Garden seeds locally grown in Northern Nevada by Mewaldt Organics

Yes! You can grow your own food in Northern Nevada. Bill and Korena Mewaldt have been growing vegetables and herbs in Nevada for many years, and they’ve been saving the seed of the varieties that do well on their place in Fallon. These seeds produce well in our climate and microclimates and are especially successful because they’re the product of plants that have thrived here. (Microclimates are small spaces within your landscape that experience differences in temperature, soil moisture retention, wind speed, etc. due to topography and the placement of urban/suburban structures. So, that little 6x6 space back by the fence where the snow stays longer may be too cold for tomatoes but might be great for lettuces.) These seeds are available to us!

The Mewaldts have been farming in Northern Nevada for years and have experience in many aspects of growing and selling local food -- farmers markets, restaurant sales, CSA, and lucky for us, garden seeds. The garlic they grow and save every year was originally purchased at Raley’s in the 1970s. I love that!

Below is a partial list of varieties you can buy at the Great Basin Community Food Co-op. The list changes so check back often. And, if you’re new to growing your own here's a tip -- start buying your seed now because the good stuff goes fast.

TOMATOES
Ananna’s Noir, Big Rainbow, Big Zebra, Boxcar Willie, Cherokee Purple, Copia, Dixie, Golden Giant, Green Giant, Green Zebra, Homesweet, Korena’s Roma, Yellow Pear II, Yellow Plumb, Orange Queen, White Queen, Black Plumb, Cherry Tomato, Black Cherry, Cuban Yellow, Grape, Green Grape, Red Cherry, Snow White

SWEET PEPPERS
California Wonder, Giant Aconcagua, Szegedi, Super Red Pimento, Pimento L,

CHILI (HOT PEPPERS)
Serrano, Cherry Bomb, Caribbean Red

MISC.
Asian Baby Eggplant, Chioggia Beet, Red Beet, Rainbow Carrot collection, Sweet Chen Basil, Cilantro, Garlic Chives, Italian Flat Parsley, Tat Soi, Parsnip, Dill, Chard (mixed colors)

Watch here for more resources. I'll post info as I learn about it.

Soil is where food starts - Elaine Ingham to speak in Fallon

These days talking and thinking about local food is increasingly about growing your own. My city-kid upbringing hasn't at all prepared me for growing my own food so I appreciate every opportunity to learn how to do it, and people in our community are working hard to put together gardening and farming workshops. Great soil is where it all starts and Elaine Ingham can teach us about it. This message is just a heads-up, but I want to get it out now because it is expected to fill up fast. From my inbox to you:

"On Saturday, March 14, 8am-4pm, Elaine Ingham, world renowned soil expert, will speak at Western Nevada College campus in Fallon. Her lecture is part of a 2-day seminar on transitioning to organics and is produced by the Specialty Crop Institute of WNC. Ingham is an energetic, easy-to-understand speaker who explains what life in the soil is all about. Her audiences include not just commercial farmers, but anyone who grows things. For more information, her website is http://www.soilfoodweb.com/ The Friday event will include sessions by regional organic farming experts and a tour of a local organic farm. Students may sign up for two days or Saturday only - $50 for two days (early sign-up), $40 for Saturday only. Lunch is included with the fee. Registrations will begin in early February. I will provide a link when it's ready. In the meantime, save the date for this dynamic speaker!

Sincerely,
Ann Louhela
Project coordinator, Specialty Crop Institute"

Act now! State of Nevada ready to cut the organic certification program

The State of Nevada is planning to cut our local organic certification program. The one remaining certifier for the State of Nevada, Steve Marty, was just notified that his position would be eliminated on June 30, 2009.

The USDA authorizes the State of Nevada to certify farmers as organic.
However, the state must fund the workers to complete the certification process. The program itself is only funded by the Federal Government if the state supports it. Here’s what Nevada consumer should know before allowing the government to eliminate this program, and why this is important to us and our community.

Organic certification is expensive, especially if the certifier must come from out of state. If the Nevada state certification program is eliminated our farmers will have to pay significantly higher fees and will likely experience delays while they wait to receive service from some other state’s program. This would be cost prohibitive for the farmer, increase the amount we pay for organics, and has the potential to drive committed farmers out of business.

Cutting this program will do very little to help the state meet the budget deficit. The program is almost self-sufficient and thus is not a significant line item that would improve the state's budget situation.

Organic certification is a huge marketing advantage for all organic farmers, and Nevada farmers are no exception. Should the government cut this program and make certification essentially unattainable, Nevada farmers who want to grow organically would have no way of differentiating their product from that grown using conventional, chemical based methods. This would reduce the incentive for organic farmers and our access to organic locally grown food.

Organic farmers do more than bring healthy food to our table. They employ practices that protect our environment, but they need organic friendly programs to maintain these practices. Our government should be doing all it can to support and defend our food, health, water, and land.

Local support provides farmers an incentive to grow real food consumed by humans. The government subsidizes and insures commodity crops like corn, wheat, rice, soybean, but farmers who grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit are pretty much on their own. Organic certification is one of the few supports available to the local farmer. They need it and so do we.

Contact your representatives today and tell them to continue to fund the Nevada Department of Agriculture's organic certification program. We are all passionate about food, especially local and organic food. Let’s work together to let our state government representatives know we expect them to act in our support of local food, organic farmers, and a clean environment.

Contact your assembly and senate members now...they'll be making this cut in February. If you'd like to send a paper letter here's one for your use. And, if you'd like to be included in other support initiatives contact Local Food Network.

Grow your own local food with free help from the Washoe County Cooperative Extension

So many people have been asking about how to learn to grow food in their own front or back yards! Fortunately Northern Nevada residents have some educational options. Here's one now, from my mailbox to you:

Every winter Cooperative Extension puts on a free lecture series
called Gardening in Nevada. It's on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 at
Bartley Ranch Regional Park.

Here's the entire Gardening in Nevada lecture schedule:
Feb. 3 - Training and Pruning Fruit Trees with Michael Janik
Feb. 10 - Gain the Upper Hand on Weeds with Sue Donaldson
Feb. 17 - Trees in the Landscape with Wendy Hanson
Feb. 24 - Ornamentals to Weeds with Suzanne Adams
Mar. 3 - Selecting and Caring for Fruit Trees with Michael Janik
Mar. 10 - The Keys to Successful Vegetable Gardening with Randy Robinson
Mar. 17 - Introduction to Permaculture with Leslie Allen and friends
Mar. 24 - Confessions of a Lawn Renovator with Rod Haulenbeek
Mar. 31 - Perennial Gardens for All Seasons with Denise Crockett

Rise & Shine Farms CSA 2009

From my in box to you:

"Around The Farm

Winter may not be over but it is time to begin thinking about all the good stuff we are planning to grow this season and our new layers should be hatching next week. Leeks and garlic already popping up in the onion beds, peas and cool season vegetables like broccoli and cabbage will be planted in late February and early March.

Still a lot of work to be done in preparation for the coming months, fences and buildings to be repaired or built, equipment replaced and or repaired, fields to be dug for the veggies and new pasture planted, water lines run in and new fields cleared, seeds and plants to be ordered and when all is done there will be more to do next week.

It’s CSA Time Again
We have added some new programs to the CSA menu this year and have extended the season by two weeksInterested in joining the CSA this year , call us or send an e mail we’ll be happy to send you our brochure or better yet visit our web site and take a look around just follow the links.

Order and pay for both seasons by March 1, 2009 and receive a 10% discount web site prices reflect discount until March 1, 2009. Eggs are offered with your subscription this year, no having to buy separate subscriptions. Join Now and save $$$.

New Member Sign Up Page
Use the member sign up for all your subscriptions , CSA, Eggs, or Poultry, this saves you and us time in processing your order. You can pay online or have us invoice you , quick and simple.
Have a safe and enjoyable week.

Mike, Terri and KassieRise and Shine Farms
From Our Family Farm To Your Family Table"