Attention to detail
Although Laura Raney didn’t grow up on a farm, she worked at garden centers and other outdoor jobs, all of which led her to a love of being outdoors. Raney began working at the Silverwood Organic Farm (more…)
Hospitality and customer service on the farm
Once, not that long ago, a farmer was simply a farmer. They planted seeds, grew crops, raised livestock and then sold it, sometimes without ever having to speak to a member of the public. These days, however, (more…)
Taking a bite from the past
Nikki Conley grew up in the eastern foothills of Tulare County in California where multigenerational families kept orchards.
“They were all high mountain orchards,” said Nikki. (more…)
High tunnel how-to at Norwich Meadows Farm
NORWICH, NY – Anyone who has grown vegetables in the Northeast can tell you the troubles of the short growing season coupled with years of insect pests or crops wiped out by blights. While conventional growing (more…)
Azusa JC Landscaping brings nature to our doorstep
When plant collector and propagator Everett Chu fulfilled his lifelong dream of opening a nursery in 2009, he started something that developed into more than just a retail store and landscaping center. (more…)
Predicting 2023’s exciting horticulture trends
If you’re the type who lives for not just what’s now but what’s next, then the 2023 Garden Trends Report from the Garden Media Group will be right up your alley. Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group, (more…)
Not just a plan, but a path forward
“Think about the things that keep you up at night,” said Rob Leeds, Ohio State University Extension educator. “Do you have a plan?”
That’s how Leeds, along with fellow OSU Extension Educator (more…)
Dealing with heirs’ property
Peace of mind is a critical aspect of farming – knowing who is next in line for the farm is a critical aspect of mental health. Veronica McClendon, principal attorney with McClendon Law and Consulting, said (more…)
Go on, brush your shoulders off
Shoulder season – the months between peak seasons – can be a time for growers to lay low and reset. But that often means a time with low to no new income. One way to take advantage of shoulder season, (more…)
Cleanliness goes a long way
Keeping produce clean from the time it’s harvested to the time a consumer purchases it is a challenge for every grower.
Lindsay Gilmour, Organic Planet LLC, has been a food safety educator (more…)
Thoughts on Energy on the Farm
I had the opportunity to visit Ag Progress Days at Penn State this August and peruse the wide array of machinery associated with agricultural enterprises (more…)
Flexible Work and Marketing Success
The pandemic taught us that flexible work schedules, if structured well, could work successfully in many parts of a business. (more…)
Facing challenges with change
Change isn’t always planned, but families who remain flexible and open-minded can see a positive outcome as their business model shifts. While many U-pick and agritainment farms expanded during (more…)
Soil steaming: Hot and effective
Everything old is new again. Soil steaming, popular at the turn of the 20th century, fell out of use when chemical-based farming became the norm. Soil fumigants such as methyl bromide – popular with (more…)
Five times as strong
Anne Bailey wasn’t always sure she would come home to her family’s farm in Snohomish, WA, but that’s where her heart is today. The farm has been in the family for more than 100 years, and Anne (more…)
