Blue flowers from the Campanula family
“We don’t do weddings”. That is our hard and fast rule around here. We’ll grow you the flowers and have them ready for you in buckets, for you to arrange, but we don’t do weddings. No boutonnieres, no bride’s bouquets. Frank doesn’t want to know how many bridesmaids there are. Don’t even mention the cake […]
How to choose organic pest controls
Dealing with insect and mite pests in organic production systems can be challenging primarily due to the limited availability of pest control materials (in this case, insecticides and miticides).It is important to implement a holistic pest management strategy that involves scouting (using colored sticky cards), cultural practices (sanitation, and water and fertility management), physical controls […]
Growth of urban farms is a return to historical roots
I’m pleased to be starting a regular column for Growing for Market on urban agriculture. GFM has been a critical source of information for me over the years, providing me with inspiration, concrete information, and a real sense of community; I think everyone who market gardens should read it! I’m going to be writing each […]
Veggies take up antibiotics
Some vegetable crops take up antibiotics when grown in soil fertilized with animal manures, researchers at the University of Minnesota have found. Nearly 70 percent of the total antibiotics and related drugs produced in the United States are fed to livestock, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The researchers planted corn, green onions and […]
Why organic farmers quit
About 15-20% of California’s certified organic farmers drop their certification each year, and researchers at the California Institute for Rural Studies wanted to know why. So they interviewed 104 farmers who had recently been deregistered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture Organic Program. Here are some of the trends they discovered: 27 of […]
Market-style CSA distribution
Although Community Supported Agriculture was virtually synonymous with “box of vegetables” in its early days, an increasing number of farms are choosing a “market style” distribution in which customers pack their own bags and boxes of produce. We have worked with both distribution methods and chosen to use the market style on our current farm. […]
AGR-Lite insurance program
Farmers are well-acquainted with the risks that nature and markets can pose to income. A rainy spring can ruin a lettuce crop. A summer hailstorm can destroy a field of tomatoes. Price fluctuations can make a crop worth less than expected. Most market farmers mitigate their risk by diversifying; if one crop fails, there are […]
Showcase your wares in wood
In a good tomato year, there is the temptation to treat the fruits of your labor like sacks of red water, and the pressing desire to sell them off cheaply by the box often ignores the true value of those antioxidant-rich, flavor-dense jewels of the garden. Proper transport and display of those gems will allow […]
Plan now for a great market presentation
When I first started selling at a farmers market, one particular customer would stop by my booth and pester me with questions. He wanted to know the variety name of each vegetable offered for sale, where I purchased the seed, what the taste difference was, which kind kept better and finally, which one was “best.” […]