In your April 2023 issue you had a note about how no one writes letters to the editor anymore. I have subscribed since 2005, when Charles Walters was still at the helm.
It seems ever since the change of ownership the magazine has dropped in size from 96 pages to 60-65. I am wondering if people quit writing because they are not as happy with the new format, etc.
I wrote a letter last year inquiring about why you now allow adds from companies like Vitalis seeds who sell patented seeds, which I strongly oppose. My subscription expires soon, and I am weighing whether to renew or not. I feel that strongly about it. Lydia Lazar says the magazine will hold to Charles Walters’ founding principles. I doubt he would approve of patented seeds. Since the change of ownership, I am wondering if Acres will end up like Seed Savers Exchange and have a revolving door of executive directors, which is not healthy for any organization. The articles on seeds used to be more in line with my values and had outstanding content. Also, articles from Vandana Shiva have disappeared. Is this because she hammers Bill Gates on seed freedom?
Makes me wonder sometimes. I would also like to see a return of a good letters section.
Steve Ford
Casper, Wyoming
You asked for letters, so here goes.
I’ve been a reader for about five years, which coincides with when I started a new garden plot. The issue on vegetables hit me right in the wheelhouse. Just so happens that our little piece of property is in southcentral Kentucky. Cover cropping has been one of the main vehicles to improving our soil. I split the plot in half and grow crops on one side and cover crop the other during the summer, rotating each year.
I was blessed with some weathered clay with a low exchange capacity — three and change. I also make and use some compost. Using the concepts I’ve learned through Acres and other books and publications, my ground is much improved. TEC is now eight, organic matter up over 1 percent. However, after all my efforts and intensive cover cropping, I must say that my “soil” doesn’t look anything like the handful of “rich soil” that appears in Jesse Frost’s article. From the picture on page 1 it appears that Mr. Frost uses the deep compost mulch system of no-till gardening. Nothing wrong with that. By chance, while watching one of Mr. Frost’s YouTube videos, there was a fill shot of him setting posts. As soon as the posthole diggers penetrated the “rich soil,” the dirt that was underneath looked very similar to my soil.
I would hate for someone new to the game to be misled into thinking that they could grow a couple of cover crops and have soil like that which Jesse is holding. It’s a long road. I applaud Mr. Frost for all the information he has made available to the public. He has helped a lot of people, and I am one of them. Just remember, there may be readers who are new to these concepts. Let’s not give false hope. As Jesse said in the latter part of his article, “Your results may vary.”
Keep up the good work.
Malcolm
Amos, Kentucky
