NASHUA, NH – After four decades of organic farming, Rosaly Bass, shares what she’s learned in her book, ORGANIC! – a Gardener’s Handbook.
The Peterborough farmer will present her book and answer questions May 13 at 5:30 p.m., at Albee Phillips Kitchen & Bath Specialists, 83 West Pearl Street, Nashua.
Bass was named Gardener of the Year by the Northeast Organic Farming Association in January when she received her award at their annual winter conference. Stacey Purslow at the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire said the award acknowledges the many years of hard work Bass has devoted to organic farming, and the important mentoring she’s done all along the way.
Her late (and second) husband was Perkins Bass, who served as a U.S. Congressman, and whose son, Charlie Bass, also served in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In addition to her 42 years of farming, the selection committee wished to note the importance of Bass’s latest book, Organic!, a compilation of the many lessons learned by Bass while working the soil on her 25-acre farm called Rosaly’s Garden, in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
Bass wrote the book to help others understand the importance or growing with organic practices, and also to help folks avoid some of her mistakes. She hopes her book will encourage others to enjoy the miracle of planting a seed and watching it grow.
Rosaly’s Garden is New Hampshire’s oldest and largest certified organic farms, established in 1973. The farmstand will open for the season on May 15, featuring organic seedlings– herbs, flowers, and vegetables– the same plants grown on the farm.
Everything grown at Rosaly’s is organic– vegetables, herbs, flowers and berries. Ninety- percent of the produce is sold at the farm stand, and the rest to local restaurants, stores, several private schools, and a number of catering businesses.
Since the early days, Rosaly has learned how to do things better as well as to accept that there are many things she simply cannot control. However, she never stops learning and improving how she does things. Hundreds of young and not-so-young workers helped make Rosaly’s the success it is. Some have stayed one season and others have returned year after year. Many of her farmhands have gone on to start their own farms or manage other independent farms. Rosaly’s Garden has been a kind of incubator, helping to educate others about organic growing.
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