September 1, 2011

Cover crops are a big part of my fertility program. I use them in an attempt to keep nutrients cycling in the soil, to improve soil texture and organic matter, to add nitrogen, to displace weeds and to provide habitat for beneficials. Because cover crops aren’t directly generating income like a cash crop, it’s hard […]

Demand for local food is growing among wholesale buyers such as supermarkets, colleges, corporate cafeterias, and hospitals. But most institutional buyers require volume and consistency that most small growers can’t provide. As GFM pointed out in several articles this year about scaling up, farmers who have successfully added institutional accounts to their markets usually do

If I had to choose only one flower to grow in our hoophouses each spring, hands down, ranunculus would make the cut. With so many wonderful qualities it is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with them. After a winter of dark days and sterile South American product, designers and buyers are

Getting a uniform, healthy, and quick stand from direct-seeded crops is essential for profitable farming. It takes money and time to prepare beds for planting, so it is important to not waste space. Unevenly germinated beds are an inefficient use of limited planting area. Untimely or spotty germination affect expected harvests dates and overall yield

Radishes should not be overlooked – although usually a minor crop, they have some important roles in a mixed vegetable farm. The familiar small radishes are quick-growing, brightly colored and add crunch to winter and spring salads. Since they are easy and quick to grow, they can be planted whenever a space opens up, as

By mid-August, only seven of 20 beds in our 34 X 96 foot high tunnel have summer crops left in them. We’ll leave the sweet potatoes for another month before we dig and cure them for winter farmers markets. The two beds of colored peppers will come out in the first or second week of