No dogma.
Just smart growing.
We build healthy soil. Healthy soil grows nutritious, resilient produce. Our growers begin by soil testing each Patch. We will not grow in soils contaminated by heavy metals or PFAS. The initial soil test will also indicate any potential nutrient deficiencies or acidity concerns.
Based on the results of the soil test, growers determine whether any amendments are needed to ensure maximized production during the growing season. We source as much as possible from local suppliers who follow organic practices. Our growers leverage ecological principles to maintain a healthy garden free from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides.
With soil fertility needs determined, beds are established. For the sake of efficiency, we standardize certain elements of the growing process while remaining open to modifications based on investor input and existing conditions. Both our growers and investors like working with aesthetically pleasing Patches that are well-integrated to their local environment. We build beds that take advantage of natural light patterns, water drainage, wind breaks, and existing vegetative ecosystems. If there are opportunities to add deep-rooted pollinator-friendly perennials to the landscape, we consider this during design. Pollinators help us maximize production. Deep-rooted perennials provide long term benefits to our gardens including water retention and overall resiliency of the local ecosystem (plant roots and fungal hyphae connect underground into a network that balances nutrients and water).
Some crops will be seeded directly into beds beginning in April. Most crops will be transplanted in May.
Throughout the growing season (May-October), growers tend to gardens, ensuring they are weed free. We aim to grow vegetables, not weeds.
Harvests happen throughout the growing season. After a crop is harvested, growers plant a succession crop. We do our best to ensure the ground is always planted and never bare. Bare ground causes soil erosion and we want fertility to stay put.
Food safety is paramount. We adhere to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and follow Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). This is true for our entire growing process and is particularly relevant during harvest when our growers follow a standard washing and packing process.
At the end of growing season, gardens are prepared for the following year and turned down for winter.