by Courtney Llewellyn
Berea, KY, population 15,000, sits right in the middle of the Bluegrass State. It is home to both an organization called Fahe and Grow Appalachia, a program run through Berea College. The two groups have similar missions because they are fighting the same fight – they are trying to rebuild one of the poorest regions of America.
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by Sally Colby
When Ben and Amy Lindner started growing vegetables and plants in an area already populated with numerous greenhouses, they knew they had to distinguish themselves in order to be successful. The couple established Tender Shoots Gardens and Greenhouse on Ben’s parents’ former dairy farm in Greenwood, WI.
(more…)by Greg Hitchcock
Step along the streets of Winterset, Iowa, and many people will notice the beautiful hanging baskets of pink petunias along the sidewalks coloring the haze of a bright spring day. The hanging baskets are the product of Groth’s Gardens and Greenhouses, a Winterset gardening business owned by the Groths.
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by Sally Colby
Healthy, generational farms evolve over the years, and that’s the case with Witte’s Vegetable Farm. Scott Witte, fourth generation farmer on the Cedarburg, WI, farm, recalls the farm’s early days. (more…)
Consumers are demanding food grown without the use of chemical sprays. Pollinators are declining, with pesticide use being one culprit. Climate changes are causing changes in pest pressures while altering precipitation and temperature patterns. By necessity, tree fruit growers are finding new ways to adapt to the conditions – social, cultural and environmental – which are changing the way the orchard grows. (more…)
by Sally Colby
When Zach Ford plans meals, microgreens are on his mind.Ford is the executive chef at the U.S. Hotel Tavern in Hollidaysburg, PA. He has spent 15 years in the culinary field and his focus is using farm-fresh products from artisan producers. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
There are two main seasons for “seasonal” work – the school break during the summer months, and the month or two leading up to the traditional holiday season. Efficient, qualified workers can be hard to find during both seasons if employers don’t know what to look for – or when to look for them. (more…)
As the growing season comes to an end, extending the season by using hoop houses or high tunnels of a variety of sizes and shapes has become an option for many small growers. (more…)
by Carl Cantaluppi
When working as an Extension Agent, people would inquire about growing fruit trees. I would tell them that it is hard work and a person should have the time to devote to their proper care. (more…)
When it comes to evaluating your business, are you more of a numbers cruncher or an introspective learner? Can you be both? Should you be both? (more…)
by Sally Colby
Jeff Owen, North Carolina State University Extension Christmas tree specialist, knows that growers battle damage from deer, and has done extensive research on what works to minimize deer damage. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Charlie Manners had a career as an engineer, but dreamed of owning a U-cut Christmas tree farm. In 1952, he made that dream come true when he started a Christmas tree farm in New Lyme, Ohio. (more…)
