how we grow
Genetically Diverse Crops
We are a queer-owned and operated, no-till, market garden using new technologies and old ways of farming. We grow specialty varieties that emphasize diversity, taste, and adaptation to our regional ecology. We grow food to feed our bodies and spirits and to build community outside of global markets.
We believe in reciprocal stewardship with plants, people, land we grow on. We manage our soil and small plot with a series of regenerative and ecologically-based practices that exceed organic standards.
We focus on heirloom and open-pollinated crops that have the genetic diversity to carry us into the uncertain future. Plants are allowed to freely cross-pollinate and farmers save seeds from many plants who exhibit the most desirable qualities (e.g. best taste, most vigorous after a late frost, fastest germinating, etc.) ensuring that crops are able to produce in a variety of conditions. Heirlooms are crops that have been produced in that tradition for more than 50 years. The best ones are crops that have been raised in our ecosystem for years, allowing them adapt to local conditions including temperature, precipitation, soil microbiome, and more. We love our regional seed producers!
We only sparingly grow F1 varieties (controlled pollination from two genetic populations with high homogeneity) even though they often have higher yield. Instances where we might choose an F1 would be: specific disease resistance, spinach (a troublesome crop for us), otherwise important characteristic (like our purple mini daikon radishes). We do not grow things like ProCut sunflowers which only produce single flowers and not to produce pollen and therefore do not benefit our local ecosystem.
We do not grow genetically modified seeds or use any materials produced from genetically modified crops.
Pest and disease management
We focus on environmental factors to control pests and diseases. We primarily use interplanting, physical barriers, and crop rotation to keep our produce healthy.
Interplanting allows two plants to benefit from growing together. For example, we might grow cilantro in the greenhouse because its flower attract beneficial insects that prey on bugs that eat our tomato plants. Or we grow onions or herbs next to our squashes to help repel pests that might want to eat them. It isn’t perfect and we’re still learning, but we have more successes each year.
Physical barriers include things like row covers, which physically cover the plants so that pests cannot get to them. For example, we always have our legumes covered until they begin flowering, preventing deer and rabbits from eating them.
Crop rotation or growing different crops in each row each year helps prevent a build of of disease or specific types of insects, fungi, or bacteria that have evolved to prey on a specific crop.
We do not currently use any spray pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides in our production.
Meet your Farmers
RaE
Rachel has over 10 years of experience growing all things green. They have been focused on building a plant-focused future and are always trying new experiments in ways of growing. They see farming as an act of resistance to build a more local, delicious, and just future.
Ari
Ari is a vegetable enthusiast who also loves solving complex problems. An architect by training, Ari has a background in sustainability and design which they bring to various projects around the farm. They love to care for people, especially - but not exclusively - by cooking and sharing tasty meals.
