Notes from Tom
 As I write this month’s note to all of you, we are happily in the midst of a real "old fashioned" winter up here in Vermont. As of Christmas time we've gotten over three feet of snow at my house and plenty of below 0 nights. Compared to last years' warm and snow-less fall, this feels much more like normal.
Now that our catalogs have been in everyone's hands for a month or two, the orders are starting to fly in. This is an exciting time of year for us where we are preparing to get all of the seeds out the door as soon as you want them. The daily orders in the fall are just a trickle and for new employees it is always hard to imagine what January through April is like. But for those of us who have been at this a while, we know that now is our last chance to catch up on sleep until spring.
I am happy to announce that we have 99% of the seed from our growers already in the warehouse and most of it is already cleaned, tested and packaged. I still encourage all of you to order early since some varieties are limited and with such a demand for organic seeds this year, we expect that we may run out of some items. Ordering early will help greatly with getting everything that you want.
A quick note to those of you who haven't ordered before: As a seed company, we have a singular focus on 100% organic seeds. We search both our backyard and the world for the best varieties and the best seed growers. And in addition, we select and breed varieties and grow some seed crops ourselves on our organic farm in Wolcott, VT. Our Quality Control and Trials departments oversee everything from seed cleaning, seed testing, genetic purity and more. This ensures that you get the best seed possible. If you have had quality problems with organic seeds - don't give up. Try us out and let us know how it went. As the availability of organic seed increases we are able to offer the highest quality organic seed out there.
Thanks for your continued support!
Tom
Meet the Sales Staff
 Denise Eagan
Customer Service Representative
I have been working at High Mowing since September 2006, managing the office and being the primary year-round customer service representative. My work experience has primarily been in customer service and I enjoy helping people. I was born and raised right here in Lamoille County, Vermont and live in the next town over with my husband and daughter Amelia, and am expecting another baby in July. I love gardening and especially love growing our Matt’s Wild cherry tomatoes…can’t beat the flavor!
 Megen Toaldo
Assistant Manager of Trials, Sales and Customer Service
Native to the New Jersey shore, I have resided in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont since 1999. I have been employed by several organic farms over the years, including three years at Riverside Farm in East Hardwick, VT and now take on the day to day operations of the trials at High Mowing...and I couldn't have found a better niche! My favorite veggies to grow are Broccoli and Kale, and they can often be found on my dinner plate as well. I am an artist at heart, my most recent craft being pottery. I also enjoy snowboarding, back country skiing and learning to play my guitar. I look forward to hearing from you.
 John J Hanf
Seed Rack Sales and Customer Service
I was born in Quincy Mass, but am a true Vermonter at heart. I have spent my entire working career in Customer Service, from a family owned fishing and hunting store, to 14 years at a major international company. My working life has been dedicated to providing superior customer service with a smile. I am married to a wonderful woman with 6 dogs at home that we call our children. We enjoy gardening and grow many High Mowing varieties and especially love home-grown tomatoes and hot peppers! On a personal note I enjoy music and play bass in my own band as well as fishing, hunting, golf and boondoggling.
 Sara Schlosser
Commercial Grower Sales and Customer Service
From managing an herb, spice and vegetable farm in Jamaica, West Indies to running a farm crew in Northern CA, I have been growing for markets over 25 years and hold a BS from Antioch College with a concentration in Agriculture. Along with my husband and now two teenage children, we have built a successful market farm in Wolcott, VT. We produce, grow and market vegetables, flowers and maple syrup selling to local chefs and at the Stowe Farmer’s Market. Our farm stand is featured on the 2008 catalog cover. I have known Tom and his family for many years and have seen High Mowing grow since its infancy. I have worked at High Mowing for the past three winters, helping customers over the phone. My work at High Mowing parallels my mission and goals for securing a safe global food supply, starting at the seed level. My favorite item to grow is my signature salad mix. In my free time I enjoy watching and playing women’s ice hockey.
 Paul Betz
Commercial Grower Sales and Customer Service
My wife Kate and I farm two and a half acres with 3000 square feet of greenhouses. We have been at the Montpelier farmer’s market since 2000 but also diversify with a CSA and some wholesaling. I currently sit on the review board for Vermont’s organic certifying agency, VOF. This is my first year in the call center at High Mowing, but I have been a dedicated customer for many years and have even grown a few seed crops in the past. I first met Tom 12 years ago when he was so excited about seeds he couldn’t sit down when he would talk about them. His enthusiasm has been contagious. In my free time I DJ a classic country and Grateful Dead show on WGDR, 91.1 fm, or you can stream it at wgdr.org. I especially enjoy growing potatoes and winter squash: Potatoes for the thrill of being the first person to lay eyes on them, and of course because I love to eat them. Winter squash because they are beautiful and the harvest is so satisfying. I look forward to helping our customers have a successful season!
 Heather Jerrett
R&D Trials Coordinator, Sales and Marketing Associate
I have been with High Mowing for the past five years. I started out pulling weeds, saving seeds and packing orders. We have come a long way and now I organize and manage our trialing and breeding projects, as well as work on the catalog and marketing projects, and talk to customers about our products and services. I was a student at UNH in Durham and spent time working on one of the research farms and in the greenhouses. I have spent a number of summers on small organic and biodynamic farms in VT, and have had my own gardening business in Burlington, VT. My favorite crops to grow are root crops, especially onions. I am a strong supporter of local food, love cooking and animals and at this time of year try to get out on the slopes a couple times a week. Have a comment? ...feel free to give me a call!
Top Selling 2007 Varieties
Gourmet Lettuce Mix
High Mowing Mesclun Mix
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach
Provider Bush Bean
Improved Rainbow Chard
Santo Cilantro
Scarlet Nantes Carrot
Dark Green Zucchini
Red Russian Kale
BioTelo Biodegradable Plastic Mulch II: Tips and Tricks
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, Dr. Anu Rangarajan of Cornell University presented findings of a five year study of the BioTelo biodegradable plastic mulch at the New England Vegetable and Fruit conference held last month in Manchester, NH. I attended the workshop and obtained some useful information I think anyone using this product would be interested to know.
The Cornell evaluation of this product has been carried out for the past five years, using melons as the crop choice due to their sensitivity to soil warmth and responsiveness to black plastic. There were no significant differences in early or total yield between any of the plastic mulch treatments, nor were there significant differences in average fruit size or weight (avg weight was 4.0 lbs). BioTelo started to break down near the end of July in Western NY, especially in areas that were exposed to sunlight. Overall, the biodegradable mulch product had comparable results to polyethylene plastic mulches.
The study also involved off-site trials on farms, where growers used the product for at least two years. Crops grown included: basil, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, green beans, cabbage, onions, and early broccoli. Mulch was laid with a mulch layer. All farmers were satisfied with how it laid, how long it lasted and the biodegradable time table.
Some helpful tips include its application when using a mulch layer. Unlike plastic mulch where you would want your roll to be taut, when using the biodegradable mulch it is better to have no tension on the roll. One grower in the study even greased the spindle of their mulch layer. The reason that you do not want any tension is that once the material is stretched it starts breaking down more quickly. Some of our customers in Vermont have also noted that the product has a shrink wrap affect. While you would want to stretch black plastic to make a tight fit over the bed, when applying this mulch you simply lie the mulch down without any resistance, and when warmed it will actually shrink onto your beds. Another suggestion from the study is to apply the mulch early in the day when temperatures are low to decrease stretching.
Predicting breakdown is a challenge when using biodegradable mulch. In theory, you would think that thicker mulches would last longer in the field, but the study showed that this was not always the case. Mulch degradation was highly impacted by climate, soil type, crop cover and weed pressure. Areas exposed to sunlight or with higher organic matter broke down much faster. Ideal conditions for crops are also ideal conditions for microbial activity in the soil, which is what actually breaks down the product. Sun warming the soil increases breakdown activity, as do rainfall, warm temperatures, and high levels of organic material in the soil. As the crop grows and covers the mulch, it decreases soil temperatures and reduces breakdown. If weeds persist through the mulch it will stretch and increase breakdown.
A grower in MA observed that crops such as onions that are grown close together may not work well with this product, as it stretches at close intervals, thus speeding degradation. However another grower in NY said they grew onions successfully. Perhaps double or triples at a farther spacing will work better. Also stepping on the product led to faster breakdown.
At the end of the season the remaining mulch can be disced into the soil. Due to cooler temperatures at this time it may not completely break down until soils warm up again in the spring. At High Mowing we found the spring breakdown to be very fast, and all plastic was completely degraded by planting time. It is also important to note that when seeding cover crops in the fall, pieces of the mulch may be entangled into the seeder. The same is true for a rototiller.
Overall the farmers who participated in the Cornell trial were satisfied with the biodegradable mulch’s overall performance. Despite its higher initial cost they felt it evened out when considering labor and dump fees.
When it comes to storage it is important to remember that this is a sensitive product and should only be stored in a cool dry place. It is not recommended to store over the course of the winter although some folks have had success. Store rolls in an upright position as the pressure of its weight may cause the roll to have a variable thickness when applied. The rolls come on a core that is longer than the film on each end making them easy to stand, but you may have to saw them off to get them onto your mulch layer. As always avoid puncturing holes or making divets in the film.
As noted above, fruit yields are not affected, but some quality issues have been observed in melons. When the melon lies on the mulch the pressure stretches the film creating a hole in the mulch around the fruit. This can cause the fruit to become dirty. Since this happens at a late stage of production it has not been an obstacle to production, but can leave a mark on the melon and the plastic may adhere to the fruit. This can easily be wiped off at harvest or market, but may not be as acceptable to wholesale markets.
Rumor has it… The BioTelo product is in fact up for OMRI approval using a new biodegradable substance Oglio-bi, derived from vegetable oil, in place of Mater-bi, which is derived from corn starch. I have requested confirmation or more information from the manufacturer but have not heard back. As new information is obtained I will keep you updated. You can direct all questions about this product to questions@highmowingseeds.com with the subject line BIODEGRADABLE MULCH.
What's the deal with Organic Peas?
Peas, we love to grow them, we love to eat them…but let me tell you, producing organic pea seed is not an easy task. Like most anything in the seed world, it is complicated. The major issues lie with variety contamination, organic production issues and availability of organic seed.
In recent years we have seen a few of our snap and snow pea lots showing up with about 5-10% contamination usually with shell peas. While most of our varieties are steady and true it seems every year there is one that is unacceptable. We have found that this is just not a High Mowing issue but an industry wide problem and often results in crop failures for us for subsequent years as we try to clean up our stock seed.
Producing organic pea seed is very difficult. It is important to realize the difference between growing peas for vegetables and growing peas for seed. One important difference to note is the necessary acreage needed to produce a seed crop of peas does not lend itself to trellising. Therefore, the pea vines are allowed to grow wild on the ground, often intertwining and forming a mat. This makes it very difficult to cull or rogue off-types and creates a great habitat for pests and disease. The amount of time the crops are in the field is also greatly increased allowing for late season fungal disease to move in easily. Most peas are very high in sugar and susceptible to diseases later in the season when weather gets cooler and pods and peas are at their highest sugar content. We know that people like sugar, but so do pests and diseases. The major pest of the pea is the pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum. The weevil likes to drill a hole burrowing straight into the center of the pea while consuming the majority of it. Since there is not an organic control at this time, the weevil is a major obstacle. The last piece of this puzzle is harvesting technique. Combines are the usual mode of harvesting. There are no actual implications of the technique but rather the nature of the combine. Combines tend to take 4-7 hours to thoroughly clean between varieties to ensure purity. This seems to be the crux of the pea contamination issue. As we have consistently evaluated stock seed of pea varieties with success we still obtain seed lots from growers with some degree of contamination. Since peas are self pollinated it is unlikely a genetic cross, and must lie somewhere in the production process….we feel like this is a likely area of contamination.
Although the combine is one source of contamination between varieties we have found that most pea seed out there has some degree of contamination. To curb this we have begun selecting stock seed on our farm in Wolcott. This is very costly project as in order to produce pea seed in the Northeast it needs to be trellised to avoid disease pressure in our cool and humid fall conditions. On the trellis the plants need to be spaced out at least six inches to allow for rogueing (removing off-types), increasing overall row feet and trellis feet. We have been constantly selecting our Sugar Snap and will work on Dwarf Grey and Sugar Ann this summer. Since peas perform well in cool conditions we can select stock seed in the summer and contract a production that winter, which luckily speeds up this process. Although we grow many of our pea varieties in our trials we can not grow every lot before we sell it, as there is not enough time between harvest and packaging to allow so. We rely on our stock seed selection and customer feedback for quality control to make proactive decisions.
The final piece of this puzzle is what drives the production of organic pea seed. I have already discussed the difficulties of growing pea seed in the Northeast. We therefore have to either buy pea seed from a vendor or contract a grower, usually in the Northwest, to grow it for us. Due to the challenges of growing organic pea seed there are few seed producers who grow peas. In order to make it worth while for these specialized seed producers to grow a variety there has to be a large enough collective demand. This is why you only see the same varieties available in many catalogs such as Sugar Snap, Mammoth Melting and Dwarf Grey. Until there is a larger demand for organic pea seed we will not be able to contract a large enough crop for many varieties.
I hope this sheds some light on the pea issue. Being one of the few entities invested and committed to improving organic pea quality I hope this encourages you to support our pea program and selections here at High Mowing Organic Seeds. We appreciate all feedback on quality of our seed. After all, we are in this together.
Seed Cleaning
 Seed cleaning is one of those activities that remain endlessly fascinating to certain (twisted) individuals, but only a dirty, dusty, back-breaking job to others. All depends on perspective. Certainly it does entail a great deal of dust – much of that dried and pulverized dirt and plant chaff ends up in the air of the mill – hence our seed cleaners wear heavy-duty respirators for much of the time.
But then there’s the flip side of watching a lot of mixed-quality seed go into a machine and come out the other side as beautifully uniform, glossy perfect seed. Of course it doesn’t always happen quite that easily – sometimes it takes three or four different machines and three or four passes through the machine. But in almost all cases the seed comes out 99.9% pure.
 To accomplish this we employ four different types of machines, and two different sizes of two of the four. Almost all seed begins being cleaned by a blowing operation, which happens in either a large or small blower, or else in a machine called a Clipper that both screens and blows at the same time, often referred to as a fanning mill. Large seed such as beans and corn typically go through the blower or pneumatic separator alone – called the Sortex – while smaller or mid-size seed typically goes through on of the Clippers to be screened at the same time.
After blowing and/or screening, seeds that are round go through a Spiral separator, which uses the propensity of fully-round seed to spin further and faster separating round from non-round seed. Crop types commonly run through the Spiral are soybeans and mustard greens. Flat and dented seed typically represents the immature, diseased, or otherwise damaged fraction. The Spiral is also an excellent way to separate out rocks from seed, as they cannot be blown away and cannot be separated by screens if they are the same size as the seed.
If seed needs further cleaning after these operations, the Cadillac of seed-cleaning machines is the Oliver Gravity Table. The gravity table, using a shaking, tilted table and careful adjustments, separates seed based on density, such that the heavier seed ends up at the top of the table and the lighter seed at the bottom. As good quality, vigorous seed is typically the densest seed, this allows us to separate out seed that look identical but yet do not germinate identically, thereby allowing us the improve the germination rate of seed that is already perfectly clean.
Our seed mill is a fascinating place – feel free to stop by and take a look if you’re in the area!
Current Events and Special Interests
Upcoming Events and Special Interests
farmers help create financing solutions
Many people think of High Mowing Organic Seeds as a company, which we are, but we are also growers. And, as growers, we know the struggles of trying to get financing. As a growing company, in need of financing, we have had to do some digging to find organizations that can help. One such organization is The Carrot Project. Do your part to help them by taking a quick survey.
The Carrot Project is working to make loans and guarantees available to small and midsized farms and exploring equity solutions. Why are we doing another farm survey? Unfortunately, there is little information on the roles of debt and financing gaps as they affect smaller farms. In order to design the best financing services, focus resources, and attract the desired investment, The Carrot Project needs better information. It needs information that will lead to an understanding of the funding gaps that farmers face and how those gaps affect farm operators’ abilities to meet business goals and improve productivity.
Your participation in an on-line survey can help meet the needs of beginning farmers, farmers transitioning to more ecologically friendly practices, farmers looking to expand their businesses, and farmers working to maintain the viability of their farms. Check it out at www.thecarrotproject.org and click on “FARMER SURVEY.��?
If you have any questions or would like to receive a hard copy of the survey, please contact farmersurvey@thecarrotproject.org or call 617-666-9637 and ask for Dorothy Suput.
What We’ve Been Up To
December 11-13
New England Vegetable and Fruit Show, Manchester NH
What an event! This information packed conference and trade show is brought to you by a compilation of agricultural services of the Northeast. This was our second time having a booth in the trade show. We had an overwhelming interest in organic seed and practices this year, giving out well over three hundred catalogs. This particular conference had always been conventionally focused in the past, but it is clearly evident that organics is becoming more and more a norm in New England!
Upcoming Events
January 16-19 SAWG
17th Annual Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Practical Tools and Solutions for Sustaining Family Farms Conference
Louisville, Kentucky
www.ssawg.org
This conference, with 62 educational sessions and 20 you pick networking sessions, is all things farming from marketing and business practices to meat and vegetable production. Joel Salatin, farmer and author of “Healing the Planet, One Plate at a Time,��? will be the Saturday night keynote speaker. Be sure to introduce yourself to Paul Betz, Commercial Grower Specialist at High Mowing and farmer, at our booth.
January 22-25 ASTA
American Seed Trade Association National Conference
Albuquerque, New Mexico
www.astaweb.com
The ASTA conference is the premier place to enhance your skills and knowledge of string related topics – not to mention a terrific opportunity to network, meet up with old friends, and, of course, meet some new ones. Tom will be joining 500 other seed company owners at this event, High Mowing often being one of the only organic seed companies in attendance. This gives us a great perspective on the conventional seed industry.
January 23-26 ECO-FARM
28th Annual Ecological Farming Conference
Root Values: Connecting Ecology, Community and the Land
Asilomar, Pacific Grove California
http://www.eco-farm.org/
What better way to start the New Year than with this four day conference that hosts the pioneers and innovative thought leaders of sustainable agriculture. What may have been a way of life in the past is now a vital topic of conversation and Eco Farm provides the perfect platform for discussion and education. This annual conference renews and reaffirms our passions and commitment to sustainable practices and the camaraderie we have created in doing what we do everyday.
January 25-27 NOFA-NY
26th Annual NOFA NY Winter Organic Farming & Gardening Conference
How Farmers, Gardeners, and Communities Nurture our Environment
Saratoga Springs, New York
http://www.nofany.org/events/2008conference/nofanyconference08.htm
With over 90 workshops and 50 exhibitors this conference has something for everyone, including your kids and teenagers! This conference is a great opportunity to enjoy local foods, socialize and network with the New York and Northeast organic communities. Learn new farming and growing techniques, enjoy in-depth educational sessions, and find new ways to market and grow your business. This forum of like minded people is a great venue to get thinking about the upcoming season! Be sure to stop by and say hello to Heather Jerrett, Trials Manager and Sara Schlosser, Commercial Grower Specialist, at our booth!
February 14-16 OSA
5th Organic Seed Alliance
Seed Growers Conference
Salem, Oregon
www.seedalliance.org
The Organic Seed Growers Conference, hosted by OSA with partnership from Oregon State University and Washington State University, is the largest meeting of seed professionals engaged in organic seed production, research, and plant breeding in the United States. This event brings together producers, University Extension and researchers, seed industry professionals, and food industry participants from across the country. Conference attendees receive practical information, cutting edge research and inspired stories from the field.
Tom Stearns, Founder of High Mowing Organic Seeds and Jodi Lew-Smith, Director of Research and Production will be presenting on the topic of organic hybrid variety production as well as doing an “Ask the Experts��? panel on Wednesday.
February 16 & 17 NOFA-VT
26th Annual NOFA VT Winter Conference
Business Not as Usual
Randolph, VT
www.nofavt.org
Now 2 days! The focus of this year’s conference is to bring together those interested in securing our Vermont food system with community-based businesses that play an integral role in strengthening the Vermont economy. Keynote speakers, Judy Wicks of Philly’s White Dog Café and advocate for living economies and Heather Darby, Adjunct Extension Assistant Professor at UVM, are sure to inspire as they will present on the role of local economy and the innovations in agri-business. Most of the HMS staff will be attending this event, and Tom Stearns and Meredith Martin Davis will both be leading workshops. We are looking forward to the event and to seeing many familiar faces!
February 25
Vermont Vegetable and Berry Annual Meeting
Montpelier, VT
www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry
Formed in 1976 as a non-profit growers organization, the membership consists of large and small scale growers (from organic to conventional, wholesale to retail, and everything in-between), industry representatives (seed companies, compost makers, agricultural chemical representatives), University of Vermont extension and research specialists, and Vermont Agency of Agriculture personnel. High Mowing can be found in the trade show area, come by and say hello!
March 6-8 ACORN
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network Conference
Memramcook, New Brunswick
www.acornorganic.org
Mark your calendars for the ACORN Conference and Trade Show. This “not to be missed��? event will be held at the Memramcook Resort (15 minutes past Sackville, NB) on March 6-8th. Starting off will be the Organic Grain and Oilseed Forum, followed by workshops on Friday and Saturday on a wide range of organic topics. Tom Stearns, President of High Mowing Organic Seeds will be the closing keynote speaker! Tom will also be present on a panel discussing organic seed production techniques being used and developed.
Seed Starting Event
February 2 & 23, City Market Cooperative, Burlington, VT
February 25, Lebanon Cooperative Market, Lebanon, NH
February 28, Hunger Mountain Cooperative, Montpelier, VT
Learn all the tips and techniques for successful seed starting! Wonder why certain varieties don't grow? Have produce envy? Do you want to make the most of your garden this year? Join us for this free event and learn how to start your garden the right way to ensure you are getting the best jump on the growing season.
Ongoing Events
- Donations - We have donated over 5,000 packets of vegetable, flower and herb seed to elementary, high school and college/university school gardens, community gardens, organic growing organizations, and hunger relief organizations. It is amazing the experience and education one person gets from a seed. If you are interested in learning more about our donation program, please send me an email alex@highmowingseeds.com.
Recipes
Onion Pie
3tbs butter
3tbs olive oil
6 medium size onions
3-4 cloves garlic
1c cottage cheese
2 eggs
1c shredded cheddar cheese
Horseradish
Oregano
1 Pie Crust
Slice onions into long strips. Melt butter and add olive oil in large frying pan (I use a cast iron skillet). Cook onions on med heat until caramelized. They will turn a nice chestnut color. Cool onions for a few minutes and transfer to a mixing bowl. Add garlic, cottage cheese, and seasoning. Prepare pie crust as you would for quiche. Add mixture and top with cheddar cheese. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350°F or until cheese becomes browned on top. |
