Sometimes crushes develop instantly when you happen to be in the right place, at the right time and you lock eyes with your new crush. For us, that place was County Rail Farm in Huson, Montana when we locked eyes on their gay af rainbow garlic braids.
Remember our farmer friend Keely at Movement Ground Farm? She connected us to County Rail so that we’d have a safe place to rest our bones during our westward journey. We were greeted at the entrance by a friendly cattle dog Nibs and a colorful farm stand with hand painted signs, ‘fridges of veggies, free late-season squashes, and a community lending library. As we made our way down the long driveway we passed fields of brassicas holding their own as the weather cooled, hoop houses with towering tomatoes and delicate sweet pea blossoms, plots of asparagus, and rows of flowers from Field Five Farm who shares space with County Rail. Even as they faced the first frost of the year, the land was generous and abundant. On the 2-acre land, County Rail Farm’s creativity and collaborative ethic exudes queer wisdom to thrive in a 4-month growing season.
Farmer Tracy - who was also having a birthday when we arrived! - let us know that after almost a decade of farming in the region, they’ve learned how to work with the climate and land to farm saavily. They use season extending hoop houses to minimize the risk of losing crops like heirloom tomatoes while growing less finicky varieties like cherry tomatoes in the field. By paying close attention to the forecast they are able to host volunteer ‘Harvest Parties’ and harvest everything possible before the first hard freeze arrives. They also have diversified their crops to include more flowering plants for weddings, events, and drying for year-round sales. Tracy reminds us that the short season can be a gift too!
Montana’s short growing season means farmers have to work hard, fast, and smart -- and it also gives farmers an end date to their season. Some plants in the kale and broccoli family that are prone to insects have a better chance at County Rail, because the insects don’t survive the long winters. While the cold temps and snow are a sign that the growing season is over, they signal the beginning of restorative rest that is crucial to the health and wellbeing of farmers. As we head into winter, we’re reminiscing on soaking in the natural mineral hot springs in the mountains around County Rail Farm and hoping that everyone on the farm gets to enjoy them!
County Rail Farm also found creative, collaborative solutions to bring their produce to market. County Rail Farm is part of the Western Montana Growers Cooperative. The cooperative connects local farmers together to bring their vegetables to market. Instead of small farmers having to compete with each other, they are working together and gaining access to larger markets. When consumers buy locally grown food they are keeping money in their communities and strengthening the economic stability of the region. Creating local growing cooperatives also means the farmers can split the work of finding buyers, marketing, and transporting so they are able to focus more on growing.
We are grateful to County Rail Farm and Farmer Tracy for hosting us and being a role model of how to channel queer resilience and power to make beautiful community in rural spaces. Thanks also to our queer farming friends across the country who connected us to County Rail Farm.