Thinking Small...Small Scale Agriculture That Is .

I have been a passionate gardener, nurseryman, and landscaper for the past 30 years.

To me there is nothing like the smell of rich black earth freshly turned in early Spring, being readied for snap peas and an assortment of colorful lettuce, or the sight of a red rambling rose sharing space with a mass of bright yellow Rudbekia growing along a stone wall.

I know that there are many of you out there who feel the same way. We are an odd lot. I mean odd in the sense that we would rather be turning a compost pile or planning a new section of garden, or tinkering in the greenhouse than almost anything else.

The purpose of my blog is twofold. First and foremost , I want to create a conversation between those of us that have a shared vision and passion for bringing back to our local communities , fresh, healthy, home-grown foods .

Secondly, I want us to be in a position of empowerment through shared knowledge. Acquired knowledge can help us to change and improve our farming and gardening practices, to enhance our understanding of the natural world and finally to take control of our own health and the health of our local communities.

I want to emphasize here that this blog is not necessarily for teaching purposes, but to begin a dialog between like-minded people.

I am the first to admit that I have much to learn when it comes to gardening and horticultural practices.

My desire through my articles is to inspire others to share their expertise and knowledge.

One person may have years of greenhouse or hoop-house management experience.

Another may be an expert in soil fertility and composting. Yet another may have strong marketing and administrative skills that can be applied to setting up productive local farmer's markets and CSA's .

Still another may have a background in integrated pest management, and would be willing' to share his or her expertise in combating the many pests that assault our vegetables and ornamentals.

Bringing valuable information to the table through shared gardening experiences is what I want this blog to be about.

It is my belief that there is an urgent need for many more urban and rural small farmers and gardeners in every corner of our fair land.