There has been a lot of attention in the media lately to “multi-plot” farms, where a single farmer grows on other people’s back and front yards, aggregates the produce from the many gardens, and then sells through CSAs or farmers’ markets. I’ve had a little experience of farming on more than one site, […]
Converting lawns for willing homeowners, market farmers find land in urban yards Read More »
Basil downy mildew, first identified in the United States two years ago, is spreading rapidly on the East Coast and has also been found in California and the Midwest. Plant pathologists warn that basil crops everywhere are at risk, and they urge growers to inspect their plants for signs of the disease. Basil downy mildew
New! Basil downy mildew hits U.S. crops Read More »
Last month I talked about how we use tractor-mounted pallet forks for moving posts. We’ve also found the pallet forks useful as a harvest aid for heavy crops that are coming out of the fields in large enough quantities to be stored in big bins. Specifically, we’ve used them consistently in garlic, onion, and winter
Farm-built bins and racks help harvest Read More »
Plants produce chemicals that function as defensive mechanisms to reduce injury from plant-feeding insects and mites. Mixtures of these chemicals, referred to as plant-derived essential oils, are primarily isolated during the process of steam distillation of aboveground plant parts. A number of these chemicals posses both insecticidal and miticidal properties with a broad-spectrum of activity
Pesticides of essential oils sound great, but do they work? Read More »
Flower growers started the season feeling nervous that the economic recession would cut hard into their sales. But, as it turns out, the situation hasn’t been as bad as many people feared. By adjusting prices, adding markets, and finding new customers, all of the long-term growers contacted for this article were able to say that
Flower growers report decent sales, but some big changes in markets Read More »
By Pam Dawling Cover crops offer so many benefits that your first step in deciding what to plant is to identify which of these are priorities for each field:•Prevent lots of weeds growing and seeding;•Add organic matter to the soil, increasing the biological activity;•Improve the soil and sub-soil structure, tilth, drainage and water-holding capacity;•Prevent erosion
Get help from cover crops this winter Read More »
Need more inspiration? Gene Logsdon wrote Small-Scale Grain Raising in the 1970s, and though it was popular then with back-to-the-land readers, it eventually went out of print. Chelsea Green Publishing brought it back this year, and just in time. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to explore grain growing. From the first
Book Review: Small Scale Grain Raising Read More »
While the local food movement has expanded markets for produce, dairy, and meat, it also has called attention to a shortage of locally grown grains and beans. In most parts of the country, there simply aren’t local options for the staple foods that, by some estimates, make up 50 to 65 percent of the diet.
Growing grains for local markets Read More »
Growing for Market in partnership with Johnny’s Selected Seeds has created a library of expert information about growing and selling vegetables and flowers. Links in the article will take you to johnnyseeds.com. Subscribe to Growing for Market for more great ideas about growing and marketing! For more topics in the series, click on Market Farming
Value-Added Products Read More »
