Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY The Ecological Farming Association Conference in Asilomar, CA The Northern Plains Food and Farming Conference in Fargo, ND Organicology, Portland, OR Mid west Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) Winter Conference in LaCrosse, WI Mountain West Seed Summit in Santa Fe, NM Free the Seeds in Kalispell, MT Along with[…]...
Meet Your Seed Grower: Ellen Bartholomew, Golden Rule
done, she is unfazed. To her, she sees the bigger picture in these fields. Bartholomew grew up the daughter of a wheat farmer in the Intermountain West . Despite having deep roots in agriculture, it wasn’t until later in life that she found her way back to it. A Multicultural Studies major in[…]...
Best Practices for Vegetable Seed Handling in Montana
state in the world of organic seed growing,” says Tessa Peters, lead author of Seed Quality and who also manages OSA’s research and education programs in the Intermountain West . “The resources released today will help Montana’s vegetable seed growers support the burgeoning organic seed industry by filling regional supply gaps.” Seed production requires[…]...
Broccoli Seed Production: Quick Reference
growth is attained before the onset of winter. For both types, seed should be started in a greenhouse (more common for colder climates, such as the Intermountain West ) or nursery bed and transplanted after 4-6 weeks, ensuring that seedlings do not experience temperatures lower than 50°F for extended periods. Cold temperatures cause “buttoning”[…]...
Winter Squash Seed Production: Quick Reference
fully developed. Do not hurry the harvest, however. Fruits should be left on the vine for several weeks after full maturity. In colder climates, like the Intermountain West , waiting for a killing frost may make harvest easiest. Do not allow the fruit to rot. After harvest, allow 5 weeks to 6 months[…]...
Kale Seed Production: Quick Reference
other Brassicas. Kale can flower and set seed at temperatures up to 85°F. The cold hardiness of kale makes it particularly interesting to growers in the Intermountain West . Some Siberian varieties can survive below 14°F while most kales can tolerate 18-25°F. Lacinato types are the least tolerant of cold. To grow kale, fertile,[…]...
Understanding Best Practices for Seed Production and Handling in Montana
state in the world of organic seed growing,” says Tessa Peters, lead author of Seed Quality and who also manages OSA’s research and education programs in the Intermountain West . “The resources released today will help Montana’s vegetable seed growers support the burgeoning organic seed industry by filling regional supply gaps.” “The quality assurance[…]...
Seed Quality: Best Practices for Vegetable Seed Handling in Montana
Farmers need quality seed that is free of disease and that delivers on advertised germination rates, vigor, trueness to type, and specific traits for a particular variety. This manual provides recommendations to assure the quality of seed Montana's specialty crop growers produce. The recommendations are intended as best practices to assist growers in reducing the...
Meet Your Seed Grower: Dave Victor, Garden City Harvest
Dave Victor, the farm director at Garden City Harvest’s Orchard Gardens Neighborhood Farm and a new father, has a bushy red beard and a straw sunhat. His hands are tanned and calloused. His trusty companion, Sly Dog, pads through the garden alongside him, finally resting under his special picnic table turned dog house –a saving...
Meet Your Seed Grower: Judy Owsowitz, Terrapin Farm
Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The long-term goal of both projects is to ensure that Montana grown seeds are available for farmers and gardeners across the Intermountain West . Last year OSA partnered with eight Triple Divide growers, including Owsowitz, to coordinate on-farm variety trials and deliver trainings on seed production. This coming[…]...
Our 2017 Annual Report
seed growers and other seed advocates and professionals in the field, classroom, and via live webinar. We expanded our research and education staff in the Intermountain West and Midwest. We launched a new website and publication library to make it easier for our community to find the seed resources they need. […]...
OSA Featured on PBS’s Farm to Fork Wyoming
growers, ranchers and experts about food and agriculture trends. The latest episode, "Seed Savers," features OSA's Tessa Peters, who leads our research and education in the Intermountain West . While attending the High Plains Organic Conference in Cheyenne this past February, Tessa sat down with Farm to Fork Wyoming producers to talk about seed[…]...
