WV Workshop and the Organic Growers I Admire

Well, the last hurrah for the Organic Seed Partnership - at least for my part - was this past week in West Virginia - Specifically at West Virginia State University. There wasn't the best showing as far as numbers of organic farmers but there were 3 very eager to learn farmers there. 2 of the farmers, Doug (NC) and Julie (WV) brought tons (exaggerated) of seed to clean - lots of lettuce varieties, brassicas, collards (yes I know it's a brassica too) onions, some flowers, herbs.. my cohorts (Bill and John) had more than enough to keep them busy while I gave presentations in the air conditioned class room (Thanks Guys! I owe you!).

WV is really ideal for organic farmers (with the exception of the excessive sloping lots!). Small valleys in between the hills make isolation easy - most of the farming is cattle so there are plenty of opportunities to turn small farming plots into lucrative business opportunities... Julie has already become USDA certified organic and is sure to do wonderfully in her business. She is a trained geologist who gave up "a paying job to do this" LOL... I wish her the best of luck.

I suggested using the sloping lots to the advantage of the farmer by creating raised planting beds for their organic vegetable production. Frank Morton (Wild Garden Seed and Shoulder to Shoulder Farm) told me about his successes with raised beds a couple years ago in a seminar in Unity Maine - sponsored by the Restoring Our Seed project - currently running with the Wheat Conservancy) Oh and for any organic farmers - please - if you ever get the chance to listen to any of the following discuss their organic farming philosophies - listen closely - their knowledge is awesome!!!

• Will Bonsall of the Scatterseed Project - seriously, the most amazing curator of so many varieties of crops!! His wealth of knowledge is invaluable.

• Frank Morton of Shoulder to Shoulder Farm and Wild Garden Seed (see link above) - he
  
  
  
  tells his philosophy on organics like no other - it's like listening to your dad tell a story from a book!

• CR Lawn - Owner of Fedco Seed Company... incredibly wonderful gentleman with worlds of organic ag knowledge...

• John Gorzynski - amazing man from Cochecton Center NY who serves the NYC Green Market - probably one of the most incredible men I have ever met - Integrity, Perseverance, Knowledge - truly amazing man!