Wood Prairie Farm
 The Seed Piece Newsletter
             Organic News and Commentary
                  Friday, March 06, 2015
                        Volume 21 Issue 5

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 In This Issue of The Seed Piece:

    Winter is Breaking.

     Change on the way. Time to start thinking about seed. A few sunny days recently that worked their way up to the 20s remind us of warmer days to come, today’s -22ºF not withstanding. Much of the East has had a wild winter. February set records across Maine as being the coldest February ever recorded. Now that it’s warming up we’re back to being busy shipping orders – some of which have been delayed for weeks because of cold weather here in Maine or along the delivery route. Next week's forecast appears warmer nationwide. Wherever you are, we hope you’re close to experiencing Spring.

.
 Jim & Megan Gerritsen & Family
 Wood Prairie Farm
 Bridgewater, Maine

Click here for the Wood Prairie Farm Home Page.


Jim Gerritsen on Wood Prairie Farm. Last year end of April. Note snowbanks by high tunnel and pallet boxes.
The Price of Democracy From Seed Patents to the TPP.

     This week Jim was interviewed by Food Integrity Now host Carol Grieve’.
     The bare knuckle interview (49:15) covered a wide variety of hot topics. Subjects ranged from the Public Trust Doctrine, to the protection of the Commons in general and Organic Seed in particular, to the landmark OSGATA et al v. Monsanto federal lawsuit. This wasn’t the first time Jim has been interviewed by Carol. Carol is a talented host and always does her homework before an interview.

Jim & Megan.

Special Offer: FREE King Harry Seed Potatoes.    

     If you have trouble with insect pests on potatoes you should give King Harry a try. King Harry was traditionally bred (NO Genetic Engineering involved!) by potato breeders at Cornell university in New York by crossing wild relatives of potatoes. Researchers developed a good tasting potato with considerably fewer problems from insects. Pest: Colorado Potato Beetle, Potato Leafhopper and Flea Beetles.

     Here’s your chance to give King Harry a try. Get a FREE 1lb. sack of King Harry Organic Certified Seed Potatoes (value $11.95) on your next order where the goods total $35 or more. Offer Expires Midnight, Monday March 9th. Use code WPF451. Offer cannot be combined with other offers.


King Harry. Naturally resistant to a potato's three major insect pests.


Vegetables in France. Warm thoughts for a Winter day..

 A Story of Potatoes: Pomme de Terre in France.

     About this time of year in Maine, when the snow is at it’s deepest and cabin fever set in weeks ago, it’s nice to entertain thoughts about Spring. What better place to consider Spring than the French countryside.

     You are sure to enjoy this interesting article about French vegetables. Included is mention of the variety Charlotte, which our friend Eliot Coleman raves about and has grown for many years.

Jim & Megan

Click Here for our Certified Organic Vegetable Seed
Recipe: Delicious Versatile Tomato Sauce.
  2 cans (35 ounces each) plum tomatoes
  1/4 c olive oil
  1 c chopped onions
  1/2 c finely chopped carrot
  4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  2 T tomato paste
  1/2 c chopped fresh Italian parsley
  1 T dried oregano
  2 tsp dried basil
  1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  Salt, to taste

Drain the tomatoes, reserving 1 cup of the juice. Crush tomatoes with back of a spoon, and set aside.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over med-low heat. Add the onions, carrot, and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onions and garlic have wilted, about 10 mins.

Add the tomatoes, reserved juice, tomato paste, and remaining ingredients. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and simmer another 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Makes 6 cups

Megan

Delicious and Versatile Tomato Sauce.
Photo by Angela Wotton
Our Mailbox: Freedom From Conflict.

Dear WPF.

     Freedom from financial conflict might even be impossible.

LA
WWW

WPF Replies.

     I think this dilemma points to the tangled web of conflicted interests rampant in our politics today. For example, the GMA fights right-to-know GMO labeling by illegally laundering money from Big Ag and Big Food to buy electoral results. The GMA and their corrupt financiers are oozing with conflict of interest. Have they not lost their moral right to participate in these policy issues?

Jim
 Jim & Megan Gerritsen
 Wood Prairie Farm
 49 Kinney Road
 Bridgewater, Maine 04735
 (800)829-9765 Certified Organic, Direct from the Farm
 www.woodprairie.com