“Flowers are a recession-proof business” so the adage goes, and that has been true in years past. But as one columnist recently said, “This isn’t our father’s recession.” Who can tell? The other morning NPR reported higher unemployment and increased inflation, two things our college economics classes said were inversely proportional. Maybe not anymore. […]
Plant extra seeds now and sell cut flower plants next month Read More »
Like most operations on the farm, transplanting is very flexible when done by hand. You can plant at any spacing and in a wide variety of soil conditions. Also, like most operations, it can be back-breaking work and at some point after long hours of pulling plugs out of trays and bending over to plant
Tips for buying the best mechanical transplanter Read More »
I have a problem with gardening and farming books that start with “how to.” I glance through them and think about how the best laid plans can go awry, messing with your goals of high yields, profit, and fun. I remember the time when the most perfectly planted and maintained crop was felled by an
Urban farming: Looking for land Read More »
The first time I tried to grow leeks, I purchased bare root plants from a certified organic greenhouse. I remember being somewhat disappointed at having purchased what appeared to be a full box of tangled grass seedlings, but I dutifully tilled up my selected bed and planted them deeply in the soft soil. As all
The secret to perfect leeks Read More »
This is a great time of year to think about growing a seed crop. The demand for organic and heirloom seeds is growing, and seeds can bring a good financial return for the time and land invested. There are both practical and political reasons to grow seed crops. And there are perhaps new skills to
An introduction to growing seed for yourself or for sale Read More »
More than 1.7 million acres of crop land are now devoted to certified-organic production in the United States. Organic seed is used on about 11 percent of that land, despite the requirement by the National Organic Program that organic seed should be used when available. The problem is that organic seed simply isn’t available for
