HiHoe Produce at Bluebird Farm
Chi, owner of Hi Hoe Produce at Bluebird Farm, standing in front of field of calendula flowers.
Dry maize hanging in the barn.
Chi demonstrating how to operate the manual maize grinder.
Chi and his wife are avid botanists as well as farmers.
They grow a wide array of exotic flowers.
A beautiful cactus.
Chi and his calendula garden. Studies have suggested that Calendula extracts have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Calendula tincture is used topically for treating acne, reducing inflammation, controlling bleeding, and soothing irritated tissue. Calendula has also been used traditionally for abdominal cramps and constipation.
On our visit, we learned cover crops improve soil by adding and retaining minerals and organic matter. They also reduce soil erosion, and keep soil loosened and aerated, while increasing water infiltration and helping suppress weed growth. Some even attract beneficial insects.
They grow beautiful radishes…
…lovely cucumbers…
and pears.
Barrel style root vegetable washer. This wooden cylinder cleans crops by jostling them as they are sprayed with powerful jets of water.
