Composting for the greenhouse, selling at farmers' markets

Central Coast, California

"Tucked in a valley amidst the fertile, rolling hills of California's Central Coast lies New Natives - a mini-- green growing venture operated by Sandra Ward and Ken Kimes," reports Small Farm News, published by the California Cooperative Extension. Begun in 1980, they started with soil-grown organic wheat grass and expanded to include tresses and baby salad greens. Their marketing niche reaches from Santa Cruz to San Jose; their specialty crops grown and packed in a "sun-dappled greenhouse" on their five acres. The partners have a special fondness for selling at farmers' markets

"Instead of moving crops from field to field, we move blended soil into the greenhouse, we plant and then we move that soil again and take it outside and compost it," explained Kimes and Ward at last winter's Eco-Farm Conference. They plant the equivalent of ten tons to the acre of seeds, and turn over the greenhouse about 35 times a year or roughly every ten days. "The duo have always made their own compost, using only sawdust and leftovers from the bed," notes Small Farm News.

As a result of foodborne illness outbreaks in the last few years associated with fresh produce, the two growers have educated themselves extensively about food safety. "Their advice to fellow growers: Avoid raw manure and have a safe water supply."