<![CDATA[Sprouting Farms

<![CDATA[Sprouting Farms - News]]>Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:15:13 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[S.O.S]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2020 20:11:28 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/sos

If you’ve ever wondered what S.O.S stands for, it’s: Save Our Soil!

Just kidding! But it might as well be because our soil is in serious trouble, which means that the future of agriculture could be in jeopardy. As in food being increasingly harder to grow in addition to all the other problems we are facing with the climate and more. What is one of the main causes of the detriment of our dirt? Industrial-scale farming. Plowing with machines doesn’t just churn the soil, it removes the larger organisms, like fungi and protozoa (one-celled microorganisms that feed on organic matter) from the soil. This disruption throws the whole web out of balance. These organisms are important because they are decomposers who make sure that plants are getting the right nutrients from their environment so that they can grow healthily. They also help to maintain diversity in the foundational components of soil (clay, sand, rocks/ pebbles, and silt) so that water can easily be accessed by plants.

What is the soil-ution? Leading soil biologist Dr. Elaine Ingham has pioneered research about the microorganisms in soil and how they interact with plants. In other words, the food web or biome (kind of like the gut biome in humans) that is found within soil and is made up of all the bacteria and organisms that produce nutrients for plants. When restored it has many crucial benefits to the environment. It can prevent erosion, pests, disease, and weeds. A good example of a thriving soil biome is forests forests, which are incredibly productive without needing any human intervention. A healthy soil food web increases farmers’ production while decreasing costs for fertilizers and pesticides.

Are there any examples of soil reclamation in this area? Local farmer, John Ferrell, followed USDA guidelines to rehabilitate the soil on his land and, when he had it tested, the results came back as some of the most fertile soil in the state. Here at Sprouting farms we are testing out no-till methods; we are testing using the cover crop “hairy vetch” to plant tomatoes into, so that we can better enrich the plants that we grow. Last Fall we put in a cover crop of Winter Rye and, once it was at the right maturity in its life cycle this Spring, it was crimped down (with some encouragement!) so that we could do a planting of pumpkins and melons that had a mulch bed already established. We have also used sweet clover in between walking rows that acts as a living mulch to eliminate so much pesky weeding and simultaneously add nutrients. We are always looking for new things to try to improve soil quality while also participating in preservation. It goes to show that change is possible and a future of happy and healthy soil is right around the corner.
If you are interested in reading more about this topic here is the link to the website talking more about Elaine’s work: https://www.soilfoodweb.com/how-it-works/#structure-formation

]]><![CDATA[Direct Seeding vs. Transplanting?]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2020 17:48:49 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/direct-seeding-vs-transplanting

With planting season creeping up, we wanted to talk a little about some of the ways to plant into your garden. As you are preparing your beds and planning what to plant, you should also consider how you are going to plant.

Plant from seed? Pop in starts? You've got options!

You're all amped up to plant a Spring garden. You're wondering which to plant into your beds, seeds or starts. Here's a checklist of the pros and cons of each method below to help you decide which planting path you should take.

It's good to note that some vegetable plants, such as beets, carrots radishes, turnips, spinach, and even lettuce, aren't typically thrilled to be transplanted. So we suggest planting them directly into the garden bed by seed. As for the rest of them — the choice is yours.

Seeds — challenge, excitement, and reward! It's like the first time you cooked your own dinner- from scratch.

Pros:

Seeds tend to be the least expensive way to start a garden.
They offer the most options for the varieties you are considering. You can order seeds from anyone, anywhere, nearly anytime.
Oh, the satisfaction. There are very few gardening tasks as rewarding as growing a plant from a teeny, tiny seed.

Cons:

Seeds can be a bit delicate, so there is definitely a learning curve. Don't worry, you can do it, though.
Seeds need to be planted pretty dang close to the "right time" on the garden calendar to grow sturdy plants with robust root systems. Pay attention to your frost dates!
Some seeds need special nurturing ("babying") while they're germinating. For instance, tomato seedlings need some moving air (such as a fan) to develop well.
Growing a new garden from seed takes time and dedication. You will need to care for your seedbeds daily for several weeks.

Starts ( transplants or baby plants)

Of course, all plants begin with seeds, but not all gardens have to!

Pros:

Your garden starts off with vigorous baby plants since someone else did the delicate baby part for you.
Most local starts are grown to be suitable for your area, so you don't have to worry so much about whether the plant will thrive in your growing zone.
With strong, young plants, you have way more leeway for not planting in the "right" planting times.
Starts are great for beginning gardeners who may want to skip the vulnerable stages of seeding plants.

Cons:

Starts can be an expensive way to plant a garden, and prices vary drastically from shop to shop.
Your choices and variety are limited to the plants sitting in the nursery or garden center.

Now, whether you are going to be direct seeding, transplanting starts or a combination of the two you have a bit of info to get you started.

And remember, Sprouting Farms will have garden vegetable starts available throughout the growing season!

We will also have classes coming up in the following months to help you start your spring and summer gardens. Check them out here.

New to gardening and have questions on how to get started?
Seasoned pro and would like to share some wisdom?
Leave a comment below or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram #Ways2Grow

]]><![CDATA[CLAIMING SPACE: WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE]]>Thu, 13 Feb 2020 14:11:54 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/claiming-space-women-in-agriculture

For centuries women have been the backbone of food production.According to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, women were, likely, our first cultivators. In the nomadic hunter-gatherer times, women would gather plants for food and leave the scraps and seeds, only to find the plant growing when they returned. This, in all probability, led to them purposely scattering the seeds, and so we took our first steps towards cultivated food production. In later years, after cultivation was a widespread practice, it was the men who labored in the fields for cash crops like tobacco, cotton, wheat, and corn, or in their professions. At the same time, women had the task of running the family farm, growing the vegetables and fruit to be used by the household, as well as feeding and caring for livestock.

Often, women were the ones who went to market, making, then selling the products they could spare. They sold extra eggs and butter, and the livestock and meats.

They were the market farmers!

Why then is it that these women are not considered farmers? They were farmers' wives(or just wives). Our history and literature books are riddled with male farmers.

Credit was very seldom given to women as the farmer since it was the women's job to be the wife and caretakers for the husbands and children, do the running of his household or homestead, which included food production to feed the family. All of the farming that women did was considered the responsibility of a wife.

In today's society, we seem to have forgotten that farming and food production was women's work. We forget that women are more than capable of this work. When we think about farmers, we mostly think of older men, in overalls, plaid shirts, and a hat, riding on a tractor. In history and literature books, in marketing material, even in nursery rhymes, it is the men who are farmers. We have been pre-dispositioned to the idea that "farmer" is gender-specific.
When you picture a farmer, what is it, you see?

There is a movement happening in the world today around women in agriculture. Most see it as new. Women Farmers. This is not a new fad. This is an awakening. A raising of women's' voices. A claiming of title and position. An opening of the eyes of the world. This is women saying:

"We are here. We have always been here!"

So I went to speak to a few women in agriculture here, locally, to see what they have to say about this movement and the female farmer.

Elizabeth Spellman, co-operator at Singing Springs Farm, Community, Farm, & Operations Director at Agrarian Land Trust, had this to say:

"I have always known women in farming, just from interning and working on the farms, and I am a farmer. There were plenty of women doing lots of work, so it never occurred to me that they weren't a part of it. I know they were all considered Farmers for sure. I am hearing, statistically, more livestock farmers are female now than before. Which is definitely a change that's happened over the past few years."

She has been involved in farming and agriculture since her early college years, having worked on and learned on farms from Vermont to California, from small farmsteads to H-2A farms, and now her very own farm in southwest Virginia. In those years, she saw first hand the prevalence of female farmers, especially on small farms with CSA models. Her experience has offered her a chance to see the vast diversity in the agriculture world today.

These sentiments were not unlike what I heard from Susanna Wheeler, Farm Director, New Roots Community Farm.

"When I began my first farm operation with some friends, I felt that people were surprised by our age more than they had been surprised by some of us being women. I do feel that a lot of people, especially those not connected with the farming community have a particular image around what a farmer looks like; their gender and age. But, I think women are claiming their space, you know. That's what's happening right now. There's a kind of movement around that, across various occupations where women's contributions have been minimized."

She became interested in farming and agriculture in her late teens as she discovered a connection between our food system and how it impacts the health and wellness of our communities as well as our Environmental situation. As the Farm director, she does everything form administration and budgeting to infrastructure building to working the lands, the same as most farmers today. She has also had the privilege of knowing a very diverse group of farmers.

As we have heard from these women, they are not alone.
They have learned from and worked alongside many women farmers all over the country. These women are farmers. They are working their lands and livestock, managing their businesses, marketing their farms, all while trying to make a difference in their local communities and for farmers, male and female, alike.

So the next time you are thinking about a farmer, remember, there are no age or gender constraints. Farmers are as diverse as the plants they are growing, and the animals they are raising.

We'd love to hear from you!
Have any questions, thoughts, or insights about women's roles in agriculture either past or present? Leave a comment below or let us know on Facebook or Instagram. #claimyourspace

]]><![CDATA[January 24th, 2020]]>Fri, 24 Jan 2020 17:18:48 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/ditch-the-winter-blues-with-winter-greensDitch the Winter Blues with Winter Greens!

We all know that over the winter months, our eating habits leave much to be desired. For many of us, winter meals are lacking fresh veggies. It's meal after meal of meat and bread, cakes and pies, but very few fresh fruits and vegetables. We are longing for that salad, but we don't have too. There are so many veggies that grow well into the winter months or can be stored to last for those drab winter months.

Here at the farm, we have lots of green things growing. Like, our Winter Greens Mix. It is a mixture of Green Wave Mustard Greens, Red Giant Mustard Greens, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Chard, Hon Tsai Tai, Red Olympic Kale, Red Russian Kale, Toscano Kale, Merlin Beets Greens, Chiogga/Gold Beets Greens.

These greens are delicious and versatile. They can be braised, added to soup, sauteed, added to omelets or frittatas, stir-fried, or used raw in a yummy winter salad.

But don't take our word for it, try them for yourself. Here, I'll even give you a few recipes to try!

Ginger Chicken and Winter Greens Stir-Fry

Ingredients

1/2 cup prepared soy ginger sauce
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips
6 cups assorted fresh winter greens (kale, collards, mustard and/or chard)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 carrot, julienned
2 green onions, chopped

Directions
In a small bowl, combine sauce and chicken.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Wash greens thoroughly, trim and chop roughly.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat.
Place greens in boiling water and blanch just until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
Drain and immediately transfer to ice water to stop cooking and retain color.
When cool, drain and set aside
In a large skillet or wok, heat olive oil over medium high heat.
Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5.
Add carrot, scallions and cooked greens. Cook another 3 to 5 minutes, tossing to mix ingredients.
Serve with additional soy ginger sauce.
             *Feel free to add any other veggie you have on hand. Mushroom, peas, and broccoli work well.

Or how about a side dish!

Braised Winter Greens

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, minced (about 1 cup)
5 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed (about 5 teaspoons)
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes2 pounds winter greens mix, ribs removed, leaves chopped into 3-inch pieces and rinsed (about 24 loosely packed cups)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup of water
Table salt
2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
Ground black pepper

Directions
Heat 2 tbsp. Oil in a Dutch oven or large stockpot with lid, over medium heat until shimmering.
Add onion and cook, frequently stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add half of the greens and stir until beginning to wilt, about 1 minute.
Add remaining greens, broth, water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; quickly cover the pot and reduce heat to medium-low.
Cook, occasionally stirring, until greens are tender, 25 to 45 minutes.
Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high.
Cook, occasionally stirring, until most of the liquid has evaporated (bottom of the pot will be almost dry, and greens will begin to drizzle), 8 to 12 minutes.
Remove pot from heat; stir in 2 tsp. of lemon juice and remaining tbsp. Olive oil.
Season with salt, pepper, and remaining teaspoon lemon juice. Serve.

Try them out, and comment below to let us know what you think below.
Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? Drop it below or to Facebook or Instagram #DitchtheWinterBlueswithWinterGreens

]]><![CDATA[December 12th, 2019]]>Thu, 12 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/a-new-revolution-farming-our-way-out-of-climate-crisisA New Revolution: Farming Our Way out of

climate Crisis!

As the year is winding down, heading towards a new decade, we are tasked with the responsibility of the future. And, like everything in life, the past has a way of catching up with us, for good or bad. Ours is undoubtedly catching up to us. With storms and droughts, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, fires, and tsunamis, the weather is screaming at us. The sea is rising, the temperatures are rising. The seasons are changing. This is due to the choices we have made for centuries, and these choices are affecting the future health and life of the planet we all call home.

Agricultural scenes of threshing, a grain store, harvesting with sickles, digging, tree-cutting and ploughing from Ancient Egypt. Tomb of Nakht, 15th century BC.

Agricultural scenes of threshing, a grain store, harvesting with sickles, digging, tree-cutting and plowing in Ancient Egypt. Tomb of Nakht, 15th century BC.

Humans have been cultivating food for over 12,000 years and experimenting with growing for nearly twice as long. Even with so many thousands of years of working the land, and working with plants, we are still learning and relearning ways to grow food.
Our populations are expanding exponentially; the fertile lands we need to thrive as a species are shrinking almost as quickly. Now is the time to think about how we grow our food; how we have been treating our soil.
Agricultural practices the world over have caused a severely degraded landscape. The effects of such degradation include soil compaction, loss of structure, nutrient degradation, soil fertility loss, and soil salinity. These impacts increase the amount of pollution and sediment run-off in our waterways, destroy soil microorganisms required for plant growth, and can even worsen flooding or drought, as the lands do not have the structure needed to hold water.

What does this mean for a farmer?

Well, let's say that you have been mono-cropping, plowing, tilling, and applying pesticides and fertilizers. Or overgrazing with more livestock than the land can handle. Or repeatedly not allowing for full regeneration of vegetative growth in your pastures.
These things can produce high yields and growth in the short term, but eventually, this will diminish along with the profits you see from it.The need for fertilizers and pesticides means that the soil is lacking the essential microorganisms and nutrients the crop needs. The same crops have been planted so often that they have drained the nutrients needed to support them and that help combat pest.

Tilling is another way the microorganisms in the soil are killed; carbon is released into the atmosphere, and topsoil is depleted. Plowing causes soil compaction, which makes it difficult for the land to absorb and retain water. So even with that long-awaited rain, the soil can't absorb it, and it causes higher run-off (most of the time with those expensive fertilizers and pesticides with it) into the waterways. This means that the farmer will need more fertilizers, new ground, and more pesticides to maintain their farms but at a much higher cost and lower yield.

The good news is that with regenerative practices, these issues can be addressed and corrected. We can start to rejuvenate the life in the soil, reversing the adverse impacts traditional agriculture practices have had on the environment, boosting farm revenue, and feeding more people health foods.

Why does soil health have an impact on our climate?

On top of reducing pollution with less chemical run-off, regenerative practices like No-Till, Conservation Farming, and Pasture Cropping, Holistically Managed Grazing, Agroforestry, Cover-Cropping, and Polyculture, can help with carbon sequestering. Healthy, bio-diverse, mineral-rich soil can pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it for use for centuries, as long as that soil is undisturbed by conventional agriculture practices like digging, tillage, and plowing, land development or deforestation.

Agriculture contributes just under 10% of man-made CO2 (GHG) emissions in the U.S
Add to that forestry and other land use, and we are sitting at nearly 25% carbon emissions. Yeah, that's right! The way we utilize our land is literally causing as many, if not more, CO2 emissions as the industrial and energy sectors. Rebuilding the soil, and all that lives in it, will not only help to feed our population foods with high mineral and nutrient content but mitigate and one day help to end the climate crisis.

Remember, it isn't all up to the farmers. Even a backyard gardener can help make a difference. Utilizing the regenerative practices in a flower bed or veggie garden, becoming land stewards or caretakers, and reducing the chemical inputs into the land all have an impact.

So whether you are growing to feed a nation, growing to feed your families, or growing to beautify your life do it ethically. Do it sustainably. Do it regeneratively.

Do you practice regenerative practices on your land? Do you wanna learn how to implement regenerative farming techniques on your farm, homestead, or garden?

Let us know by commenting below.

]]><![CDATA[November 21st, 2019]]>Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:19:57 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/hydroponics-systems-which-is-right-for-youHydroponics Systems: Which is right for you?

So what are these basic systems, and how do they work?

Well, let's take a closer look.

First, we have the least active system, The Wick System.

The wick system is a passive non-recovery system. It uses no water pump and has no moving parts. The nutrients are stored in a reservoir, then moved to the root system using a candle or lantern wick or even a paper towel(think back to the bean sprouts). Though the wick system is easy and inexpensive to set up and maintain, it tends to keep the growing medium too wet. It doesn't allow for the optimum amount of oxygen in the root system. Therefore, it isn't considered the most effective way to grow hydroponically.

Next, we have the Water Culture System.

The water culture system has the most simple design of all the active systems. A styrofoam platform usually is what holds the plant and floats directly on the nutrient solution. An air pump is used to supply air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution. The air stone provides oxygen to the plants' roots. This system is the primary choice for growing leaf lettuce, which is fast growing water-loving plants. Not many plants besides lettuce will do well in this system.
This particular type of hydroponic system is a great classroom model. It is very popular with teachers as an inexpensive system, often made out of an old aquarium or other watertight containers. One drawback of this system is that it doesn't work well with large plants or with long-term plants.

Here, we have the Ebb and Flow System.

It is an active recovery system, and it uses a submersible pump in the reservoir; the plants are in an upper tray. It works on a basic flood and drain theory. A tank holds the nutrient solution and the pump. Once the pump turns on, the nutrient solution is pumped to the upper tray for delivery. T stays on for 20 to 30 minutes; this is called a flood cycle. During the flood cycle, oxygen-poor air is moved out of the root system by the upward moving water. As the nutrient water drains back into the reservoir, oxygen-rich air gets drawn into the growing medium, allowing the roots ample oxygen, which maximizes their nutrient intake. After the flood cycle, the nutrient solution drains back down into the reservoir through the pump. This system is low maintenance, yet highly effective type of hydroponic growing.

Then, we have the Nutrient Film Technique. The Nutrient Film Technique(NFT) is the system type we use here at Sprouting Farms and is an active recovery system. It uses a submersible pump. It reuses nutrient solutions that are pumped into a grow-tube where the roots are suspended. The grow-tube stays at a slight downward angle, so the nutrients run over the roots and back into the reservoir up to 24 hours per day. No growing medium is necessary because the plants are held up by either support collars or a grow-baskets. It is a very efficient system, although it may be difficult for novice hydroponic growers to fine-tune. Because there is no growing medium to hold any moisture, it can be very unforgiving. Any prolonged period of interruption in the nutrient flow and the roots could dry out, causing the plants to suffer and possibly die.

Next is the Continuous Drip System.
This system is more versatile. It can be an active recovery or non-recovery system. As with the others, this system uses a submersible pump but has supply lines going to each plant. Due to a drip emitter for each plant, the grower can adjust the amount of solution on each plant. A drip tray added under each row of plants to send the solution back to the reservoir would easily make this system an active recovery type. Continuous Drip systems use Rockwool most often. Still, any growing medium can work, thanks to the adjustment feature on each drip emitter.

And last, we have the Aeroponic System.

The aeroponic system is likely the most high-tech type of active non-recovery system. Like the NFT system, the growing medium is primarily air with the roots hanging in the air. They must have a nutrient solution mists, and mistings must be done every few minutes. Aeroponic systems need a pump with a short cycle timer that runs the pump for a few seconds every couple of minutes. These timers are imperative. If the misting cycles are interrupted and with the roots exposed to the air, they will rapidly dry out.

Now, do you Buy or Build?

Your skill level and the amount of time and effort available to put into your hydroponic growing venture will play a big part in determining whether to buy a prebuilt system or try your hand at building your own.

The prebuilt, all in one, kits are very user-friendly, easy to set up, and often require less maintenance. They are great for beginners since there is no need to do extensive research or planning, but they can be expensive.

The DIY or build your own setups are more involved than the all-in-ones. They require research, planning, and at least some experience, though you do have more freedom in how your system work. You can combine systems and experiment with the way they work. Shopping around for the pieces you want and need can be time-consuming and may or may not be cost-effective. It all depends on the type of system you choose to build.

Whether you chose to build a diy system or an all in one, there is a system that can work with your budget and availability.

Have you grown hydroponically?
Do you have a question?
Leave a comment below or check us out on Facebook!

]]><![CDATA[Hydroponics: A Growing Trend]]>Thu, 14 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/hydroponics-a-growing-trend

There are many different farming techniques and technologies out there these days, and almost all of them depend on soil. With the ever-declining fertility of lands on a global scale, now is the time we should think about the techniques to rebuild it or learn to grow without it. Like, Hydroponics. Even we, Sprouting Farms, have a hydroponic greenhouse.

So what is hydroponics?

Well, basically, it is soil-less growing. It is fast becoming one of the most trendy ways to garden indoors. From Pinterest with mason jar gardening to full-on production and urban micro-greens farmers. Just about all of us have grown something in a hydroponic greenhouse. Do you remember that time in elementary school when you used that ziplock bag and a damp paper towel to grow bean sprouts? Yes. That was a simple version of hydroponics!

Hydroponic plants are grown with a mineral and nutrient-enriched water solution, rather than in the ground or container with soil. The roots grow directly into the water solution, or they grow with a medium like perlite, vermiculite, or even gravel. The way the plants grow will depend on the type of hydroponic system.

There are six basic systems, categorized as either active or passive, and then sub-categorized as either recovery or non-recovery. There can be any combination of these systems, and each variation has its benefits and drawbacks.

The Wick System
Water Culture System
The Ebb and Flow System
The Nutrient Film Technique(NFT)
Continuous Drip System
The Aeroponic System

(For more on the systems and how they work check out this post hydroponics-systems-which-is-right-for-you.html )

We chose the Nutrient Film Technique(NFT).
NFT systems are super-efficient but a bit more difficult for the new grower to fine-tune. When planting in this system, there is no growing medium to hold any moisture. As such, it can be very unforgiving. Any prolonged interruption in the nutrient flow and the roots could dry out, and the plants could suffer and possibly die. This system takes care and research to set up but is excellent for large scale growing.
We will also be adding a few more systems shortly and will let you know which ones we choose.

What are we growing in our hydro house, you ask?
Well, lettuce for now. We are growing it year-round to go into our local school systems, helping our partners Turnrow and the Greenville Farm Kitchen. We hope to expand the lettuce varieties very soon.

Why Hydroponics?

Hydroponics has several advantages over soil gardening — the growth rate for one. A hydroponic plant can grow 30-50 percent faster than a soil plant, developed in the same conditions. Because the nutrients are sent directly to the root system, the plants don't have to search for the nutrients that they require; they expend very little energy to find and break down food. All that saved energy helps the plant grow faster and to produce more fruit. Bonus-Hydroponically grown plants tend to be healthier and happier plants, as well. Happy plants mean happy people.

Two, these systems are space savers. They can be set up even in a small apartment. With the root systems of the plants getting ample nutrients, they don't have to spread out, so planting much more closely to one another is possible.

And thirdly, hydroponic gardening systems are also beneficial to the environment. They use considerably less water than soil gardening (Hello! They are continually reusing of the nutrient solutions). With fewer problems with bug infestations, fungus, and disease, fewer hydroponic crops require fewer pesticides, and polluted soil is never an issue or worry. And, topsoil erosion isn't even an issue because why? Hydroponic gardening systems don't use topsoil! Though, if conventional agricultural practices continue to erode topsoil and increase wastewater, hydroponics may soon be our only solution.

Should you grow Hydroponically?

That all depends on you. If it's something you are interested in learning about and you have the time to take it on, we say go for it. Just know, it will be a bit of an investment to get started, and you will need to do some research on the system, growing mediums, and nutrient solutions that will be best for you.

Whether you are an experienced hydroponic grower or just a beginner, there is a system that will work for you in a myriad of price ranges and required skill levels.

Have questions about getting into Hydroponics?
comment below or contact us on Facebook

]]><![CDATA[Loads of love for winter greens]]>Tue, 29 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/loads-of-love-for-winter-greens

Loads of Love for Winter Greens!

Here in Appalachia, seasonal eating means having loads of greens throughout the year. A variety of greens, including kale, chard, and spinach can be grown well in our region. And, thanks to their cold-weather hardiness and the use of high tunnels, greens are among the limited crops available in the peak of winter. In years past, winter greens were a staple food for many West Virginians, but sadly most people today don't know how to prepare and eat them.

Don't know what to do with greens?

You buy them because they're good for you, only to find them in the fridge a week later, good for nothing but the garbage heap! Or maybe you don't buy them at all, thinking you don't like them and have no idea how to make them. Or you think you have to make some crazy recipe that's made primarily from the greens, and your kids (and let's be honest, you) won't enjoy the taste.

PSA: It's doesn't have to be complicated!

We keep it simple around here, and you can, too.
There are some easy ways you can use those greens in your kitchen. So, let's breakdown some of them. Spoiler Alert- Just put them in everything you cook! Simple, right?

Eat it Fresh - Americans like to eat salads. Like, All. The. Time!
Ok, so, not all Americans like salads, but you get me. Salads don't have to be boring, either. Winter greens salads look very different than the salads most people think of, and they are a great way to get those dark leafy greens into your body. So, grab a bag of mixed greens, roast some winter squash, and top with dried berries, nuts, seeds, a hard-boiled egg, and some leftover chicken or steak. What greens should you use for this salad? Well, whatever is fresh that week, from your local farmer, available on the

Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective online farmers market, is perfect. A nice mix is best. We use collards, kale, broccoli greens, mustard greens, chard, spinach, radish greens, kohlrabi greens. The list goes on and on and on and on. You can add a little apple cider vinegar and olive oil and gently massage them for a cold salad, or try cutting your greens up and sautéing. I like to do a little of both.

Blend It In - I get greens into my kids mainly because I put them in all their smoothies. Cucumber, carrots, pineapple, ginger...and, you guessed it, greens. Yep, even the peanut butter, cocoa, and banana smoothies have greens in them! Plus, there is no need to use yogurt or any dairy product at all. Just add a splash of orange juice or water, and a little fruit like pineapple and peach give to it that sweetness, and then add greens and vegetables.

With Eggs - No, seriously, adding greens to eggs makes a delicious meal. Try sauteing greens and tomatoes and make an omelet. Add whatever vegetables, like onions, peppers, tomatoes, or winter squash, you have on hand to make a tasty scramble, or just mix it together and toss it in the oven to create a breakfast casserole. A good quality cheese doesn't hurt either.

In Soups - Any soup is better with greens. Chicken and rice, Potato, Vegetable, Ham and Green Bean, Curry, and even Chicken Noodle Soup are great with greens! Whatever soup you like. Just cut 'em up and throw 'em in there. If you need them to be tiny to get them past your family, then do it.

There's no one right way to get greens into your recipes. Just remember it's all about how to fit this into your family. So try it out and see what you think.

Need more suggestions?

Try it out with quesadillas or burritos, pizza, pesto, pasta salad, stir fry, whatever you like. The recipes you already enjoy are the ones that work best, you just add greens. The only limitation in a recipe is your imagination. Don't worry if your creative dinner doesn't look perfect as long as you find ways to make it taste amazing. Once you let go of the Pinterest picture idea of what your dinner "should" look like, you'll be free to just use those greens and other vegetables in any way that works for you.

Don't place too many labels on your food, either. That egg bake I mentioned earlier? We do that for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Also, don't feel like you need to cook something different every night of the week. Our lives are busy and stressful, but dinner doesn't have to be. If you make tacos one night, you can likely make them useful for at least a couple more meals with quick, easy changes. Smoothies aren't just for breakfast. If you find yourself in an afternoon slump and reaching for a sugary snack, try a smoothie instead. It's such an easy way to get a lot of fruits and vegetables into our bodies. The nutritional quality is a lot better than that candy bar. And, since it doesn't cause that blood sugar spike like a candy bar would, you might actually feel satisfied and be able to focus throughout the rest of the afternoon.

So, why are greens so great for us?

Because nature is awesome. Duh! But no, greens are an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, manganese, dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin B6, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals do so many spectacular things for our bodies inside and out.

Vitamin C is an immune system super boost. Our bodies don't create our own vitamin c. The only way to get it is through the foods we eat! The fiber in greens is excellent for digestion, easing or eliminating constipation, and can help decrease nutritional deficiencies. They are a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants, like the ones found in vitamins a, c, and e, protect our cells from free radicals. These free radicals lead to wrinkles and skin irritations, cellular damage that leads to chronic illnesses, heart disease, immune deficiency, and even cancer.

You have so many super easy ways to get them onto your plate or into a bowl or cup.
So eat your greens!

Have any recipes you would like to share?
Comment below or post on your social media to share your love of winter greens and tag us or use the hashtag #HowIEatMyGreens!

]]><![CDATA[We're Back and Growing!]]>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMThttp://www.sproutingfarms.org/news/were-back-and-growing

Hello There.

We have taken a bit of a hiatus on all things blog related here at the farm. But, we are back and ready to let you all in on all of the amazing things we accomplished this summer, the projects we are working on now, and some fun new things we are bringing to the blog.

Way to Grow!

The farm has added a Hydroponics Greenhouse! We're super thrilled. It's been hard work getting everything up and running but we are pleased to announce that it is operational. And we are already growing! Lettuce anyone? There are undoubtedly more updates coming, too. We can't wait to give you all the exciting updates of what we will be growing and how hydroponic growing is working for us. Be on the lookout for a later post all about hydroponic growing.

The farm has some new farmers! And few Americorps, too.

We have added a few new members to our team here at the farm. So, pop on over to the Our Team page and meet Marcus, Nathan, and Jackie. There you will also get to know our new Americorps, Jessica, and the rest of the crew and directors.
The two other Americorps have joined us at our partner sites: Elice at Refresh Appalachia in Huntington, WV and Skye at New Roots Community Farm in Fayetteville, WV.

What A Blast!
We have done so many Kids Pop-Up markets with Keys 4 Healthy Kids and SNAP-ED, with all the produce purchased from local WV farmers through Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective. Hundreds of children were introduced to new healthy foods grown right here in WV! We are about to wrap up this season's markets with the last one set for Halloween day. The farm stand at the Alderson Community Market was tons of fun! It’s closed for the season on October 15th. But, don’t fear, we are a four-season farm. So, you can still shop for your locally grown produce needs straight from the farm on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm or through Turnrow.

A New Mobile Grocer Project.

All of us here, at Sprouting Farms, are so excited to be partnering with Turnrow Food Hub for a nonprofit project on a fantastic new food access initiative, a mobile grocer. Development, planning, and implementation are happening now and being lead by the food access team. The farm will provide produce as part of the collective of local farmers. We can't wait to have it up and running. Keep an eye on the blog to stay up to date on what will be available, where it’ll be, and when you can expect to see it fully operational.

Coming Soon!

Keep an eye out for some changes on the blog. We are adding some recurring posts, like the Meet Our Team monthly interviews and insights, tips and tricks from the team members, Recipes and Featured Food, and more. We are working hard towards more frequent updates and posts and adding more useful content.

Have a suggestion?
Comment below or find us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know what you want to hear about, learn about, or grow.

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