Versatile, profitable and good for pollinators Snapdragon, or Antirrhinum, is a staple spring and early summer crop on our farm. We do succession plantings in our unheated greenhouses and in the field for eight to ten weeks of continuous harvests. They are a fairly easy cut flower to grow, and they produce an incredible number of […]
Snapdragons from seed to sale Read More »
Damping-off, algae, fungus gnats, ammonia and more By Caleb P. Goossen, Ph.D., Crop Specialist for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Early spring is a time when many farmers are starting seedlings in heated greenhouses and grow rooms. While these are much more controlled settings than outdoor fields, problems can still arise,
Diagnosing and treating germination and seedling problems Read More »
Over the last two years, our farm has been increasingly hiring foreign-born workers from immigrant, refugee, and migrant communities. The result has been the best team we’ve ever had, and a new meaning for our farm which has grown into a community where people from all over the world can find reliable, rewarding, and safe
Embracing an immigrant, refugee and migrant workforce Read More »
Save time and money vs heating a greenhouse for germination Spring looks different at Clay Bottom Farm this year. The propagation house, a polycarbonate-walled structure attached to the south side of the farmhouse/barn, is empty of its usual explosion of green vegetable seedlings getting a head start in gas-heated comfort while the snow melts on
Using grow tents as germination chambers Read More »
Bevin Cohen of Small House Farm shares his unexpected journey into seed production, the importance of rare and unusual seeds, and some of the unusual value-added products they take to market, including seed oils and apothecary products. The discussion with host April Parms Jones highlights the connection between seeds and community, the significance of regionally
