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Amaranth is a unique and ancient grain native to the Americas.  It was a staple food of the Aztecs, Inca, and Mayan and was first cultivated in 8,000 BC.  It is still of huge importance in Central America, where it thrives not only as a resilient, low impact staple food but as spiritual symbol of cultural thriving.We have followed the work of the non-profit Garden's Edge ever since being introduced to their work at the Santa Rosa Heirloom Festival in 2014.  Working in Guatemala, Garden's Edge "supports sustainable agriculture, micro-enterprise, and education in rural communities in order to revitalize cultural...

Plant this NOW!Have you heard about Parsley Pea??One of our favorite plants to grow, parsley pea is a botanical wonder!  Parsley peas produce exaggerated tendrils that fan out into delicious fern-like foliage that can be eaten fresh, added to salads, or sauteed.  These tendrils resemble sprouts in flavor and texture and can be added to salads or sandwiches.  A small area produces masses of these delicious greens. Technically a snap pea, this curious pea is typically grown for its edible tendrils, leaflets, and flowers. Harvest whole plants, or cut tendrils above the first node and get a second growth. Plants will produce...

We know how it is.You're too busy to garden. Life happened and you haven't gotten anything planted yet. We still want you to have fresh produce from your backyard all summer long!That's why we've picked 5 low-maintenance crops you can plant NOW:1.  Ethiopian Kale-  More adaptable than traditional kale, Ethiopian kale can thrive in low water and still tastes great2.  Alice Sunshine Green Bean-  Easy to grow multi-purpose (green or dry) bean3.  Little Marvel Shelling Pea- No trellis needed, quick to harvest, early and cute4.  Yukon Chief Sweet Corn- A quick, short statured sweet corn from the north5.  Lemon Cucumber- A farmer's...

Two years ago Homero Gomez, a leading activist for monarch butterflies in Mexico, was found dead in a well in Michoacan.  Homero was an outspoken advocate for the monarch and fought for the protection of their vital overwintering habitat in Michoacan state, where millions of butterflies journey each year from Canada seeking the shelter and warmth of old-growth trees.  Though cause of death is still not known, Gomez disappearance one week prior to his death led to speculation of his being a target of illegal logging operations in the area.   Michoacan state is home to Mexico's largest butterfly reserve, El...

Mayflower Dry Bean   What a gorgeous little dry bean! The burgundy color on one side fading to cream on the other is at once rustic and cosmic. Named such because it arrived in the Americas on the Mayflower in the 1620s, this bean also goes by the names 'Red Nightfall', 'Cutshort', and 'Cornfield'.   This pole bean did well in my field and was quite productive. The main downside to this variety is its lateness; the 110 days I had this in the ground were not enough for the whole crop to dry down. We have dry enough falls...