Standard Process Inc.

Planting is in Full Swing

May 2006 News From The Farm SP News Article

Christine Mason,
Farm Manager

We are up and running with the full-time growing season at the farm. It is always great to get back outside again! Our small grains have all been successfully planted. This year, we are growing both oats and barley. Our "early" green manure crops of chickling vetch/oats are progressing nicely and soon they will be worked down to make organic mulch and fertilizer. We also got a nice, early start with our sweet peas.

We are collaborating with the Research & Development department on many experimental projects this year. In addition to our existing projects, we will be growing cabbage for the first time to study how it will grow compared to the other brassicas that we currently grow. Speaking of brassicas, the greenhouse is doing terrific! It is full of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage that are almost ready to transplant. It also has a section of Spanish black radish sprouts that we are growing so that Research & Development can determine the photochemical levels of a brassica in the sprouting stage.

Research & Development also has us playing with some ginger root on a very limited basis to see what level of quality we can achieve. It is indigenous to tropical temperature zones, so it may not be possible on a large scale, but it will be fun to try.

Flaxseed

Lastly, we will do another experiment with flaxseed. We have successfully grown it on a small scale and will now test it in a larger field. I love watching the dainty flax blossoms bounce around in the breeze. It really is a beautiful crop.

I find it both rewarding and interesting to work on projects with Research & Development. It is exciting to have research knowledge on our "home grown" crops.