Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds in Philomath, Oregon, supplies seed companies, farmers, and gardeners with seeds that are selected and grown in a real organic environment. With his wife and business partner, Karen, and five employees, Frank grows certified organic seeds on about eight acres. Wild Garden Seeds is unusual in the seed business because they grow everything that they sell right there in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Frank shares his story of getting started on his market garden in 1980, and how he developed a gourmet salad greens business that shipped salads to top restaurants nation-wide. This high-end salad greens business allowed and encouraged him to start selecting the best plants for organic salad production, as well as to begin to develop new, custom varieties for his farm.
We also dig into his on-the-job education in seed breeding, how he and Karen made the transition from salad growers to seed company, and how Wild Garden Seeds has worked with partner farms to grow their seed business.
Frank shares his story of getting started on his market garden in 1980, and how he developed a gourmet salad greens business that shipped salads to top restaurants nation-wide. This high-end salad greens business allowed and encouraged him to start selecting the best plants for organic salad production, as well as to begin to develop new, custom varieties for his farm.
We also dig into his on-the-job education in seed breeding, how he and Karen made the transition from salad growers to seed company, and how Wild Garden Seeds has worked with partner farms to grow their seed business.
Sponsors
Vermont Compost Company: Founded by organic crop growing professionals committed to meeting the need for high-quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production.
BCS America: BCS two-wheel tractors are versatile, maneuverable in tight spaces, light-weight for less compaction, and easy to maintain and repair on farm. Gear-driven and built to last for decades of dependable service on your farm or market garden.
Local Food Marketplace: Providing an integrated, scalable solution for farms and food hubs to process customer orders – including online ordering, harvesting, packing, delivery, invoicing and payment processing. Manage multiple product and price lists with ease. Maximize your sales by selling multiple product pack sizes out of the same inventory. Local Food Marketplace will help you reach more customers and save time in fulfilling your customer’s orders.
BCS America: BCS two-wheel tractors are versatile, maneuverable in tight spaces, light-weight for less compaction, and easy to maintain and repair on farm. Gear-driven and built to last for decades of dependable service on your farm or market garden.
Local Food Marketplace: Providing an integrated, scalable solution for farms and food hubs to process customer orders – including online ordering, harvesting, packing, delivery, invoicing and payment processing. Manage multiple product and price lists with ease. Maximize your sales by selling multiple product pack sizes out of the same inventory. Local Food Marketplace will help you reach more customers and save time in fulfilling your customer’s orders.
Quotes from the Show
Organic farmers don't use crop protection chemicals. We don't use concentrated highly soluble fertilizers. Our plants actually are different, and Wild Garden Seed, from the beginning, our intention has been to supply seeds that give better results for people that use organic methods.
When you grow lettuce for seeds, it's a long term process and getting that beautiful head of lettuce is only the first part of it.
Actually, becoming a farmer was a natural selection for me, I think because I wanted to be independent. I wanted to be self-reliant. I wanted to be creative and I wanted my time to be my own and when you started thinking about it, there's not too many jobs that offer you those things other than farming.
The salad business provided me with an economic way to accomplish plant breeding over a long period of time.
I can't imagine a more productive partnership than a seed-organic produce partnership.
We've been changing since the day we started farming.
When you grow lettuce for seeds, it's a long term process and getting that beautiful head of lettuce is only the first part of it.
Actually, becoming a farmer was a natural selection for me, I think because I wanted to be independent. I wanted to be self-reliant. I wanted to be creative and I wanted my time to be my own and when you started thinking about it, there's not too many jobs that offer you those things other than farming.
The salad business provided me with an economic way to accomplish plant breeding over a long period of time.
I can't imagine a more productive partnership than a seed-organic produce partnership.
We've been changing since the day we started farming.
Show Links
When Frank started farming in 1980, he bought Growing Garden Seeds, Rob Johnston’s book on saving seeds.
J.L. Hudson, Seesman was the first commercial buyer of Wild Garden Seeds’ seeds. It’s still a pretty interesting seedhouse.
We talked about how John Navazio had influenced both of us, and the organic farming and seed movement in general. John was my guest for Episode 074. He’s also got a great book, The Organic Seed Grower.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation funded the Hell’s Half-Acre Trial at Wild Garden Seeds. They continue to support all kinds of great research for organic growers.
J.L. Hudson, Seesman was the first commercial buyer of Wild Garden Seeds’ seeds. It’s still a pretty interesting seedhouse.
We talked about how John Navazio had influenced both of us, and the organic farming and seed movement in general. John was my guest for Episode 074. He’s also got a great book, The Organic Seed Grower.
The Organic Farming Research Foundation funded the Hell’s Half-Acre Trial at Wild Garden Seeds. They continue to support all kinds of great research for organic growers.
Transcript
The transcript for this episode is brought to you byEarth Tools, offering the most complete selection of walk-behind farming equipment and high-quality garden tools in North America. And by Osborne Quality Seeds, a dedicated partner for growers. Visitosborneseed.com for high quality seed, industry-leading customer service, and fast order fulfillment. And byCoolBot, allowing you to build an affordable walk-in cooler powered by a window air-conditioning unit. Save $20 on your CoolBot when you visitfarmertofarmerpodcast.com/coolbot. Additional funding for transcripts provided byNorth Central SARE, providing grants and education to advance innovations in Sustainable Agriculture.
