We dig in to the values that have informed their decision-making and market development, including their decision to farm in a the small-but-progressive city of Moscow. Kelly and Russell talk about how they’ve developed a CSA model that really works for them as farmers, their efforts to foster an active market farming community, and their recent diversification into seed production – and how all of that ties back to a philosophy of giving good weight to their customers and community.
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Quotes from the Show
[Kelly] Flowers were the crop that kicked our ass twice.
[Russell] It felt great to just decide to quit [growing flowers] and realize that we get to decide and we don't have to please everyone.
[Kelly] We had a couple of rules on the farm when we started and one was no working with headlamps, and one was no fighting.
[Kelly] Even if those young farmers take some of our market share, their mission is our mission - we're on the same team.
[Russell] The more open we can be, the more open other people are willing to be. And we all benefit.
Show Links
We talked about phacelia as a cover crop.
Kelly told us that her metal-wheeled Valley Oak Wheel Hoe is one of her favorite tools.