Comments on: Community

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:06:11 +0000

CJ, specialty crops are becoming more and more popular at farmers markets and with CSA’s. You might check with local CSA farmers and see if there are any crops that they would like to offer but can not grow. For example you might find that a CSA farm would like to offer Basil, but because of the amount of labor (cutting and bunching weekly) involved they can’t justify it. They might be interested in buying it from you and offering it to their customers. If you don’t have many CSA’s in your area or if you can’t find anything they need you might go to the local farmers markets regularly and see what is not offered or what sells out fast. With a greenhouse you may be able to produce crops that other farmers can’t… or… you may be able offer crops earlier and later in the season than others. I think in your area if you had tomatoes and peppers earlier and later than other farmers you’d have a huge market for your product. GOOD LUCK!

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:58:45 +0000

We live mile-high in Boulder, Colorado, and we use our greenhouse all summer to grow peppers and eggplants. Because those plants respond to cold nighttime temperatures by not setting fruit and the thin air up high cools off so much at night, we used to have trouble getting our peppers and eggplants to produce much when we planted them outside. But in the greenhouse, which keeps them warmer at night, they are super-prolific. We leave the windows and doors open so the plants don’t cook during the day.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:49:02 +0000

CJ: Where do you live in NM? I lived there 17 years and towards the end of my sojourn in the desert, in Cedar Crest east of Albuq. It is a challenge to grow there, but it can be done. My herbal garden was the best, accomplished with drip irrigation and raised beds. Sage, basil and oregano were the top performers. Anything that loves lots of water becomes a chore. Pebble gardening also works well there. At least you don’t have the Japanese beetles that challenge me here in NC.