Spring is just around the corner

Despite evidence to the contrary, spring really is just around the corner.

I just got back from the Missouri Organic Convention and am fired up and ready to plant. So what's that snow doing on the ground?

Actually, I already have some seedlings in my kitchen window. The reflection from the snow is making them grow better. And the snow on the ground will add minerals to the soil as it melts. But I'm still anxious to get growing for spring. Guess I'll have to while away the snowy hours planning and re-planning my garden while I peruse seed catalogs.

I learned a lot about soil fertility, cover cropping and extending my season with high tunnels at the MOA convention. Can't wait to share with some of our farmer/producers so we'll have more local produce at the store even earlier and it will be even more nutritious because of the better soil in which it will be grown.

And speaking of the store, we have a new manager who managed Wild Oats for years. He brings great energy, knowledge and a passion for organics to the store. Stop in and see the changes he is bringing about.

Farm Aid-Supportively Sustainable

There are many things in life that just don't measure up to our expectations.

The Farm Aid concert, press event and Homegrown Village are not some of those things.

After weeks of excited anticipation, many of the staff at Sappington Farmers Market, with family and friends, attended the all-day and on-into-the-night event and completely enjoyed every moment. Even my three-yr.-old granddaughter, seen in the picture, had a wonderful time for hours and hours.

Kickoff for the day was the press event with the four headliners, Willie

Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews.
They were joined by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, USDA's Kathleen Merrigan, Rural Crisis Center's Rhonda Perry, University of Missouri Extension's Mary Hendrickson, a young dairy farmer from Wisconsin-and me, (representing Sappington Farmers Market and Farm to Family Naturally). We were joined on stage by assorted Farm Aid staff and performers.

The rest of the day was spent very enjoyably, browsing the many interactive exhibits in the Homegrown Village. Randy and Russell Wood's Floating Farms exhibit was a big hit, as was the Missouri Beekeepers Association's observation hive. Adults and children alike enjoyed finding the queen in the hive. Worm races drew a big crowd, and in my seed-saving booth, we gave away thousands of packages of heirloom seeds from Baker Creek seeds.

The food was awesomely fresh, local and tasty. The offerings at the Sappington Farmers Market booth included local apples, caramel apples made with agave syrup, grilled corn (the line for that was seemingly endless), deviled eggs and delightful all-natural baked goods from the interns at St. Louis University's School of Dietitetics and Nutrition. Tom Strumolo from NY City made the trip just to be able to help us present all that good food. We are immensely grateful to him for sharing his experience and expertise with our novice team.

I finally managed to finish taking down the seed-saving booth well after dark, just in time to race to my seat next to my dear son who had made the trip from Memphis. Just as I sat down, John Mellencamp hit the stage and I was in music heaven for the next few hours. It was well past midnight when we made our tired way home. None of us will ever forget it.

Fresh, Local and Beautiful

This growing season has been a mite slow getting started. First we had too much rain for farmers to get out in their fields. Then we had excruciatingly hot weather. Then we had more rain. . . . . .well, you get the idea.
But, finally, the local produce is pouring in. And it is beautiful. . . . .and tasty. . . .and the prices are cheap, cheap, cheap.
Just in case you're wondering which produce is local, there's a great blackboard at the east entrance to the store-Sappington Farmers Market-8400 Watson Road St. Louis- which tells all the local produce of the day-and usually tells the farm from where the produce came.
The local heirloom tomatoes are awesome, the corn is delicious, the green beans are outstanding. I could go on and on. Come in and see for yourself. Beautiful, juicy Brandywine tomatoes for $1.50 a pound-can't beat that.
And remember, on Thursdays, you get $10.00 off a $50.00 purchase. Download the coupon from our website.


Gardening and farming are two different things. As a retired farmer, I know how frustrating it can be to be unable to get equipment into the field. There's a panicky feeling as time marches on, and the ground is still lying fallow.
Now that I'm just a gardener, though, I found this year that I was able to turn the ground and plant everything by hand while the farmers waited for their fields to dry. The result is the prettiest garden I ever had. And I've had heirloom tomatoes to eat since mid-May. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't have enough food (I try to grow all my own veggies) this year because I didn't have hundreds of tomato plants and rows of cucumbers. I just arranged my fifteen tomato plants and my five cucumber towers and put my sweet potatoes in with some flowers and interspersed pole beans throughout the garden. Well, you just have to see for yourself.
Above are some pictures of my beautiful organic garden. And I worried for nothing. I have been putting up produce every day. It is stacked on counters, my table and anywhere I can find a spot.
I'm starting to like this kind of gardening. It's easier, prettier and just as productive. I hope you enjoy the pictures.