The Tradition of Local Salad Mix lives on at Wayward Raven Farm

The following will be printed in the Community Food News Aug/Sept issue\:

Local Salad Mix Lives On at
Wayward Raven Farm


By Rebecca Kinman, Co-op Member

“My purpose for growing salad mix is to help raise awareness about what we put in our bodies.” That’s the mission for Wayward Raven Farm located west of Bozeman. It’s owner, Kate Huston, has many philosophical investments in what she calls “beyond organic farming”.

It all began with an herb garden in her teens. ‘My mother forced me to grow an herb garden,” So, with her bare hands, she broke up the soil, planted and watered a variety of culinary herbs. Then, back in 2005, while working in the produce department at the Co-op, Kate met Averil Health of Springhill farms. Looking to pass on her knowledge of growing salad mix, Averil took Kate under her wing and educated her about growing salad mix. Now Wayward Raven produces gourmet lettuce mix for restaraunts, caterers, and for our beloved Co-op.

How do they do it? Cooperatively, ofcourse “I consider all three of my staff people equal business partners.” Her workers basically make their own schedules and are allowed input into what is grown and what their tasks are for the day.

Certified Organic? Nope. Infact, this will probably never happen. “I believe that the organic standards have fallen.” When farm steers free of pesticides, herbicides synthetic fertilizers and genetically modified seeds, Kate beleives there’s no need to certify. Some of the more natural crop control methods used include beneficial bugs, weed-pulling, crop-rotation and biodynamic use of the farm materials. “Everything that comes off the farm goed back to the farm”. Says Huston She uses well water to water the variety of heirloom lettuces that are precisely cut to appeal to the eye and mouth.

“The American diet is becoming such a monoculture,” and or this reason, the exquisite mixes are made from over dozen varieties of heirloom lettuces. Even a few flowers are thrown in for good measure. Look for the salad mix with rose petals in the produce department and cheers to local, sustainable farms!