope."

The Rocky Marsh Ponderosa - A Haven of Hope

By Dee Loy-LeMasters

Our dairy farm is located in the gently rolling countryside of eastern West Virginia just outside of Martinsburg. Our farm consists of 200 plus head of dairy cows, several flocks of chickens and numerous cats, and "a herd of kids."

I would like to share my story with you, in my own words. I began my crusade by becoming a foster parent close to a decade ago. At that time, I became a single mother of three siblings (Dustin 14, Rebecca 13, and Tyler 11) to provide them with a permanent home. The children weren't healthy newborns, and the road to "Haven of Hope," the name I called my home, was filled with ruts, roadblocks and dangerous intersections. Unlike an infant, an older child comes complete with a past life, which includes memories and experiences too numerous to count. Most people will not accept older children because of their history and learned behaviors, many of which are destructive and inappropriate. In a stable, nurturing environment, all this can change. It takes a lot of time, love, and bunches of patience.

On June 14, 1998 I adopted my first three children- Rebecca, Dustin, and Tyler. The same month the children were adopted, I took in a ten year old foster daughter, Jessie. Jessie is not biologically related to the other children and she longed to be reunited with and to know her older brother Lee.

I called the foster care provider and learned that Jessie's bother Lee lived about 15 miles away in Martinsburg, WV. I spoke with Lee's adoptive father, Larry who invited us for lunch and a tour of their dairy farm. One visit turned into another and Larry and I fell in love and were married.

On February 23, 2000, Larry and I exchanged vows. My parents gave us a big wedding reception held at our farm. The reception was awesome with lots of good food and a great time of sharing with friends and family.

Six months after or marriage, Larry adopted my children to give them our name and a father. We are now making Jessie's adoption final, so we will all be LeMaster's.

After Larry and I were married, he began to have trouble getting around or doing his everyday chores without pain. After many trips to the doctors and many lab tests, we learned that Larry has fibromyalgia, a form of muscular and "soft tissue" rheumatism.

People have a difficult time understanding Larry's condition because he looks healthy but is totally drained of energy.

We both agree that we need to keep farming to provide for ourselves and our children, but we are milking in a barn with 6 tie-down stalls, which require Larry to bend to get under the cows to place and remove the milkers. I began reading and making calls to find help to allow our farm to keep operating.

In April of 2001, I read an article in the local newspaper that West Virginia had just received a 4-year AgrAbility grant that would help farmers find ways to remain in farming. We made a phone call to Inetta Arbogast, the AgrAbility Field operations manager, to ask her to visit and check out our present conditions and to make recommendations on what we needed to do to keep on farming. Inetta suggested a new milking parlor rather than making changes in our present barn.

At the present, we are in the process of gathering blueprints and calculating the cost of such a project. Our goal is to build a new accessible parlor with an adjustable floor to accommodate Larry's disability. Our dreams are to keep farming and help our children and others in our future.

Call Dee at 304-263-9264 or e-mail her at DEE256@aol.com. And if you want to use it, her fax number is 304-263-9224.

Spring Is Coming, Are You Ready To Garden?

Garden Gear and Gadgets

What you wear in the garden counts, but fashion doesn't. Some gardeners wear gloves with nonslip, sticky grips on the palms to improve their grasp. If you don't like wearing gloves, but are tired of retrieving tools when you drop them try tying a cord around the handles of small tools - simply pull on the cord to retrieve the tool. You may also attach hand tools to the wrist and forearms with splints or with long strips of Velcro-type material.

Wearing an apron or smock with large front pockets or a tool belt is a good way to keep garden tools, seeds and supplies within easy reach. If you find this too cumbersome, place all your tools and supplies in a large bag or bucket so you don't have to make trips back and forth.

Keep a plastic or lightweight metal garden cart handy for moving plants, mulch or other heavy objects around. These carts are smaller and better balanced than the typical wheelbarrow and easier to maneuver.

To sow seeds without bending, use a length of one-inch PVC pipe or bamboo. Position the pipe above the planting hole and simply slide seeds down it. Attach a pencil or pointed stick to the end of the tube and you will be able to poke planting holes with ease.

A reacher is not often thought of as a gardening tool, but it is very handy especially for those who garden from a stationary position.

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Adaptive Tools

AdaptAbility
P.O. Box 515
Colchester, CT 06415
1-800-243-9232

Gardener's Supply Co.
128 Intervale Rd.
Burlington, VT 05401
1-800-444-6417
www.gardeners.com

Walter Nicke
36 McLeod Lane
PO Box 433
Topsfield, MA 01983
1-800-822-4114
www.gardentalk.com

Enabled Gardeners Tools
www.gardenscapetools.com/pages/enablingtools.htm

Garden Forever
www.gardenforever.com

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Another Site for Gardening Tools

Ergonomic gardening tools are listed on www.earthbudeze.com. These tools were designed for people who want to reduce the stress and strain on their muscles and joints when using small hand tools. The hand trowel, cultivator, and v-hoe are all designed with unique handgrips and an arm cuff.

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The Right Gardening Tools

The right tools make gardening easier. In general, lightweight tools made from plastic or light metal such as aluminum are easier and less tiring to use. Long-handled tools are a must if you garden from a seated position. Small or children's tools are often light and easy to manipulate.

There are many innovative designs for tools available in the marketplace today. Some companies offer tools with handles that are larger, contoured, and cushioned. You don't need to purchase new tools, however. Many tools may be easily modified. You can cushion your tool handles by adding grips designed for tennis rackets or bicycles, foam tubing or even self-adhesive ace bandage.

For more information on adaptive gardening, call the West Virginia AgrAbility project at 1-800-841-8436 or send e-mail to assist@sunnyelkins.com.

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State to Participate in Federal Farmland Protection Program

by JoAnn C. Elmer, Staff Writer for The State Journal April 29 - May 3, 2002

A program to encourage state farmers to voluntarily convert highly erodible cropland near state rivers to other uses was officially put into action April 19, with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman on hand to announce West Virginia participation.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) will safeguard 4,160 acres of watershed across the Mountain State by offering rental payments to farmers who institute conservation measures on their land. The protected land will be next to the Potomac, Greenbrier, Little Kanawha and New rivers.

The CREP program will reimburse producers for planting riparian buffers, filter strips, trees and grasses that keep pollutants from entering the watersheds. The producers will be reimbursed through incentives and cost shares.

"While we want to continue to encourage our local farmers and those who effectively use our natural resources and contribute to our economy, the over-production of West Virginia's land threatens the state's natural beauty and the habitats of many fish and wildlife," said U.S. Rep Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who accompanied Veneman to tout the conservation program.

"With a renewed commitment by all partners at the state and federal levels, we can enhance the natural habitats of many native species and better preserve our beautiful rivers like the Little Kanawha, the Potomac...," Capito said. "We need to work together to preserve the remarkable beauty of our beloved Mountain State so that future generations can enjoy it for years to come."

CREP will be created through a partnership between the state of West Virginia and the United States Department of Agriculture.

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, Gus R. Douglass, attended the event at the University of Charleston to witness Gov. Bob Wise and Veneman sign an agreement enrolling West Virginia into the program.

"We are very pleased that Secretary Veneman visited West Virginia to kick off this program, which is a tremendous example of how the state and federal governments can work with farmers at the local level to achieve mutual goals," Douglass said.

The program is expected to cost $11.4 million during the next year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will contribute $8.2 million to the program and the state will provide an additional $3.2 million, according to West Virginia Conservation Agency Executive Director Lance Tabor. The USDA also will offer technical assistance to ensure long-term protection of the watersheds.

"Secretary Veneman's presence here today shows how strongly the partnerships between state and federal agencies are," Tabor said. "It also shows a serious commitment on behalf of the USDA to make this a successful program for West Virginia."

"Bringing federal and state resources together is just one benefit from CREP. This program allows us to help our farmers by restoring unused, eroded land into land that is both productive and protective of our watersheds. In the end, it benefits every person in the Mountain State," he said.

CREP will operate through partnerships including the USDA Farm Agency, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and the West Virginia Division of Forestry.

The voluntary program has outlined four primary goals for the next year, which are:

Eligible land is enrolled in ten to fifteen year contracts.

Interested farmers can contact their nearest USDA service center about eligibility and procedures.

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winning poster

Poster Contest Winner

Julia Barry, a student at Romney Elementary School in Hampshire County, designed the winning poster for the West Virginia Farm Bureau's annual poster contest, "Agriculture in West Virginia."

Julia received a $100 savings bond and had her poster on display at the West Virginia Farm Bureau exhibit during the 2001 State Fair.

The West Virginia Farm Bureau asks that any fourth-grade teacher interested in participating in the poster contest call Bill Aiken at 800-398-4630, or contact their county Farm Bureau president.

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Three-point Hitches

Both three-point and drawbar hitches can be automated. Automated three-point hitches usually consist of a part that attaches to the tractor's three-point hitch, and a part that attaches to the implement's three-point hitch. Often the tractor part is simply pinned to the tractor. The implement part, however, may be attached in a fashion that it is better thought of as being a permanent addition to the implement (e.g., attached with several bolts, or welded to the implement). The three-point hitches are available in Category I, II, and III sizes. For more information on hitches visit www.agrabilityproject.org.

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Farmer Designed Assistive Technology for Gardening

WVATS Board Member, Don Yoak, is not only interested in generating awareness about assistive technology; he has also created pieces of assistive technology for use in the garden. Don designed a fertilizer dispenser for individuals who have difficulty bending over to fertilize their plants. The dispenser is made of two inch PVC pipe with a small rod and flap trigger system. The dispenser enables an individual to fill the pipe with fertilizer and then pull a trigger to distribute it without needing to bend.

Don has also figured out a creative way to attach an electric motor to a tiller. Once the tiller is plugged in, it will do almost all the work for you. A switch allows the tiller to move either forward or backward.

If you or someone you know has designed a piece of assistive technology that would aid in farm work, please submit an article and/or picture to The West Virginia AgrAbility Project, 959 Hartman Run Road, Morgantown, WV 26505.

fertilizer dispenser
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New West Virginia AgrAbility Project Staff Member

Please join us in welcoming Sonya Gollihue to the West Virginia AgrAbility project. Sonya joins us as the Assistant Field Operations Manager and will work with Field Operations Manager Inetta Arbogast to conduct farm visits and determine solutions to make farming accessible for West Virginia farmers and their families.

Sonya was born, raised and currently resides on a small family farm just outside Hamlin in Lincoln County. After graduating at the top of Hamlin High School's class of 1994, Sonya attended Marshall University from 1994 to 1997 as an environmental biology major. In 1997, she transferred to Ohio University to major in Equine Studies.

After the birth of her daughter, Sonya worked for the coal, oil and gas industries for four years and as a paralegal for a firm in Charleston for two years.

In her spare time, Sonya volunteers at her daughters' school and for Coordinated Trail Rides that benefits St. Jude's Children Research Center. She and her family have raised tobacco, hay, beef cattle, goats, pigs and horses. Sonya loves horseback riding, western dance, gardening, crafts, and working with the youth at Zoar Baptist Church in Milton.

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Farming Ideas

When many people envision a farm, they think of corn, vegetables, or livestock. However, other types of farming are growing in popularity in West Virginia.

Aquaculture, often referred to as fish or aquafarming, is the art, science and business of cultivating aquatic animals and plants in fresh or marine waters. Aquaculture is environmentally friendly and provides job opportunities that, in turn, supply the marketplace with quality products grown in clean wateres. Aquaculture farmers in West Virginia grow a variety of troup, catfish, bass, salmon, bluegill, tilapia, and walleye for food production or to operate a fee-fishing business. West Virginia aquaculture farms generate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Another form of farming growing popular in West Virginia is beekeeping. Besides honey production, beekeeping also increases production of fruit and vegetables, such as apples, pears, plums, and cabbages, cauliflowers, and carrots. Beekeeping can be a fascinating hobby or a profitable occupation. Farmers may want to keep bees for the delicious fresh honey they produce, for the valuable benefits of their services as pollinators, or perhaps just for the fun of learning more about one of nature's most interesting insects.

Herb farms are also gaining popularity in West Virginia as more consumers are turning toward natural foods and herbal medicine. Profits continue to increase each year as the demand for herbs rises. Herbs have a wide variety of uses in cooking, beauty products, perfumes, crafts, and medicines.

Tree farming is an effective and productive method of making property more attractive, enhancing the environment, and turning rich land into a profitable, tax-saving resource. Many West Virginia farmers have Christmas tree farms in addition to trees they may grow as wood lots.

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AgrAbility Powerful Tool

The N-Abler III (WHO-Wrist/Hand Orthotic) brace (soft or carbon fiber) is a rendition of the original Hayden-Preston System prosthetic terminal device. Due to the development of this new product, individuals with wrist or hand dysfunction can now benefit from the incorporation of a prosthetic terminal device.

This device can assist individuals who suffer from: nerve or muscle damage, birth defects, stroke, spinal cord injury, injurious repetitive tasks, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The N-Abler II was also designed to be used with the N-Abler III WHO Brace for persons with hand dysfunction.

Some key features:

Devised to fill a niche for individuals who do not have a functional hand to insert and remove tools or implements from the N-Abler II terminal device.

This device works exclusively with the N-Abler II terminal device and custom-designed hands free tools, whether attached to a prosthesis or the N-Abler II Wrist/Hand Brace.

Texas Assistive Devices, LLC
Toll Free 800-532-6840
www.n-abler.org as seen in In Motion, Volume 12, Issue 4 July/August 2002

WV Farming Connections Guide Being Developed

West Virginia AgrAbility Project staff members are developing the West Virginia Farming Connections Guide for West Virginia farmers to use as an information resource. If you are part of an organization or know of an organization that should be listed in the guide, please call 1-800-841-8436.

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