Welcome to the 2016 Growing Season

As we reflect upon the ‘Year of Soils’, 2015, as designated by the United Nations, we lament the loss of more of this most valuable resource, not just for humans but for most of life on terrestrial Earth.
Every year more fertilizer and pesticide petrochemicals are spread on the soils of the earth in the name of agriculture and food production for humans, something we seem oblivious to when we think of climate change and fossil fuels. We are not only contaminating our soil and water but the life living in and on our planet. Ah, but technology will cure all, it always does, doesn’t it? Look at how far we’ve come in the last 10 years with cell phones alone, but do we have the will? Does economics need to redefine profit and loss? Do we work towards sustainable development and agriculture and give value to other living things or do we resolve to eat some sort of photosynthetic paste in a future along with other generalized species on a lonely desolate landscape? Many questions, as the mind wanders whilst leaning on a hoe in the onion field on a hot summer day. And hot it was, probably one of the most challenging growing seasons in my memory. The rains of April did not arrive, nor did they arrive in May or June or July, thank the gods (and our water purveyor ) for reservoir irrigation which had to be done late in the day or early in the morning. Even still the evaporation was extensive when no or little natural soil moisture was present.
For certain the heat units were strong and some crops performed very well, capsicums, eggplant, tomatoes were especially productive. Corn, which loves the heat, and is a heavy feeder, would have performed well this year but we didn’t plant any because of a shortage of compost.
We are a very low input operation, challenging our seeds, our compost microbiology and critically timed irrigation along with the forces of natural selection to be the dominant factor in shaping our crops and the resilience they carry into succeeding generations. Ah, the beauty of open pollinated varieties, those which can adapt to these low input organic regimes as well as a changing climate.
Once again we are proud to offer our open pollinated, certified organic, hand cleaned, low input adapted, heritage seed to you our valued friends in the fields and gardens.
Look for the * to denote new varieties this year and have a great growing year as you nourish your body and soul.