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Janice Zuzov: Find ways to support local farmers

EXPLORING WEST AMWELL’S FARMLAND

By Betty Jane Hunt, Special Writer
   Jeff Mershon and his wife, Janice Zuzov, got into the goat business when they bought two kids for their two children.
   Mr. Mershon and Ms. Zuzov both grew up in the suburbs and always loved animals. Twenty years ago they bought a house with a little over an acre of land along Route 518. Approximately 10 years ago, they purchased another 10 acres that was part of the Hughes farm next door and did a property-line adjustment.
   When they bought the property, Ms. Zuzov said the land was exhausted from over-farming. Her husband had bees back there for a few years, but they have let it lay fallow. Now, they are beginning to see a lot of bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and wild berries and once they have time to install fencing, they will open it up to the goats for pasture.
   Mr. Mershon is vice president of a computer company and his wife is a stay-at-home mom for their two daughters, ages 12 and 16.
   Recently, they built a lovely addition on their home for Ms. Zuzov’s mother, who enjoys watching all of the animals in the back year. Those animals currently include 10 goats, 20 ducks, 25 chickens, one rabbit, three dogs and three cats. They also have a garden large enough to support their family.
   About 10 years ago, Ms. Zuzov was very ill. To provide her with the medicinal benefits of raw milk, her husband began milking one of the goats. The raw milk really helped her and she has been carefully following the legislation that will allow for the sale of raw milk in New Jersey.
   The bill recently passed in the state Assembly and is going to the Senate.
   Being particularly interested in the dairy industry, this writer also is also excited about the movement of this proposed legislation — the result of an outcry from the public and people like Ms. Zuzov, who understand the benefits of raw milk.
   Ms. Zuzov said there is plenty of room for choice and people should be able to have the choice to buy raw milk, just as the public can do in many other states. Being able to sell raw milk also would be a big boost for struggling dairy farmers.
   Ms. Zuzov went on to make kefir, yogurt and cheese from her raw goat’s milk. She and her husband expanded their learning by attending a year-long agriculture course at the The Pfeiffer Center in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., where they took a practical training course in biodynamics — a scientific and spiritual approach to farming and gardening.
   Biodynamics emphasizes the relationship between humans and the world around them. The farm is a living organism with the farmer acting as a steward. Compost is the sole means of fertilizing the land and special preparations made of natural materials are applied in small quantities to vitalize the land.
   Ms. Zuzov went on to teach several courses at The Weston A. Price Foundation in Princeton on traditional food preparation, how it is grown, and what it means to health and well-being. Furthermore, her expertise includes knowledge about growing herbs and making medicines from them to boost immune systems, increase energy, etc. She explained that the immune-boosting medicine is made from the Echinacea plant. The whole plant is used once it is 5 years old. The plant is placed in brandy and vodka — which pulls out the medicinal properties of the plant.
   Regarding the obstacles of farming, Ms. Zuzov included: the amount of care the animals need, the cost involved, and finding help so one can go on vacation. However, she said these problems are small in comparison to the benefits of knowing what you are eating and love for their animals and nature. She said the goats are very sweet, intelligent, giving and trusting.
   Ms. Zuzov said people need to find ways to support local farmers. She found out by going to the raw milk hearings in Trenton how adversely affected New Jersey farmers are by all the laws coming out of Trenton and Washington.
   She said there is a lot of ignorance on the part of many lawmakers and the general public regarding farms and farming. Members of the general public, she noted, should educate themselves about farming and then support and thank farmers every chance they get.
    Betty Jane Hunt is a member of the West Amwell Township Agriculture Advisory Committee.