I recently had the pleasure of visiting the growers that supply us with our vast array of Certified Organic vegetables, herbs & ornamental seedlings and starts. They all had unique ideas and techniques for organic planting, but it appears that each grower shares a common philosophy or goal. That is, to provide the community, in particular, the home gardener, with the best selection of starter plants using the most healthy, organic & environmentally conscious methods available.

Inspired by the west coast (especially Bay Area!) interest in organic farming, Vernay 'Pilar' Reber started Sunnyside Organics in Richmond 5 years ago. She is truly dedicated & works hard to provide quite a few local nurseries and farms with a wide selection of organic veggies and herbs. Pilar and her dog Plum walked me through a greenhouse of baby arugula, kale, thyme & many more. I finally got to see where those colorful mixed lettuce 6-packs come from. Keep up the great work Pilar!

My next visit was to Sweetwater Nursery just outside of Sebastopol. Elise Loveday-Brown, David Brown and their son Jed Loveday-Brown guided me through their amazing operation that overlooked a 'sweet' marshy pond. “We went from seed selection, to planting, and right up to sending the baby plants out on the trucks.” Elise and David visit their daughter in Italy frequently, and are constantly inspired by some of the old varieties and traditions they come across in their travels. They are one of the first growers to begin using biodegradable pots made primarily of pressed rice hulls. I can't wait to see what new ideas Jed has for the future of Sweetwater.

The Sebastopol area must be a special place for growing because not far away I drove to Flatland Flower Farm nestled in a small apple orchard. The husband and wife team of Dan Lehrer & Joanne Kreuger welcomed me to their simple and strictly organic growing grounds, right in their own back yard! In 1995, out of another back yard in the Berkeley flats (Flatland), Dan & Joanne started out growing flowers and some produce to sell at local farmer's markets. Now in Sebastopol, their growing methods encourage young seedlings to naturally resist disease and pests. It was hard to leave. Thanks guys for making me feel at home!

And last, but definitely not least, was a very special visit with Peggy Kass and Helen Krayenhoff. We're talking serious locals with serious experience. With over 15+ years of trying and testing organic veggies, herbs & ornamentals in the East Bay, The name Kassenhoff says it all! Peggy and Helen take pride in producing some of the best quality and adapted organic starts to our locale. They used to be the main supplier of vegetables and herbs at Berkeley Hort. until an unfortunate landslide took out their main growing grounds in Oakland a couple of years ago. They now produce most of their seedlings and starts out of a shared space in Alameda. Peggy sells most of her little babies at local farmer's markets, but if you look carefully you just might find a few of her treasures on our shelves at the nursery!

What really impressed me about all of our growers was their joy of organic gardening and their thrill in being able to share this with YOU the home gardener. So, the next time you take home that pepper, squash, tomato or 6-pack of greens, plant with confidence knowing that they were started with love and care.

Have Fun!

— Che