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In today’s episode we speak with Jonah Sloven, from Sweet Hollow Farm, a diversified organic farm in Victor, Idaho. Sweet Hollow Farm serves the neighboring Teton Valley community through their CSA, farm stand, and farmer’s market.

Jonah discusses how his travels from his environmental studies ultimately directed him to small-scale agriculture and its beneficial effect on communities. His ultimate goal is to connect people with their food.

“For me, it’s a lot more than growing vegetables. I really want to grow the community and connect people with their food.”

Sweet Hollow Farm’s crops include leafy greens, root crops, and greenhouse tomatoes. Jonah says the CSA is the main focus for Sweet Hollow. He enjoys growing directly for his customers, as well as getting to know them personally. In addition, the farm sells at the Jackson Hole Farmers Market and a few local restaurants.

We’ll hear how the seemingly intractable problem of bindweed can be suppressed through cardboard layer mulching. His Western SARE-funded project researching this practice is addressing three questions: does the cardboard mulching control weeds; is it financially feasible; and third, what effect does it have on the soil?

Jonah explains how the project’s preliminary results are very promising. Hand-weeding has already been nearly eliminated. The project will be expanded and replicated through a partnership with Central Wyoming College’s Farm Incubator Program.

(photo by Jonah Sloven)

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