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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2021)
8 CapitalPress.com Friday, March 5, 2021 Deep Harvest Farm focuses on seed preservation WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — Having grown up on a seven-acre farm, Nathaniel Talbot always had in the back of his mind that farming was what he wanted to do. He was living in Portland as a musi- cian and environmental edu- cator working through non- profits, but it didn’t feel right for him. That was when Talbot and his now wife Annie Jesperson took classes in organic gar- dening, seed saving and urban farming. In 2010 they took the plunge and interned at an organic farm school on Whid- bey Island, Wash. “We decided we’d try (the internship) for a year and if we didn’t like it we could always go back to our normal jobs in Portland,” he said. “After a few months we decided we loved it.” In 2015, they bought a Amos Morgan Nathaniel Talbot and Annie Jesper- son own Deep Harvest Farm on Whid- bey Island, Wash. They moved from Portland in 2010 to pursue an agricul- tural internship and in 2015 bought a seed farm. small farm they could call their own: Deep Harvest Farm. Deep Harvest Farm car- ries over 120 varieties of cer- tified organic, open-pollinated and non-GMO vegetable and YOUR AD HERE some agricultural diversity in the past century. “I’ve been inspired and a fan of other seed companies that focus on preservation,” he said. “Seeing how people who are the sole caretaker of doz- Bag Needs? Bag Solutions! Full Color Print & Featured Online Ads When it comes to agricultural and industrial packaging, we’ve got you covered. Your Main Supplier For: •Mesh Produce Bags • Bulk Bags • Polyethylene Bags • Poly Woven Bags • Stretch Film • Closure Products • General Warehouse Supplies Call Your Sales Rep Today! Some Great Packaging Uses: • Seed • Hemp Products • Soil • Minerals 800-882-6789 S228943-1 From PJ, Great Northern, Iron Panther, M.H. EBY, Banens, Others flower seed on its 10 acres spread across three isolation plots. Talbot said he has always been interested in the pres- ervation of biological diver- sity, especially with the loss of We Focus on Service, Affordability, & Selection! Halsey, OR 97348 • 541-369-2850 www.smithpackagingservices.com S228931-1 He said it’s been “amaz- ing” and “hopeful” to see. One of the biggest chal- lenges they have faced is learning the hard way with seed production, birds and weather. “We made a lot of mis- takes,” he said. “It was trial by fire.” In retrospect, Talbot said they would have saved a headache if they took another year to work on a seed farm, but the busi- ness side of the farm ran smoothly. Last year they got their first employee to help out with seed packing, which helps because Talbot said they were both getting burned out shoveling seeds into packets. At this point they have been focusing on saving high quality seed and getting more creative with breed- ing varieties to have a more diverse farm. They also diversified in selling their flowers and pro- duce in Community Sup- ported Agriculture (CSAs) and are bringing in sheep, chickens and more fruit trees so they can manage the farm as an ecosystem. Talbot said they owe their knowledge and suc- cess to other regional seed companies. He also said he wants to diversify with more varieties of seeds, especially for shut-in customers buying seed for their gardens during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re just doing this because we love it and hearing from people who love what we’re doing and are excited to have regionally adapted vari- eties that are organic. People have been surprised and grate- ful for the product and that’s been wonderful to have,” he said. Beyond the feedback, the most amazing part for Tal- bot is “seeing the full feel of everything flowering.” “In June when all the seed plants are flowering, it’s peak seed season, and all the pol- linators are buzzing around, it’s one of the more beauti- ful sights that I’ve ever wit- nessed,” he said. TRUCK BEDS starting at • Dumps • Enclosed $2,650 • Utilities • Car Haulers Trailer Sales Diamond 541-360-0341 • 541-740-5135 • Flat Beds Your All Service Dealer • Halsey, OR 541-360-0341 • 541-740-5135 • Stock Trailers View our inventory: diamondksales.com S224483-1 ens of very rare varieties and just the stress and weight of responsibility. I thought they could use help in that vector.” Talbot said they believe small, regional seed com- panies that offer diverse, open-pollinated crops play a crucial role in building a healthy and dynamic seed industry. By ALIYA HALL For the Capital Press
