If you've been paying attention to agricultural news this spring, you may have noticed that nitrogen-based fertilizer prices surged in March and April. When the Strait of Hormuz closed, several of the world's top suppliers were cut off overnight. Demand outweighed supply, the remaining companies jacked up their prices, and suddenly about 70% of large-scale American farmers could not afford the fertilizer they were depending on for spring. The price has since dropped, but this dramatic spike illustrates the fragility of the supply chain and the precarious position of farmers who depend on outsourced fertilizer: one event and their whole...

It's early June. Warm season crops can be planted now because we are likely past the last frost here in Colorado. (In the case of one last frost, just cover your most sensitive plants lightly.) These include beans, squash, corn, melons, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, most flowers, okra, collards, and many more. For example, we just transplanted our Early California Wonder Bell Peppers from their seed trays to the field. Here you can see our flood irrigation at work making sure they have a nice deep first drink! This week we are also direct sowing corn, like our Rainbow Corn Landrace....

Ancient, drought-tolerant, and packed with protein, tepary beans are a resilient crop native to the Sonoran Desert. Our multicolor landrace variety thrives in hot, dry climates — perfect for gardeners who want nutrition and sustainability in one hardy plant.