My Story
I am a school teacher and principal by trade, as well as a mother of 4 and grandma of 5. I’ve seen a universal truth: Kids will eat what they grow. You can’t grow a bag of Cheetos, but you can grow a sun-warmed tomato, and there is magic in that first bite! At Tooie Acres, my mission is rooted in the health of my own family and the strength of our community. I believe self-sufficiency is important for our health and survival, and I hope to help you discover the joy of feeding your family directly from the earth.
From Start to Starts
I don’t like to waste time and this process is fast. I also don’t like to “thin”. Pulling a seedling out of the earth simply because too many have successfully lived seems…wrong! So, each of my seeds are started on a plate, in a napkin, on my dining room table. When they sprout and develop their first set of budding leaves, I gently move them into the soil. It’s a lot of work but it’s rewarding. I have my hands on each root and tuck it into its warm bed of nutritious soil. This way, not only do I know I have one viable seed (as opposed to many I will eventually have to sacrifice), but I have been a part of its journey. I know how corny this may sound! And it’s a lot of work (especially for those herb and lettuce seeds!), but it’s one of my favorite parts of this process.
The compost I use is a mixture of Sonoma County Zero Waste compost and my own that I “cook” all year round. No growth hormones are used with my seedlings (or crops) and seeds either come from my own collection from my garden or reputable, organic providers.