3 Squares Produce at 3 Squares Cottage

In my family, there are writers, public information specialists, program directors, systems analysts, nurses, HVAC tech’s, stylists, antique buffs, builders, and engineers, but deep down, really, we are a family of farmers. Raised by generations of farmers before, I cannot deny the call of days growing longer, the earth thawing and readying itself for a new year of planting, growing and harvesting. This is how I find my way through the seasons and years, marking the time as another generation now joins; learning from the past, applying the tools and technology of the present, preparing to feed the future. 

I was born in Hayward, California, and grew up surrounded by concrete playgrounds and tall buildings, but my father (farmer turned engineer) passed away suddenly of a massive cerebral hemorrhage when I was seven years old. My mother with me in tow, made her way back home to Utah. She re-met and married a high school friend, Ralph Larsen—a salesman by day and farmer by night in Bountiful, Utah. My quality of life, my heart, my sense of self have been ever-blessed by this strange turn of events, and the gift of a step-father, Ralph, the sensei who forged a connection between the outdoors and this city-girl who taught me to sense the magic in the blossoms and feel the power that lifts the shoots from the seeds. For me, among Ralph's greatest lessons from the farm: (1) Give each task full attention and dedication to excellence; (2) walk gently, speak softly, breathe in the peace whose very origin lives in the trees; and (3) We are connected to each other and to the land. The measure of a good harvest is not in what we reap, but in what we share.

Utah Naturalist and Author, Terry Tempest Williams captures this in an excerpt from her book, An Unspoken Hunger.

“If I choose not to become attached to nouns—a person, place, or thing—when I refuse an intimate’s love or hoard my spirit, when a known landscape is bought, sold, and developed or grazed to a stubble, or a hawk is shot and hung by its feet on a barbed wire fence, my heart cannot be broken because I never risked giving it away.  

But what kind of impoverishment is this to withhold emotion, to restrain our passionate nature in the face of a generous life just to appease our fears?  A man or woman whose mind reins in the heart when the body or spirit cries desperately for connection can only expect more isolation. Our lack of intimacy with each other is in direct proportion to our lack of intimacy with the land. We have taken our love inside and abandoned the wild.”

ANother SPring, ANother Beginning

3 Squares Cottage hosts the seed and sprouting cottage for 3 Squares Produce Farm, and since now is the time to start the seeds, things are really busy around here! At the far-back of the yard at 3 Squares Cottage, Jack and I have a seed room where all of the starts for the next growing period begin. The end of February and throughout March is the perfect time to begin growing the seedlings, which will be planted in May, in a controlled environment.

history

3 Squares Produce is a small family farm operation in both Davis County and Salt Lake County. The company began with my parents - Ralph and Shirley Larsen who moved to Bountiful, Utah and have been working the same ground, handed down for generations, since 1938. Ralph planted every tree in the small orchard, all grape vines, and just about every vegetable. My roots run deep in Bountiful; however, Jack has expanded the farming to areas in Salt Lake City and West Valley. He also assists my parents and the farm at their home. 3 Squares Produce grows fruits and vegetables naturally, meeting + exceeding organic standards. Roughly growing on 10 acres, this farm makes the most of the small amount of land using vertical growing techniques and concentrated plantings.

CSA Shares started and have continued throughout the years, which include: a four-week Spring season during May, an 18-week Summer season from early June through early October, and a four-week fall season to finish up the year. Along with CSA shares, there is an egg fridge on the west side of the cottage stocked with weekly-fresh eggs from Clifford Farm's. A dozen of eggs is $4.00 and can be purchased any time, just leave your money in the birdhouse above the egg fridge.

FAVORITE SEED COMPANIES -

TRIED AND TRUE

Throughout the years, Jack has researched and subscripted to hundreds of seed companies; however, considering 3 Squares Produce has been in production for nine years, since Jack and I took over the daily business operations, these are his favorite seed companies:

• Johnny's Selected Seeds When possible, 3 Squares Produce grows heirloom seeds. Sometimes; however, customers prefer hybrid varieties—especially of corn and lettuces. Jack likes Johnny’s Selected Seeds, additionally, for their unique garden tools, many of which were developed in conjunction with famous grower, Eliott Coleman.  

• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Baker Creek is the gold standard in heirloom seeds because of their wide selection and competitive prices. Jack’s  favorite items to grow from Baker Creek include: a large variety of tomatoes and cherry tomatoes: Copia (striped red and yellow), Black Brandywine, Black Cherry, Blueberry, Sun Gold mini-bite tomatoes (my favorite!), Cherokee Purple and Black Beauty. Baker Creek also stocks very rare seeds such as the very interesting and expensive Densuke Watermelon (pronounced den-SUE-kay), Charentais Melon (a cantaloupe classy French cousin), and a new variety this year, Apachetype Watermelon.  Baker Creek hosts a festival in Petaluma, California each year, and is definitely worth the trip!

• True Leaf Market, a local Utah Company True Leaf Market (formerly Mountain Valley Seeds) is located in South Salt Lake, Utah. They carry both heirloom and hybrid of all types of vegetables, herbs, flowers, and spouting seeds.  3 Squares Produce buys all of their peas and beans from them. One great thing about them is they offer free shipping on orders over $35.00, or free in-store pick up, if local to the area.

• Seed Saver’s Exchange works very hard to preserve the original varieties of all types of heirloom vegetables and fruits. A3 Squares Produce has been a member of the organization for many years; the small fee goes to support their efforts to keep little known and rare varieties of vegetation available for generations to come. They have all types of the classic varieties and several rare varieties of all types of seeds. A few favorites from Seed Saver’s exchange include red acre cabbage and early season greens (broccoli, cabbage, and kale).

Follow 3 Squares Produce on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Planting

Above, the pictures provide various varieties of lettuce, swiss chard, collard greens, and a variety of tomatoes which were planted at the middle of February and Jack continually plants flats prior to transplanting them into the field.

In the summer months the seed room turns into a cold room, used like an extra refrigerator after the harvest season filled with freshly picked fruits and vegetables.

Join us throughout the seasons to enjoy this local, home-grown produce + follow along to see how the cottage transforms. Hopefully, you have been inspired to start your own garden, seeds, or flowers as now is the perfect time to prepare for spring!