In 2020 the conventional metal hoop greenhouse I had been using for propagation was going to be repurposed for COVID reasons and I needed an alternative for 2021, so I built a small wooden greenhouse, just 11’x18’. I chose to do this for a few reasons: It was cheaper than metal construction (at least the […]
Tips for building wooden greenhouses Read More »
Have you ever been frustrated by (or heard farmers complain about) a technical assistance (TA) provider who is not helpful, not interested in organic production, or not responsive? TA offered by cooperative extension or local non-profits is meant to be a useful resource for farmers, but one bad experience can sour a farmer’s enthusiasm for
How to work with extension agents and other folks who help farmers Read More »
And ideas for shorter breaks if you can’t take a sabbatical “How ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm After they’ve seen Paree’ How ya gonna keep ‘em away from Broadway Jazzin around and paintin’ the town How ya gonna keep ‘em away from harm, that’s a mystery They’ll never want to see a
Farm sabbatical: how it worked out for one group of farmers Read More »
Storage crops are a key element for year-round income for many farms. Extending your season for the first time, however, may mean extending your work and needed areas of expertise more than anticipated. On top of the normal in-season work to raise a diversity of crops, and know-how to keep them looking good until sold,
Diagnosing storage disorders, decay and diseases Read More »
All of the farmers I know who grow food for local markets find their inspiration in environmental or social convictions. Along with the lifestyle of farming, these convictions motivate farmers to stay the difficult course of growing food for local markets without government support. I have yet to meet a farmer who considers the financial
Ten tips to increase farm financial sustainability Read More »
Spring is our busiest sales season on our flower farm, Moonshot Farm in East Windsor New Jersey. We can never seem to grow enough. Our spring bread and butter are overwintered crops, which we sow in late summer and plant in the fall for blooms the following spring. There are two spiky spring favorites about
Foxglove and lupine: whimsical blooms from seed to sale Read More »
Perkins’ Good Earth Farm is a permanent-bed, deep-compost, no-till, and certified organic/Real Organic Project certified farm in De Motte, Indiana. We provide the veggies you need and love for our neighbors and community and a safe and beautiful place for the traveller. My wife, Julie, and I are currently in our 17th year of farming
Scaling and streamlining postharvest: AZS Rinse Conveyor economics and tips Read More »
In the first three articles of this series (see the Sept, Oct and Nov/Dec issues), we explored growing wedding flowers; assessing your fit for the wedding world, understanding clients, preparing fields and succession planting for specific dates, and building the logistics and tools to pull off a wedding without dissolving into a puddle of horticultural
Growing for weddings part 4: From field to vase- designing with your own blooms Read More »
A guy from Iowa talking about corn, what do you know?! Here in Iowa sweet corn is the gateway vegetable to unlock the customer’s pocketbook. And the benchmark for sweet corn success is having it early to market, by July 4th. The main newspaper in the state, the Des Moines Register, even publishes on the
Sweet corn without chemicals: Can the early bird beat the (ear)worm? Read More »
Winter is often a quieter time for farmers, but wildlife are still around and active, making the most of food and habitat sources — including overwintered crops and season extension structures. In addition to the frustration of seeing your hard work disappear overnight, and the surprisingly high fire risk caused by mouse nests in greenhouse
Managing rodents before they bite into protected & storage crops Read More »
