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China asters (Callistephus chinensis) are a staple crop on our cut flower farm, Moonshot Farm in East Windsor, New Jersey. They fill an important late summer focal flower gap, generally blooming in August after our main lisianthus flush in July and before the dahlias in September. Asters have an awesome vase life for our retail […]

This spring, Seattle Wholesale Growers Market turned 14 years old. Our updated mission statement reflects the growth of an ambitious idea into a resilient business. We are a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to serving the Pacific Northwest and beyond through the cultivation of high-quality flowers and a resilient, ecologically-centered floral community. Today we have 19 owner-members

Handy for hard-to-measure surfaces and double checking the accuracy of other thermometers I was looking back through Instagram photos tagged #toolsforgrowingformarket and came across one from a few years ago from my friend Martin at Slow and Steady Farm on Whidbey Island in Washington. In the photo he’s showing a $20 infrared thermometer he’s using

Year one running a SARE trial project We grow cut flowers year-round at Moonshot Farm in East Windsor, New Jersey, but find that timing flowers for December — including winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah — to be the trickiest time of year for production. To bloom in December, most cut flowers need to be

The first part of this article ran in the May GFM about many of the wonderful spring and summer perennials and natural elements that can add character to bouquets and arrangements. In this, the second and final part of the article, we look at the foraged and woody elements that can be harvested or held

How to come back stronger after a natural disaster   Western North Carolina was hit with a catastrophic storm on September 27, 2024, when Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a Tropical Storm) ripped through a region already waterlogged from days of preceding rains. Historic flooding, landslides and high winds decimated entire communities and killed at least

Flea beetles are diverse in feeding preferences and morphology. Most flea beetle species are specialists, preferring particular crop types, though some are generalists who munch a variety of different plants. Flea beetles range in color from iridescent green to matte black. Their small size and ability to spring away when approached can make them difficult

Why nutrition is diminishing and how to improve it Well, hello, dear reader. I am happy to have your interest and your eyes for a few brief pages. I’ll do my best to offer you a diverting respite from the height of the season in your precious idle moments.  When last I wrote you, we

Elevating designs in spring and summer   As a flower farmer and an ambassador of the Slow Flower Movement (which promotes local, seasonal, and sustainable floriculture), I always try to come up with beautiful eye-catching combinations that make an impression. Beautiful flowers should always start a conversation. Like many of you, I can fill fields

Beyond the wheelbarrow and loader   Perkins’ Good Earth Farm is a permanent bed, deep compost, no-till, and certified organic vegetable farm. I want to share our journey from a low-till to no-till system to encourage others to consider how this production system might apply to your farms. Going into 2025, my wife, Julie, and