While all of the growers featured on our 2018 catalog cover use High Mowing seeds in their operations, more than seed ties them together. What they’re growing extends well beyond great vegetables: they grow healthier families, future leaders and new models for organic distribution. These nontraditional crops exemplify a shared dedication to nourishing our community, a value High Mowing equally shares. We are honored to work with these growers and to share their stories with our greater community of growers. Planting a Seed for Food Security with the Family Room Garden The Family Room Garden in Burlington, VT is part of the Janet S. Munt Family Room parent child center. The garden offers free access to healthy food for children and adults and promotes physical, social, emotional, and linguistic development while nurturing a vibrant and diverse community. The Family Room Garden is one of nearly 400 community-based gardens supported by the Vermont Community Garden Network. Each year, VCGN distributes thousands of seed packets donated by High Mowing, and provides technical assistance and hands-on garden education to groups around Vermont. Visit thefamilyroomvt.org to learn more. For more info about High Mowing’s donation program, visit highmowingseeds.com/blog/donations. Tending a Crop of Young Farmers with Vermont Youth Conservation Corps The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps uses conservation and agricultural work as a platform for cultivating the next generation of leaders. Guided by passionate, trained crew leaders, youth corps members develop the skills necessary to be more employable, independent, civic-minded and responsible young adults—and their work results in significant community improvement. VYCC Farm Crews grow and distribute vegetables for the Health Care Share, a project that families in need with a weekly share of fresh produce at their doctor’s office, free of charge. This important experiences shapes the lives of both Health Care Share families and VYCC corps members, and positively impacts our world and our communities as we work towards a more sustainable food system. Visit vycc.org to learn more. Harvesting the Bounty with Partners Foote Brook Organic Farm & Deep Root Organic Co-op Tony and Joie Lehouillier own and operate Foote Brook Organic Farm, a 100-acre certified organic vegetable farm and member farm of Deep Root Organic Co-op. Deep Root is a collective of organic farmers who serve greater New England markets through a co-operative distribution effort. In addition to giving growers access to a broader market, the co-op places an emphasis on growers helping growers by acting as a classroom and learning forum for farmers. Over the course of three decades, Deep Root’s longstanding member farms like Foote Brook have acted as mentors to new farm operations, nurturing independent growers in our region and supporting collective efforts in organic agriculture. Visit footebrookfarm.com and deeprootorganic.coop to learn more.