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About Coast river business journal. (Astoria, OR) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 2019)
8 • SEPTEMBER 2019 COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL COVER STORY “We had 100 feet worth of green- house and we just started building,” Bill said. Roll-up sides and fans were incorpo- rated to offset heat and a bunny fence was erected to protect the garden beds, particularly the peas. Necanicum Farms embraces natural gardening The tomatoes, including sakura, sun gold and marbonne varieties, were the biggest crops volume wise this past sum- mer, producing up to 40 pounds weekly during peak season. Anita sells in local markets in Can- non Beach and Seaside, and offers deliv- ery with a minimum purchase. The salad mix, a blend of salanova lettuce, has emerged as best seller. “The women say, ‘My husband will actually eat salad now,’” Anita said. Onions, peas, beans, zucchini were also productive crops, all grown from seed with a natural gardening approach, free of pesticide, herbicide and synthetic fertilizers. “I don’t use Miracle-Gro,” Anita said. “It’s more like cottonseed mill, kelp and LUKE WHITTAKER Anita Dotson quit her dentistry job of 30 years to become a farmer full time. “I’m outside everyday and I love it,” she said. a lot of lime, things like that.” Lime is sometimes added to neutral- APPLIANCE Get to The Point. PACKAGE DEALS Expert Service. Guaranteed. Trust your vehicle safety to the professionals at ize the acidic coastal soil. “The soil is the main key,” Anita said. “Your plants will tell you what’s going on with the soil.” This fall the Dotsons plan to attempt winter gardening for the first time, hope- ful to extend their growing season. “I’ll try to do some winter gardening in the greenhouses. We can maybe push it through December, it depends on the daylight hours as to how long I can do that,” Anita said. She considers peas, beans, potatoes, kale among the most conducive crops to grow on the coast, while carrots, onions and squash ‘do OK.’ “Tomatoes and cucumbers you really need to have in a greenhouse,” Anita conceded. “They need that extra heat.” Overall the Dotsons consider their first official year as farmers a success, and plan to add new crops and vegetable starts next season. Among their biggest lessons was the amount of time and effort that goes into harvest. “Growing it is easy. Getting it har- vested, packaged and out the door is the hardest part,” Anita said. “It’s been amazing though — I’m outside every- day and I love it.” PORTLAND DERMATOLOGY DEL’S O.K. TIRE Over 30 years in Clatsop County! Mattresses, Furniture and More! Same owners•Same tires Same great service YOUR #1 SOURCE FOR TIRES APPLIANCE AND HOME FURNISHINGS 529 SE MARLIN, WARRENTON 503-861-0929 Hours Open: Mon-Fri 8-6 • Saturday 9-5 • Sunday 10-4 We Service What We Sell CUSTOM WHEELS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES 503-325-2861 For emergencies 503-325-0233 35359 Business Hwy 101 (Miles Crossing) Astoria, OR Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6 · Sat- 8-4 Feel confident in your skin. Our expert dermatologists provide quality care patients have relied on since 1960. Now as The Oregon Clinic Portland Dermatology. (503) 223-3104 I OregonClinic.com