What We Do

 Pure 

Purified water irrigation	We use a Rainshower Gard’n Gro water filter for all watering needs of the garden. This filter converts +90% of the chlorine added to water to non-toxic chloride. By removing the chlorine added to water, microbial activity is left unharmed. This allows microorganisms to flourish and maintain a natural and sustainable growing environment.
No herbicides	We use good ol’ fashioned hands & hoes, along with mulching and companion planting practices to reduce unwanted vegetation. For any weeds that do pop up, and there are plenty of those, we follow the green manuring rule, “Where a weed comes from, there it goes”.
No pesticides	We begin by companion planting crops to naturally deter destructive insects and animals. Then we continue by planting specific crops, which attract destructive insects away from marketable crops. Finally, we maintain a mindset of acceptance towards any insects that do arrive in the garden, because we see these "pests" as a natural and healthy part of a balanced ecosystem!
Heirloom and organic seed varieties	We strive to source our seed from our local seed banks and organic family farmers. Any crop which is not available as an organic option is not an option for us.
100% certified organic	Enough said.

 Local 

Educating community	Our goal is to not only provide beyond organic produce, but to reestablish a connection between our community and the earth. At our farm stand, we focus less on the business transactions and more on the interactions between our customers and their produce. We are always available for conversation at the Sioux City Farmers’ Market, in the garden or through the contact form on our website.
Using local seed banks	Our first source for seed is our local seed bank, Seed Savers, located in Dacora, Iowa. We choose to support seed banks, because we understand the importance of protecting heirloom and organic seed varieties from contamination by genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Produce to our local community	You can’t buy happiness... but you can buy local... and that’s pretty much the same thing. Our produce is available at the Sioux City Farmers’ Market on Saturdays and as of 2013 Wednesdays as well. We have donated 10% of our produce to local food shelters and The Soup Kitchen throughout the years.

 Sustainable 

Seed saving	A small amount of planted vegetables are allowed to grow the entire season for seed collection to be planted the following year. This practice limits the number of inputs brought in from off-site, helping us to work towards self-sustainability.
Composting	We use no synthetic fertilizers. Instead, we have dedicated 20% of the garden to alfalfa, a nitrogen fixing cover crop, which we harvest for compost. This compost, which is a combination of the alfalfa, weeds and spoiled produce, is aged throughout the summer. Then we combine it with horse manure from grain-free fed horses in the fall and allow it to compost through the following spring to be applied as wholesome fertilizer.
Crop rotation	We rotate the crops annually to encourage diversity for well-balanced soil and prevent insect infestations.
Companion planting	We design the garden symbiotically so that the plants mutually benefit each other, deter destructive insects and control weed growth.
No-till raised bed system	We chose no-till raised beds for many reasons: 1) The soil is a living organism and in order to preserve the life within it as well as the soil structure itself we have chosen not to till our raised beds. 2) By designating certain areas to grow (ie. raised beds) and others to walk on we have eliminated soil compaction around the root zone.  This encourages a breathable, living soil. 3) By growing in designated areas, separated by walkways, we have created a multitude of microcosmic climates within the macrocosm of our double tetrahedron mandala.