Due to rising costs for both seeds and fertilizer and short supplies of fertilizer, many farmers in America have reduced their planting, which will lead to lower harvests and thus continued higher prices for our fruits and vegetables. Therefore, to avoid the high-cost inputs, many farmers and gardeners are “going back to the old ways” that their fathers and grandfathers before them used for their gardens: relying on manure, compost, and cover crops to nourish the soil so it can nourish us through our crops, and seeds you only buy once.

This week, the Agricultural Training Center was able to buy 40 large sacks of chicken manure from Poul Mirak. “Willy” (far right in the grey, collared shirt) is overseeing the transfer of the “fimye,” was one of the original partners of Poul Mirak when it started about 12 years ago, and he is still the farm manager now for Farmer John’s. This valuable manure is a rich source of nitrogen and other minerals that will boost the health and yields of our gardens.

Another important change many U.S. gardeners are making is going back to open-pollinated “heirloom” seeds instead of the hybrid seeds that have become dominant in the past 20-30 years. The hybrid seeds may be improved for one year’s gardens, but they cannot be saved from season to season and crop after crop, like the heirloom seeds that our grandfathers relied on. The hybrid seeds are expensive, and new seeds must be bought each planting season, but with open-pollinated seeds you never have to buy seeds twice, and you never run out of good quality seeds.

We rely on open-pollinated seeds donated by Hope Seeds International. Hope Seeds International is effectively reducing hunger and bringing hope in Christ by supplying these important seeds around the world, feeding those hungry in body and soul. We depend upon our critical partnership with Hope Seeds International and thank them for all they do for the hungry throughout the world, promoting growing your own food, saving seeds, and following Christ.

Rad Hazelip, Assistant Executive Director