So-called “Roundup-ready” seeds — for crops that can withstand the non-selective herbicide glyphosate — have become popular in conventional farming because farmers can spray entire fields with Roundup to kill a variety of weeds but not the crop. Much easier than cultivating or spot-spraying. But as with many “advances,” we now are finding unforeseen consequences.
There are two ways to protect your family from being exposed to an overdose of glyphosate: Grow your own food using organic methods, or buy organic. I do both.
Read about the science of this important aspect of food safety.
Archive for the ‘Vegetables’ Category
Just say no
Posted in Herbs, Vegetables, tagged agriculture, organic on June 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Time to order seeds
Posted in Uncategorized, Vegetables, tagged local food, organic, tomato varieties, vegetables on January 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Renee Shepherd is the owner of Renee’s Garden.
Extraordinary year for vegetables
Posted in Vegetables, tagged local food, organic, strawberry, tomatoes, vegetables, weather on October 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Still harvesting beautiful tomatoes in late October — amazing!
Warm nights = abundant harvest
Posted in Vegetables, tagged local food, vegetables, weather on September 20, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Thriving summer and winter squash, eggplant, onions, brussels sprouts. At left, raspberries. In background, beets, asparagus, lavender, lettuce, swiss chard, radishes and carrots.
In the high desert of Central Oregon we typically have a short growing season because even when the days are very warm, nights are cool enough (below 50 degrees) that plants stop growing until it warms up the next morning. This delays maturity by about two weeks.
This year, however, we’ve had unusually warm evenings, as well as unusually hot days in July. That extra warmth — plus a lot of regular watering — gave us vegetables on steroids this year.
Thought-provoking post: Why urban farming is the most important movement of our time
Posted in Vegetables, tagged tomatoes, vegetables on December 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »
I enjoy living in a rural area where I can grow fruits and vegetables. But I love to see what urban farmers are accomplishing using only the space of a city or suburban lot. Blogger Ro Kumar makes an interesting case for why urban farming is not merely a good thing, but the most important movement of our time. Read what he has to say.
In the same vein, this amazing video shows what one family in Los Angeles produces on their lot.
Season One: A learning experience
Posted in Hay, Vegetables, tagged hay, tomatoes, vegetables on November 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »
This first season of Smith Rock Farm has been an experiment on a lot of different levels: trying new (to me) techniques, new varieties, and most importantly, a new lifestyle. Results? Mixed. More successes than failures. It feels good to be able to bring my horse to my own barn and feed him hay that I grew, and to know the barn is full with enough to feed him until next summer’s cuttings. It was satisfying to be able to sell my organic produce. Surprising that I was the only vendor at Central Oregon Locavore selling tomatoes. Next year I’ll plant even more tomatoes. I look forward to serving my own potatoes, squash and carrots on Thanksgiving.
Most of all I’ve loved being in control of my own time, being able to work on my priorities rather than an employer’s. Although it’s only been three months since I quit my job, it’s been the happiest three months of the year.
What to do about ripening tomatoes when frost arrives
Posted in Climate, Our farm products, Vegetables, tagged tomatoes, vegetables, weather on October 2, 2012| Leave a Comment »
A garden cloche to protect frost-sensitive plants is much easier to build and far less expensive than a greenhouse. Photo courtesy of Oregon State University Extension Service.
If they are mature enough, green tomatoes can be ripened indoors. Photo by Judy Scott, OSU Extension Service.
Lots of tomatoes
Posted in Vegetables, tagged tomato varieties, vegetables on September 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »
We sell a mixture of cherry tomato varieties including Sun Gold, Juliet and Yellow Pear.
Pick up day at Central Oregon Locavore
Posted in Vegetables, tagged l, vegetables on August 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »
I’m off to Central Oregon Locavore to deliver produce that’s been ordered online. Every other Thursday is pick-up day. I think it’s a great system for both producers and consumers. The advantage for producers is that they simply list what they have, in what quantities; there are no specific commitments, no need to have someone staffing the farmer’s markets instead of working on the farm. For consumers, they order only what they want from more than 100 different local producers, unlike in a CSA where you don’t know in advance what the weekly box from the producer will contain and may find you get vegetables you don’t like or don’t know how to cook.
How to bat 1000
Posted in Vegetables on August 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »
How does it happen? One day you have a not-quite-ready-to-harvest zucchini. Then seemingly overnight it grows into a “baseball bat.”
Oh no! Today I discovered this “baseball bat” zucchini hidden under some leaves.
Too big to be tender, bats are a big problem. Recently we discovered a delicious solution. Turn the bats into boats filled with croutons, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pine nuts and pesto. Voila! Tasty vegetable dish for four, or maybe six if you’ve got a REALLY big bat. Try this recipe, we love it.
Smith Rock Farm 