WHY RAISED GARDEN BEDS?

When we were first learning to garden here, we had a wonderful garden on the flat, one year.  At least until the first tropical storm of the year.  That garden drowned.  The first year we started building our current beds, we had 6 raised beds and the rain was fierce.  We got 45 inches of rain in 45 days.  Our tomatoes were fabulous, and every thing survived.  We have been firm believers in raised beds ever since.

The more we learn about the soil food web, the more we learn about the damage done to the soil by annual tilling, the happier we are with our decision to put in permanent raised beds that are never tilled, once they are built.  We do remove the mulch and the landscape fabric every year and rake the top couple of inches as a pest control measure, before we apply manure, but we never disturb the soil deeper than 2 inches.

WHY NO CHEMICALS?

We believe quality food needs no chemicals.  We work with the natural system, learning from it and supporting it.  Mother Nature does not apply chemicals, nor does she use a tiller.  We did not move the country to poison ourselves with chemicals.  Since we have been here, we have discovered that our previous life did some real damage, I suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, MCS.  This reinforces our commitment to living as natually as possible.

We have noticed, that if we have a pest show up in our gardens, very soon that pest's predator also shows up.  If we use chemicals to rid ourselves of the pest, there is a very good chance we will destroy the predator that feeds on that pest.  When the pests come back, you then have to use chemicals, then the pest become resistant to the chemicals and you have to find something else to grow.  We believe the natural balance, between pest and predator is a better way to manage our land.  We encourage beneficial organism to live here.

Yes, we do have problems that can damage our crops.  Some, like hornworms on our tomaotes are best dealt with in a mechanical manner, such as hand picking them off every day.  Grasshoppers, which are extremely bad this year are being dealt with by using tule and other fabrics to protect tender plants.

WHAT IS GAP?

GAP is Generally Accepted Procedures which have been developed by the USDA, in conjunction with various scientists as a measure to ensure healthy food.  The rules are not laws, but have been adopted by most large stores and thus most farmers must follow them.  No one is forcing us to, but we want the safest food possible for ourselves and our customers.   Most of what they cover does not apply to us, as we do not wash any produce, our cooling system uses air not water.  But we do use manure in our beds for fertility.   The GAP rules state the manure must not be applied to a bed any closer than 90 days before harvest for bush or vine crops and 120 days for root crops.

WHAT DOES OPEN POLINATED MEAN? WHAT IS A HEIRLOOM?

Open polinated seed will breed true, meaning a farmer can save seed to grow from one year to the next.  The seed does adapt to the micro-climate of the farm, and in many cases will produce better and more abundant produce, year after year.  Of course this depends on the farmer saving seed from only the best and healthiest plants he has.  An heirloom is an open polinated variety that has been around, being grown by farmers and gardeners for at least 50 years, some people say at least 100 years, but a long time.

This is important, the small farm is a tough challenge finacially, so saving seed really helps the farmer.  But more important, growing the old varieties keeps them viable and helps to protect the biodiversity of our world.