Almanac North
Growing Food
4/4/2025 | 26m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
We introduce you to a trio of women farmers in the Northland.
In this special episode of Almanac North, we introduce you to a trio of women farmers in the Northland. Ericka La Mar joins us from Early Frost Farms, Marlise Riffel shares a special homegrown recipe, and Jackie Clay-Atkinson takes us through the history of her many varieties of seeds and produce.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Almanac North is a local public television program presented by PBS North
Almanac North
Growing Food
4/4/2025 | 26m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
In this special episode of Almanac North, we introduce you to a trio of women farmers in the Northland. Ericka La Mar joins us from Early Frost Farms, Marlise Riffel shares a special homegrown recipe, and Jackie Clay-Atkinson takes us through the history of her many varieties of seeds and produce.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Almanac North
Almanac North is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ ♪ MAARJA: WELCOME TO ALMANACH PRIVETTE WE HAVE A SPECIAL EPISODE THIS WEEK ABOUT GRG FOOD IN THE NORTHGLENN.
OUR GUEST TODAY IS ERICKA A MAR, WHO ALONG WITH HER HUD JACK, RUN EARLY FROST FARMN EMBARRASS, MINNESOTA.
WELCOME, WE ARE SO EXCITEDO HAVE YOU HERE.
ERICKA THANK YOU FOR HAVIN.
MAARJA: I HAVE TO SAY I LOE NAME OF YOUR FARM.
ERICKA: THAT WAS MY HUSBA'S IDEA.
HE COMES UP WITH THE BEST .
HE DOES ALL OF OUR MARKETI.
MAARJA: I LOVE THE NAME.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FARM.
ERICKA: WE ARE IN EMBARRASD WE ARE LOCATED RIGHT ALONGE BIKE TRAIL, SO WE GET A LOF VISITORS TO OUR GENERAL STE WHICH CARRIES A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS, SUCH AS ICE CREAM TREATS, CANNED GOODS, AND PRODUCE, AND EMBARRASS THED T-SHIRTS.
WE ALSO HAVE A PICNIC AREAA BIKE FIXING STATION, AND AA POTTY FOR BIKERS WHO NEED A BREAK.
MAARJA: IT SOUNDS LIKE A DESTINATION.
ERICKA: IT IS, IT IS.
AND IN THE SUMMERTIME, WE A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANICALLY GROWN VEGETABLES WHICH WE L AT THE TOWERS FARMERS MARK, AND AT A COUPLE OF LOCAL SS AND GROCERY STORES.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE A STUO THAT CAN BE RENTED.
IT'S A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, E ARE LISTED ON AIRBNB, OR PE CAN GO DIRECTLY TO OUR WEBE AND RESERVE A SPACE.
AT EARLY FROST FORMS.COM.
MAARJA: WOW, IT COULD HAVEA LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING T. SO HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
ERICKA: WELL, IN ABOUT 201Y HUSBAND AND I WERE LIVING H LIVING IN HIBBING, AND WE DECIDED WE DIDN'T WANT TO COMMUTE, AND WE STARTED LOG FOR PROPERTY.
WE WERE KIND OF DEBATING BN LAKEFRONT PROPERTY AND RURL PROPERTY, AND AT THE TIME,E WERE AVID DEER HUNTERS, SOE SETTLED ON GETTING A RURAL PROPERTY BECAUSE WE COULD D THE LARGER ACREAGE, AND THS PROPERTY HAD BEEN ON THE MT FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
AND IT WAS PRETTY RUN DOWN, THERE WERE NO OUTBUILDINGS, THERE WAS THIS REALLY COOL GOTHIC STYLE BARN THAT HADR BEEN PAINTED, BUT IT WAS O8 ACRES.
SO I CONVINCED MY HUSBAND , WHO IS NOT ENTIRELY KEEN OE IDEA, THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS PLACE OUR OWN.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
AND THAT BEGAN OUR FARMING ADVENTURE, A IT HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE, BUT WE WOU'T WANT TO LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.
MAARJA: I'M SO EXCITED YOUL BE HERE FOR THIS WHOLE SHOO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HEAR ABT YOUR STORY.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF VIDEOST FEATURE PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT GROWINGUR- THEIR OWN FOOD.
WE WILL VENTURE UP NORTH TO VIRGINIA TO LEARN ABOUT A DELICIOUS SUMMER MEAL THATS CREATED WITH INGREDIENTS STRAIGHT FROM THE GARDEN.
>> EVERY YEAR THERE SOMETHG MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE LA.
MOST OF THIS IS JUST ORNAM, BUT THE BED RIGHT UP THERES PLANTED WITH KALE AND CHARD WE EAT A LOT OF KALE AND CD AND SOME NESTOR SHIMS.
WE ALWAYS TRY TO GO -- TO W CHARD AND KALE BECAUSE WE E THESE WONDERFUL SKULL CHARD FRITTERS.
WE TAKE A HUGE BASKET, I MN HUGE, FILL IT WITH CHARD AD KALE, STEM, BLANCH IT, PUT IN A BIG POT LIKE THIS, IT BLCHES DOWN TO A POWER LIKE THAT.
PUT IT IN A FOOD PROCESSORH THREE EGGS, TEASPOON OF SU, FRESH NUTMEG, GARLIC, AND PROCESS IT.
MAARJA: LOOKT THAT YELLOW SPIDER.
OH MY GOSH, IS THAT AMAZIN.
>> ANYWAY, PROCESS IT UP, D THEN THEY CAN, GROUND PORKR FETA CHEESE OR WHATEVER, AL OF THE HERBS, EVERYTHING, T ROSEMARY, THYME, SAGE, PARTIALLY, BASIL, OREGANO,E JUST HARVEST WHAT WE GOT, T IN THE FOOD PROCESSOR.
SO THEY ARE BRIGHT GREEN WN THEY COME OUT OF THE FRYER.
NOT ONLY ALL THESE HERBS PE THIS BIG BASKET OF CHARD.
WE FEEL LIKE A MILLION BUC, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT DINNER.
IT IREALLY AMAZING, IT IS.
>> GREAT, HEALTHY FOOD.
♪ MAARJA: I LOVE HOW SHE SAIT SHE FELT SO RIGHTEOUS, BECE SO MUCH GREENERY.
ERICKA: HAVE YOU HAD THEM?
MAARJA: NO, BUT I WANT ONE.
>> I'VE BEEN MAKING THEM FA NUMBER OF YEARS.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THESE FRS IS THAT THEY ARE VERY VERS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING EXN YOUR GARDEN, YOU CAN USE T. MAARJA: JUST THROW IT IN.
>> AND THE REAL SECRET IS G FRESH HERBS.
DILL IS MY FAVORITE TO USET THEY ARE SO, SO GOOD.
MAARJA: SO YOU KNOW HER?
>> I DO.
SHE WAS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORIE PROFESSOR WHEN I WAS A FREN IN COLLEGE IN 1987.
AFTER I GRADUATED, 30 YEARS LATER, I RECONNECTED WITH R AND WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS EVER SINCE.
AND SHE IS A HUGE INSPIRAT, HER AND HER PARTNER JUST HA BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.
THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
MAARJA: I ENVY THAT SKILL F BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGH YR GARDEN, JUST PICK A BUNCH F THINGS, PUT THEM TOGETHER D HAVE A FRESH, HEALTHY MEAL.
AND YOU COOK AS WELL WITH M FRESH VEGETABLES.
ERICKA: I DO.
MAARJA: DO YOU HAVE ANY AD?
WHAT IS YOUR GO TO?
ERICKA: NO ADVICE NECESSARY ABOUT COOKING, BECAUSE HON, IF YOU'RE USING FRESH VEGES AT THE PK OF SEASON, WHATER YOU MAKE IS GOING TO TURN T AMAZING.
MAARJA: DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIALTIES THAT YOU LIKE O EVERY SUMMER?
ERICKA: RATATOUILLE, FOR S. MAARJA: IS THAT EGGPLANT?
ERICKA: EGGPLANT, YOU CAN O ZUCCHINI, THERE'S CHERRY TOMATOES, JUST A WHOLE BUNF DIFFERENT VEGETABLES.
MAARJA: SO WHAT IS YOUR GAN VEGETABLE -- WHAT DOES YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN LOOK LIKEN TERMS OF -- ERICKA: IT'S A HUGE, HUGE VARIETY.
AND WE HAVE TWO HIGH TUNNEL HOUSES, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'E HEARD OF THOSE BUT THEY HEP EXTEND OUR GROWING SEASON T SIX WEEKS.
SO THREE WEEKS IN THE BEGIG AND THREE WEEKS AT THE END.
MAARJA: THAT'S IMPORTANT IN MINNESOTA.
ERICKA: I DON'T THINK YOU N NAME A VEGETABLE THAT WE 'T GROW.
MAARJA: OH, WOW.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ANR VIDEO HERE.
WE HAVE JACKIE CLAY-ATKINS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SHE A WAS AN INSPIRATION FOR YOUO GET STARTED.
ERICKA: A HUGE INSPIRATION.
ABOUT THREE YEARS AFTER WED ONTO OUR FARM, I WAS LOOKIG THROUGH THE PAPER FOR LAYIG HINTS, AND SHE HADN'T ADD R HINTS, AND SHE HADN'T ADD E DIRECTIONS TO HER HOMESTEAN ANGORA.
I SET OUT AFTER WORK, AND I TURNED OFF THE MAIN ROAD, S DRIVING DOWN THIS VERY LONG DRIVEWAY, AND SHE WARNED MT IT WAS LONG, BOUT A MILE AA HALF DOWN THIS LONG DRIVEWI STARTED GETTING A LITTLE BT NERVOUS, LIKE WHAT AM I GOO FIND AT THE END OF THIS DRIVEWAY?
AND IT OPENED UP, AND THE Y FIRST THING I SAW WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL LOG HOME.
AND IT WAS SURROUNDED BY GARDENS.
FRUIT TREES, VEGETABLE GAR, TOMATOES AS BIG AS YOUR HE.
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST AMAZIN.
MAARJA: LIKE AN OASIS.
ERICKA: IT WAS A PARADISE.
SHE MET ME OUT ON THE PORCE TALKED FOR A LITTLE BIT, AD WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, I RED WHO I WAS TALKING TO.
I HAD BEEN READING HER ARTS IN BACKWOODSOME MAGAZINE AD MOTHER EARTH NEWS FOR YEAR.
AND I GOT A LITTLE STARSTR.
YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I JUST REALIZED WHO U ARE.
CAN I TAKE A SELFIE?
SHE TOTALLY LET ME JUST TAA PICTURE WITH HER.
I STILL HAVE THAT PICTURE O THIS DAY.
AND THEN SHE AND HER HUSBA, WILL, GAVE ME THIS TOUR OFR OPERATION, WHICH WAS ABOUTA THREE HOUR LONG TOUR, BUT T FELT LIKE JUST A FEW MINUT.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHEN IT HOME FROM THAT TOUR, I TALY HUSBANDS IN ALL.
AND I SAID SHE AND WILL HAT THE BAR SO HIGH.
LIKE THEY ARE -- MAARJA: A GREAT INSPIRATIO.
ERICKA: WE HAVE NOT MET THT STANDARD YET.
WE KEEP TRYING BUT NOT YET.
MAARJA: WELL, LET'S MEET J.
♪ JACKIE: WE ARE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WE ARE ONLY ABO0 MILES SOUTH OF CANADA.
NO NEIGHBORS WITHIN A MILER SO.
WE JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
WE ARE TOTALLY OFF GRID.
THIS IS MY LOVELY HUSBAND,.
WILL: ONE THING I'VE GATHED SINCE BEING HERE IS ALMOSTY PLANT, EVERY SEAT HAS A ST. JACKIE: THEY DO.
AND WE ARE JUST SO TICKLED.
IT'S LIKE GROWING HISTORY N YOUR GARDEN.
AND THIS IS LIKE PLANTING AND THIS IS LIKE PLANTING'R MAYBE TWO OR 3000 YEARS OR LONGER.
AND IT'S BEEN A FAVORITE OA FAMILY THAT HAS PASSED IT N TO THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FRIENDS, AND ALL OF A SUDDE END UP WITH IT.
SO IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TOE GROWING THESE THINGS.
♪ JACKIE: 30 IS AGO, I WAS LG IN NEW MEXICO, AND I GREW S SQUASH.
IT'S A VERY ANCIENT HOPI IN SQUASH.
AND BY ACCIDENT, I LEARNEDT JUST LAYING UNDERNEATH MY , IT WOULD STAY GOOD FOR TWOS AND STILL BE GOOD TO EAT.
IT'S THE MOST FLAVORFUL SQH THERE IS.
WELL, I GOT MY SEEDS FROM E ABUNDANT LIFE FOUNDATION IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND I GRE SQUASH, I HAD HALF A PACK F SEEDS LEFT, AND I FOUND OUT THEY BURNED TO THE GROUND.
THEY LOST THEIR ENTIRE WARE OF ALL THESE ANCIENT, RARE SEEDS, MOST OF TM YOU COU'T FIND ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
AND HERE I AM WITH A HALF K OF HOPI SQUASH SEEDS.
I WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEHOW I DIED, THE SQUASH WOULD GO EXTINCT.
BECAUSE IN THIS COUNTRY AL, THERE'S 500 VARIETIES OF O, HEIRLOOM SEEDS THAT GO EXTT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO I COULDN'T HAVE THAT HAN WITH THESE.
SO I STARTED OFFERING FREES TO ANYBODY THAT WOULD WANT.
THE FIRS YEAR WE HAD ABOUT, THE SECOND YEAR ABOUT 150.
THE THIRD YEAR, 250 PEOPLE.
AND IT COSTS US ONE DOLLARR THE PADDED ENVELOPE AND A R AND SOMETHING TO MAIL THEM.
I TOLD WILL, WE CAN AFFORDO THIS ANYMORE.
PEOPLE WERE SAYING, WHAT EO YOU GROW THAT'S REALLY COO?
SO I SAID LET'S MAKE A LITE SEED LISTING.
ON MY PRINTER I MADE A ONEE SEED LISTING.
TOMATOES AND SQUASH, CORN.
HE DID REALLY WELL.
WE SOLD QUITE A B.
SO THE NEXT YEAR, THE NEWSR PRINTED OUT A LITTLE CATALE FOR US AND WE GREW MORE THS FOR SEED.
THE NEXT YEAR, WE GREW EVEE THINGS OR SEED.
WE WERE GETTING REALLY PUMN THIS BECAUSE WE ARE DISCOVG SOME ANCIENT STUFF THAT IS REALLY GOOD.
WE'VE GOT MUSK MELON FROM RUSSIA, WE'VE GOT CORN FROM CANADA, WE'VE GOT CORN FROM NATIVE PEOPLES RIGHT HERE N MINNESOTA.
SO SLOWLY, WE HAVE INCREASE AMOUNT OF SEED WE ARE GROW, AND THE CATALOG GOT FATTERD FATTER.
I'M STILL GROWING HOPI PILM SQUASH.
♪ WE ARE ALL ABOUT MAKING SUE THAT FAMILIES HAVE FOOD.
AND WE HAVE ONLY CROPS THAE A GOOD AMOUNT OF FOOD AND E GOOD.
♪ BUT THIS TOMATO ORIGINALLYE FROM ITALY, DURING WORLD W, AN OLD ITALIAN MAN THAT BRT HIM TO THE UNITED STATES FM ITALY IN HIS SOCK.
ANYWAY, THOUGH SEEDS WERE D TO BILL BEING, WHO WAS THE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER INS AREA.
SO WHEN WILL CAME HERE FROM WASHINGTON STATE, HE'S A VM VETERAN, SO HE WTED INTO TE VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE TO T SET UP WITH THE SERVICES, D BILL BEAN HAD WONDERFUL PIS OF HIS GARDEN, SO WE STARTD TALKING GARDENING.
WE TRADED HIM A HOPI SQUASR HIS TOMATOES.
HE ONLY CALLED THEN THE ITN TOMATO.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT A DOZEN ITN TOMATOES, SO THAT WOULDN'T, SO WE NAMED THEM AFTER HIM.
SO WE DID, AND IT IS THE BT TOMATO IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS OUR FAVORITE TOMATW MANY VARIETIES DO WE HAVE?
LIKE 90 VARIETIES OF TOMAT.
>> ALMOST 100 VARIETIES.
JACKIE: THIS IS OUR VERY FAVORITE.
WE REALLY HAVE AN AFFINITY TOWARD NATIVE CROPS.
THE REASON THEY BEEN AROUNS LONG IS BECAUSE THEY TASTE REALLY GOOD, THEY PRODUCE , AND THEY ARE PRETTY.
WE DON'T LI UGLY CROPS.
[LAUGHTER] AND THEN ALL WINTER, WE ARE FINDING NEW SOURCES OF NEW SEEDS.
SO EVERY YEAR, WE ARE TRYIW SEEDS, NEW VARIETIES.
AND SOME WORK AT WONDERFULD SOME ARE JUST SO-SO.
THE SO-SO ONES WE EAT, AND THAT'S IT, DONE DEAL.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO EVERYT.
WE ARE TWO PEOPLE.
THE PLANT BY HAND, WE WEEDY HAND, AND THERE'S ONLY SO Y HOURS IN THE DAY.
WE GO OUT AND WE SING TO T, EVEN.
WILL SINGS BETTER THAN I DI CAN'T TELL A LIE.
BUT THE NATIVE PEOPLES WOUD SING TO THEIR CORN.
THEY ARE LIKE OUR LITTLE CHILDREN.
♪ THAT CAME TO NEW MEXICO OUF AN INDIAN RUIN.
A NEIGHBOR OF OURS HAD A R. HE ALSO HAD THE REMAINS OFN OLD INDIAN RUIN ON HIS RAN.
HE NOTICED THIS ROUND THINN THE GROUND.
SO HE TOOK HIS KNIFE OUT AG AROUND.
IT WAS A LITTLE CLAY POT AT THAT BIG WITH A WOOD STOPP, SEALED WITH PINE PITCH.
HE WAS CURIOUS, AND HE DUGE PINE PITCH OUT.
THERE WERE THESE BIG, WHITE BEANS.
HE GAVE ME FIVE BEANS, SO I PLANTED THEM.
EVERY SINGLE ONE GREW.
SO I'VE BEEN SAVING SEEDS R SINCE.
HIS SON WORKED AT ALBUQUERT THE UNIVERSITY IN ARCHAEOL.
HE CARBON DATED THAT BEING0 YEARS IT HAD BEEN IN THE GD IN THAT POT.
WHO KNOWS HOW LONG?
>> UNBELIEVABLE.
JACKIE: IT WAS AWESOME.
SO WE GROW THOSE EVERY SINE YEAR.
NOTHING GOES TO WASTE.
EVERYTHING GOES FULL-CIRCLE AROUND HERE.
WE DON'T THROW ANYTHING AW, HARDLY.
SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE, OH MY, I NEED THE BLAH BLAH BLAH .
I KNOW WHERE THERE IS ONE,E WILL SAY.
SO I GO TO HIS LITTLE JUNK, AND BAM, THERE IT IS.
BUT LIKE OUR COWS, WE'VE GT COWS FOR BEEF.
THEY MAKE MANURE.
THE MANURE GOES INTO HUGE COMPOST PILES THAT HE PILEP WITH A BULLDOZER.
IT GOES OUT ON THE GARDENS.
IT FEEDS THE PLANTS.
THE PLANTS GROW.
THE PLANTS FEED US.
WE GIVE SEEDS, THE SEEDS BS FOR THE TRACTOR, THE DIESEO THAT HE CAN MAKE HAY ALL S, AND THE COWS GIVE US BEEF,T GOES AROUND AND AROUND.
IF YOU GO TO THE STORE ANDY FOOD, YOU COME HOME AND EA.
IT'S A DEAD END.
THAT ISN'T THE WAY IT'S SUD TO WORK.
THE PEOPLE THAT PLANTED THE BEANS ARE GONE, BUT THERE S ARE LIVING ON, AND PEOPLE E GROWING THEM IN THEIR OWN GARDENS.
IT'S LIKE GROWING HISTORY.
YOU COULD ALMOST STE THE MELON, CAN'T YOU?
SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY TO US, H IS YOUR FAVORITE TOMATO?
HOW DO YOU TELL?
>> WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK IS?
YOU GUYS HAVE A BLESSED LIP HERE.
JACKIE: WE DO, WE DO.
AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE EY SINGLE DAY.
AFTER BEING A CANCER SURVIR FOR, WHAT WAS IT, 20 YEARSO NOW?
TO HAVE THIS, IT'S WONDERF.
MAARJA: I CAN SEE WHY YOU E STARSTRUCK WHEN YOU MET HE.
I THINK I'M INSPIRED NOW.
ERICKA: THEY ARE JUST AMAZ.
SHE AND WILL ARE SUCH TREA.
THEY REALLY ARE.
MAARJA: AND SO HAVE YOU USD SOME OF JACKIE SEEDS?
ERICKA: OH, IN FACT, FROM E DAY I MET HER, WE ORDER ALF OUR SEEDS FROM HER.
MAARJA: ANY PARTICULAR SEES THAT YOU LOVE?
ERICKA: EVERY JANUARY, ONEY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE THINGS TO IS TO GET HER SEED CATOG, WHICH IS ABOUT THIS THICK .
IT COMES OUT EVERY YEAR.
TO READ HER DESCRIPTIONS OE DIFFERENT VARIETIES THAT TY CARRY IS SO MUCH FUN.
BECAUSE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IS A REAL CHARACTER.
DID YOU NOTICE THE T-SHIRT?
GARDEN NAKED.
SHE IS SO MUCH FUN, AND THE DESCRIPTIONS ARE JUST SO INTERESTING AND FUNNY TO R. MAARJA: YOU MENTIONED THATU HAD READ HER ARTICLES FOR .
ERICKA: THESE ARE LIKE ARTS ABOUT FOOD PRESERVATION AND CANNING AND GROWING.
SO, YEAH.
AND SHE IS AN AUTHOR OF MAY BOOKS AS WELL.
MAARJA: YOU CAN JUST SEE TE KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE HAS.
WOW.
SEEING JACKIE AND SEEING WT YOU HAVE, IS SOMETHING I'M INTRIGUED BY.
HOW DO YOU GET STARTED, CAU START SMALL?
ERICKA: YES.
IN FACT, YOU DO NOT NEED 18 ACRES TO GROW FOOD.
YOU CAN START WITH JUST A W POTS OR CONTAINERS.
YOU CAN START WITH A FIVE Y EIGHT FOOT POT -- PLOT COME THAT'S ALL YOU NEED.
YOU CAN GROW A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FOOD IN JUST A SL AREA.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOUD RECOMMEND IS, FIND A MENTOR A NEIGHBOR WHO LIKES TO GA, OR JOIN A LOCAL GARDENING .
IN ORDER TO JUST KIND OF HP YOU GET STARTED, AND TO ANR ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WA.
MAARJA THAT MAKES SENSE, WN SHE SAID THERE ARE 100 VARS OF TOMATOES, THAT SEEMS VEY DAUNTING, TO FIGURE OUT WHH TOMATO WILL BE ABLE TO GRO.
ERICKA: AND HERE'S THE THI.
SHE IS GROWING THEM IN ANG, MINNESOTA, WHICH HAS THE SHORTEST GROWING SEASON PRY IN AMERICA.
AND SO YOU KNOW THAT THE SS YOU GET FROM HER ARE GOINGO GROW IN DULUTH, ALL OF THEH SHORE THEY WILL GROW.
MAARJA: WHAT IS THE LEARNIG CURVE LIKE WHEN YOU START ?
WHEN YOU STARTED IN 2012, W DID YOU START?
ERICKA: I GREW UP WITH A MR WHO GARDENED.
SO I KNEW A BIT, BUT YOU KA LOT OF IT IS JUST TRIAL AND ERROR.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF MENTON OUR LIVES, AND JUST A COUPF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD DINNER WH SOME FRIDS, AND THEY HAVE N GARDENING IN EMBARRASSED FR OVER 40 YEARS, AND THEY ARA WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
SO WE JUST LEARNED SOME NEW TECHNIQUES COME IN JUST A E OF WEEKS AGO.
SO IT'S JUST TAPPING INTO E KNOWLEE BASE THAT IS AROUND YOU.
MAARJA: MAKING FRIENDS, YOU KNOW.
YOU ARE IN EMBARRASS, JACKE IN ANGORA, NORTHN MINNESOT, WHAT GROWS WELL IN OUR CLI?
ERICKA: YOU KNOW, THAT IS D QUESTION.
MOST VEGETABLES GROW WELL, DEPENDING -- I WOULD JUST Y THIS.
COLD-WEATHER VEGETABLES GRW WELL.
ROOT VEGETABLES GROW WELL, COLD-WEATHER VEGETABLES ARE KALE AND CHARD AND LETTUCE.
THOSE ARE KIND OF COLDHEARD CROPS.
WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDERS HOT WEATHER CROPS LIKE TOMS AND PEPPERS AND SWEET CORN.
BUT AS YOU CAN TELL FROM TE VIDEO, WILL AND JACKIE ARE GROWING ALL THESE THINGS.
MAARJA: YES.
ERICKA: SO IT CAN BE DONE.
A LOT OF TIMES WHAT YOU HAO DO IS START YOUR STARTS IN.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
THAT'S WHAT JACKIE AND WIL.
YOU DON'T JUST START PUTTIG SEEDS IN THE GROUND.
YOU START THEM SOMEWHERE NE AND WARM, GET THEM GROWINGA LITTLE BIT.
SO THEY ARE ABOUT THIS BIG BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY PUT THN THE GROUND, AFTER THE LASTT DATE.
MAARJA: WHICH CAN BE HARD O GAUGE SOMETIMES.
ERICKA: IT CAN BE.
MAARJA: IN YOUR DECADE OF Y FROST FORMS, WHAT IS THE BT PART?
ERICKA: OH, EATING FRESH FD THAT WE KNOW HAS BEEN GROWH ORGANIC PROCESSES.
SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NO PESTICIDES IN OUR FOOD, ANE OTHER THING THAT WE LOVE IT HAVING VISITORS COME TO THE FARM.
WE GIVE TOURS WE JUST VISIH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER.
ALL OVER, ACTUALLY THE WOR, WITH OUR B&B.
THAT'S THE BEST PART.
MAARJA: THANK YOU SO MUCH R JOINING US.
THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S .
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,'M HERE WITH ERICKA LA MAR.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
♪
Support for PBS provided by:
Almanac North is a local public television program presented by PBS North