Sarah Taber
@sarahtaber.bsky.social
Small farmer, ex-farm worker, crop scientist. Here to talk food, farms, & money.
patreon.com/farmtotaber
patreon.com/farmtotaber
If you've heard about RFK Jr's "wellness farms," have I got a story for you.
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
RFK Jr's Plan To Put Americans On Farms
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
If you've heard about RFK Jr's "wellness farms," have I got a story for you.
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
I've worked on farms where most of the crew were put there as rehabilitation for various issues.
So I'd love to tell you all the various ways those farms made us all worse!
youtu.be/pDNoVqiGb_c
Reposted by Sarah Taber
squirrel: *points gun*
me: what do you want me to do?
squirrel: *gestures at sign*
me: alright, i get it *opens book drop*
squirrel: *makes hurry-up motion*
me: NOT A SQUIRREL!
squirrel: *disappears into book drop*
me: *whispers* forgive me, keith
me: what do you want me to do?
squirrel: *gestures at sign*
me: alright, i get it *opens book drop*
squirrel: *makes hurry-up motion*
me: NOT A SQUIRREL!
squirrel: *disappears into book drop*
me: *whispers* forgive me, keith
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
squirrel: *points gun*
me: what do you want me to do?
squirrel: *gestures at sign*
me: alright, i get it *opens book drop*
squirrel: *makes hurry-up motion*
me: NOT A SQUIRREL!
squirrel: *disappears into book drop*
me: *whispers* forgive me, keith
me: what do you want me to do?
squirrel: *gestures at sign*
me: alright, i get it *opens book drop*
squirrel: *makes hurry-up motion*
me: NOT A SQUIRREL!
squirrel: *disappears into book drop*
me: *whispers* forgive me, keith
Yep, that's called "topworking"
Most of the big orchards that used to grow Red Delicious are now Gala, Honeycrisp, & Cosmic Crisp. And it's not because they cut the orchards down & started over! They just topworked the new varieties in & pruned out the branches of the older varieties.
Most of the big orchards that used to grow Red Delicious are now Gala, Honeycrisp, & Cosmic Crisp. And it's not because they cut the orchards down & started over! They just topworked the new varieties in & pruned out the branches of the older varieties.
Related question. If you have a honey crisp planted, can you cut the top off and graft a new variety on without giving the new variety the problems of honeycrisp?
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Yep, that's called "topworking"
Most of the big orchards that used to grow Red Delicious are now Gala, Honeycrisp, & Cosmic Crisp. And it's not because they cut the orchards down & started over! They just topworked the new varieties in & pruned out the branches of the older varieties.
Most of the big orchards that used to grow Red Delicious are now Gala, Honeycrisp, & Cosmic Crisp. And it's not because they cut the orchards down & started over! They just topworked the new varieties in & pruned out the branches of the older varieties.
😭👵
Same played out in avocados. A 10,000 seedling University of California breeding program led to the Lamb-Hass, GEM, and Luna UCR varieties... good varieties, but not household names. Program started in the late '80's, Luna released in 2023. This was considered a successful program.
Bonus: a lil talk about how much work it is to breed new fruit trees like apples.
Why? Mostly because about 1 in 10,000 seedlings will grow up to make fruit that's.... like... enjoyable to eat.
Why? Mostly because about 1 in 10,000 seedlings will grow up to make fruit that's.... like... enjoyable to eat.
November 18, 2025 at 11:57 PM
😭👵
People had questions, like
"Are there apples that taste & crunch like Honeycrisp? But without the existential rage about being alive?"
Yep! Let's talk about them!
"Are there apples that taste & crunch like Honeycrisp? But without the existential rage about being alive?"
Yep! Let's talk about them!
In honor of apple picking season: the secret of why Honeycrisp apples are so expensive!
This tree is angry at being alive and will make it your problem (if you plant it)
This tree is angry at being alive and will make it your problem (if you plant it)
Why Honeycrisp Apples Are EXPENSIVE
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 8:23 PM
People had questions, like
"Are there apples that taste & crunch like Honeycrisp? But without the existential rage about being alive?"
Yep! Let's talk about them!
"Are there apples that taste & crunch like Honeycrisp? But without the existential rage about being alive?"
Yep! Let's talk about them!
Trump just cut farm workers' wages $1-3/hr, and there IS something we can do about it.
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
Farm Workers: Here's How We Can Help
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Trump just cut farm workers' wages $1-3/hr, and there IS something we can do about it.
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
youtu.be/AnCJfhLxk_c
No see that's what they love about her
She's just a mom trying to take care of her family! ✨ And the corporate suits hated that! ✨✨
She's just a mom trying to take care of her family! ✨ And the corporate suits hated that! ✨✨
Is she in jail now? That whole thing got confusing when she started having babies to avoid jail.
November 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
No see that's what they love about her
She's just a mom trying to take care of her family! ✨ And the corporate suits hated that! ✨✨
She's just a mom trying to take care of her family! ✨ And the corporate suits hated that! ✨✨
aw sweet the MAHA girlies are starting to turn Elizabeth Holmes into a folk hero
November 15, 2025 at 3:05 PM
aw sweet the MAHA girlies are starting to turn Elizabeth Holmes into a folk hero
I finally started watching Clarkson's Farm
Farmer Reacts to Clarkson's Farm
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I finally started watching Clarkson's Farm
✨ international nut grove nerdery ✨
Will be watching this later. Always room for more information on irrigating tree crops in Mediterranean climates, even though avocados and macadamias are a bit different.
for those seeking the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQQX...
November 12, 2025 at 2:25 AM
✨ international nut grove nerdery ✨
Huh...... pretty much completely off-topic, but Trump has a property somewhere that hires H2A workers. The job description for them is managing a vineyard.
I don't know why people have their panties in a bunch about public grocery stores either. Trump sells his wine in the military stores.
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Huh...... pretty much completely off-topic, but Trump has a property somewhere that hires H2A workers. The job description for them is managing a vineyard.
There's been a lot of pearl-clutching about public grocery stores!
Which is wild, because we have a LOT of experience with public grocery stores in the US. And the folks it serves (US military & military families) stand by it.
Which is wild, because we have a LOT of experience with public grocery stores in the US. And the folks it serves (US military & military families) stand by it.
Public Grocery: Let's Talk Logistics!
YouTube video by Farm to Taber
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
There's been a lot of pearl-clutching about public grocery stores!
Which is wild, because we have a LOT of experience with public grocery stores in the US. And the folks it serves (US military & military families) stand by it.
Which is wild, because we have a LOT of experience with public grocery stores in the US. And the folks it serves (US military & military families) stand by it.
Reposted by Sarah Taber
Sarah is a must follow for anyone who wants a better understanding of what's really going on with the modern agriculture sector. So many things that seem incomprehensible suddenly make a lot more sense when you hear what she has to say... @sarahtaber.bsky.social
Did an interview with these guys regarding the Current Situation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInB...
Why the Hell Did Farmers Vote for Trump?
YouTube video by Talking Politics With Mom
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Sarah is a must follow for anyone who wants a better understanding of what's really going on with the modern agriculture sector. So many things that seem incomprehensible suddenly make a lot more sense when you hear what she has to say... @sarahtaber.bsky.social
don't know why YouTube decided I want to hear about the latest research on irrigating macademia nuts
but absolutely I do
but absolutely I do
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 AM
don't know why YouTube decided I want to hear about the latest research on irrigating macademia nuts
but absolutely I do
but absolutely I do
Did an interview with these guys regarding the Current Situation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInB...
Why the Hell Did Farmers Vote for Trump?
YouTube video by Talking Politics With Mom
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Did an interview with these guys regarding the Current Situation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInB...
Y'all need Jesus, happy Sunday
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Y'all need Jesus, happy Sunday
You ever just snap & write a sternly-worded letter to threaten people for feeding hungry children? No?
The US Department of Agriculture has ordered that "states must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025".
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
You ever just snap & write a sternly-worded letter to threaten people for feeding hungry children? No?
Reposted by Sarah Taber
The US Department of Agriculture has ordered that "states must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025".
November 9, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The US Department of Agriculture has ordered that "states must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025".
you know what's fun? the growing realization that a lot of Americans have no idea what rabies is
November 8, 2025 at 5:34 AM
you know what's fun? the growing realization that a lot of Americans have no idea what rabies is
See this is just good strategy
One year I had pumpkins in the front yard. Fortunately, the one pumpkin that likes to be alive here (Kang Kob) stays green until 1-2 months after picking.
Nobody ever nabbed one, because everyone thought "They're not ripe yet! We gotta keep waiting!"
One year I had pumpkins in the front yard. Fortunately, the one pumpkin that likes to be alive here (Kang Kob) stays green until 1-2 months after picking.
Nobody ever nabbed one, because everyone thought "They're not ripe yet! We gotta keep waiting!"
November 7, 2025 at 9:00 PM
See this is just good strategy
One year I had pumpkins in the front yard. Fortunately, the one pumpkin that likes to be alive here (Kang Kob) stays green until 1-2 months after picking.
Nobody ever nabbed one, because everyone thought "They're not ripe yet! We gotta keep waiting!"
One year I had pumpkins in the front yard. Fortunately, the one pumpkin that likes to be alive here (Kang Kob) stays green until 1-2 months after picking.
Nobody ever nabbed one, because everyone thought "They're not ripe yet! We gotta keep waiting!"
Oh yeah you're gonna be swimming in Cosmic Crisp this year
WA orchards usually do a lot of exporting to Asia. Soooooo yeah
WA orchards usually do a lot of exporting to Asia. Soooooo yeah
Cosmic Crisp are the cheapest apples on the shelf for most of the year here, but I live in WA
Like, that's my go-to cooking apple
Like, that's my go-to cooking apple
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Oh yeah you're gonna be swimming in Cosmic Crisp this year
WA orchards usually do a lot of exporting to Asia. Soooooo yeah
WA orchards usually do a lot of exporting to Asia. Soooooo yeah
yeah they call 'em "spitters" :D
That's the cool part about being a fruit nerd that nobody tells you about. You love fruit so much, you wind up spending your life eating all the GODAWFUL ones so nobody else has to
That's the cool part about being a fruit nerd that nobody tells you about. You love fruit so much, you wind up spending your life eating all the GODAWFUL ones so nobody else has to
There's a WSU professor running around finding heirloom trees that were planted along old farm fence lines 100 years ago and whatnot. It sounds like pretty cool work but I had the privilege of biting into one once and holy crap was it awful. Supposedly it's good for cider.
November 7, 2025 at 8:44 PM
yeah they call 'em "spitters" :D
That's the cool part about being a fruit nerd that nobody tells you about. You love fruit so much, you wind up spending your life eating all the GODAWFUL ones so nobody else has to
That's the cool part about being a fruit nerd that nobody tells you about. You love fruit so much, you wind up spending your life eating all the GODAWFUL ones so nobody else has to
See I wish the ~edible gardening~ folks would grapple with this. at least a little bit.
Productive food plants aren't gonna look like A Flower Garden, for the same reason most moms don't look like supermodels. WE GOT OTHER STUFF GOIN ON OK?
Productive food plants aren't gonna look like A Flower Garden, for the same reason most moms don't look like supermodels. WE GOT OTHER STUFF GOIN ON OK?
unless you live somewhere with insane sunlight, i learned tomatoes have the 2 modes: green with foliage cuz they're focused on growing, or looking like shit cuz they're putting all energy into fruits. i have to keep telling ppl i know when a plant looks like shit it isn't always dead lol
November 7, 2025 at 8:40 PM
See I wish the ~edible gardening~ folks would grapple with this. at least a little bit.
Productive food plants aren't gonna look like A Flower Garden, for the same reason most moms don't look like supermodels. WE GOT OTHER STUFF GOIN ON OK?
Productive food plants aren't gonna look like A Flower Garden, for the same reason most moms don't look like supermodels. WE GOT OTHER STUFF GOIN ON OK?
THIS
It's good to keep them around as parents for breeding future varieties. we don't know exactly what problems we'll have to solve in 50 years.
but don't feel. like. duty-bound to eat them unless you actually like them
It's good to keep them around as parents for breeding future varieties. we don't know exactly what problems we'll have to solve in 50 years.
but don't feel. like. duty-bound to eat them unless you actually like them
Yes! Sometimes heirloom cultivars are solving a problem we just don’t have anymore and while we shouldn’t just abandon them it’s also good to keep this in mind.
November 7, 2025 at 8:37 PM
THIS
It's good to keep them around as parents for breeding future varieties. we don't know exactly what problems we'll have to solve in 50 years.
but don't feel. like. duty-bound to eat them unless you actually like them
It's good to keep them around as parents for breeding future varieties. we don't know exactly what problems we'll have to solve in 50 years.
but don't feel. like. duty-bound to eat them unless you actually like them
true story, there are a lot of very happy vibrant green tomato plants in this world with no fruit on 'em whatsoever
meanwhile these depresso Charlie Brown-dead-Christmas-tree looking mummies still doing their darndest to fulfill the mission
meanwhile these depresso Charlie Brown-dead-Christmas-tree looking mummies still doing their darndest to fulfill the mission
I live in NC. I balcony/container garden. My cherry/grape tomato plants look wretched but they are still producing.
November 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
true story, there are a lot of very happy vibrant green tomato plants in this world with no fruit on 'em whatsoever
meanwhile these depresso Charlie Brown-dead-Christmas-tree looking mummies still doing their darndest to fulfill the mission
meanwhile these depresso Charlie Brown-dead-Christmas-tree looking mummies still doing their darndest to fulfill the mission