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What's Up in Produce?by Gayle Anderson It's time to plant the garden . . . and we'll have plenty of plants for you to choose from. Once again this year we'll have organic vegetable seedlings grown for us by Janet Britt of Buttermilk Falls Organic Farm in Schaghticoke, and Katie Smith and Chris Cashen of the Farm at Miller's Crossing outside Hudson. They grow for us the same varieties of tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables that they plant on their own farms for the market, their CSAs - and themselves! You'll find the best selection of heirloom tomatoes anywhere in the Capital District, with new arrivals twice a week. Look for variety descriptions posted in the window next to the front door. For flower seedlings, we will have a limited selection of organically grown varieties from Miller's Crossing: Most will be special varieties for planters and hanging baskets (watch for signs). The rest of our display will be from regular farms who participate in the Menands Regional Market. Every single flat will be hand-selected by yours truly at the wholesale market at 5:30 am Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I'll be looking for varieties and colors that I would want, or that I think you might want, or that you may have asked for (so please feel free to ask!). Of course I'll be buying plants that look healthy, and I'll be buying them directly from the grower. These will not be part of mass shipments trucked in from Canada. These will be small selections from local family farms, who will be getting their first positive cash flow of the year. Support your local farmers: Shop at their farmstands and markets, join a CSA - or shop Coop! If you missed out on the Fed-co seed order and still need to buy your garden seeds, check out the selection at the Coop. Fed-co is a Maine seed (and tree and bulb) coop celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. No genetically modified organisms (GMOs), no chemically treated seeds, many organically and sustainably grown varieties, all selected for the Northeast. Check out their website at www.fedcoseeds.com . Honest Weight does a group order in the winter, and you could have ordered direct on your own. If you didn't, or you need some more, we've picked out our favorite varieties and made them available to you in the store at 50% over the catalog price. This covers the fact that, unlike the seeds displayed everywhere else, these don't come to us with a big discount and we can't return what we don't sell. Even with our mark-up, they are still a good deal. The Fedco catalog (available online at their website) is amazing. Check out our copies in the store for variety descriptions, how to plant - and all kinds of other information. Some helpful hints: (1) The 4-digit number on the seed packet is the number in the catalog; (2) The catalog in the red binder is the one I did the order out of. Items highlighted in yellow are what I ordered for the store. If it's not highlighted, forget looking - we don't have it; (3) Other numbers on the packet are the germination rate and the date tested (e.g., "88% 12/01/02"). Seeds packed for 2003 will have germination tests in late '02 or early '03. Need some organic potting soil? Compost? Topsoil to patch holes? We have all this and more from McEnroe Organic farm in Millerton. Their Lite Growing Mix is good for starting seedlings, or for hanging baskets where weight is an issue. Perennial Blend is good for slower-growing perennials. Bags are $4.99 each, but when you buy four you get a fifth bag free! Ask the Produce gang for assistance if you're getting a bunch of bags because (A) They're heavy and we'd be glad to help, and (B) We'd rather get a cartful from the back than have you wipe out the display box out front! Speaking of the Produce gang... we'd like to welcome back Steve Lamica after a year's hiatus, working on his farm. Steve will divide his time between farm and Coop, acting as weekend produce manager, while Jamie is my assistant during the week. Lorilee, Abe, Karl, Dominic and Mike complete the team (along with numerous member workers), so that there's always someone you can ask for help in the produce room. The door is open - come on in! And a fond farewell to departed produce staffer Nina Jenkins who will be continuing her college career. (But first, she's going to spend her summer working for landscaper Sandra Walck. Once again that connection between plants and produce . . . or dirt and produce? Have fun, Nina!) |
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