Meet Janelle Soja | Johnny Appleseed Organic Invitational Contestant
Janelle Soja is a contestant in the Johnny Appleseed Organic Invitational, an organic growing competition taking place throughout the 2022 gardening season! Learn more at challenge.johnnyappleseed.com.
ABOUT JANELLE
Janelle grew up with a love for organic gardening. “I was one of four kids, and we all helped with the garden. Each of us had our own row of beans and sweet corn we were responsible for weeding and harvesting. In college I had a small container on my townhouse balcony with tomatoes and herbs.”
Now that Janelle has her own children, her interest in organic gardening shifted to the responsibility of providing organic food for her family and passing on her love of growing to her children and community. She says, “Years ago, I read Kristin Kimball’s book 'A Dirty Life' and this quote stuck out to me — ‘Food, a French man told me once, is the first wealth. Grow it right, and you feel insanely rich, no matter what you own.’ I want people who visit my farm, sit at my table and eat my homegrown food, to feel rich, and even more, to feel nourished.”
Janelle currently lives and gardens on her family’s 35 acre farm in Medina, Ohio, where she employs multiple organic and regenerative practices: “My main garden is a 20x30 foot space right next to our house, and I add more garden spaces every year. I like to use crop rotation and companion plants to support nutrient absorption, bring pollinators into my garden, and deter large animals like deer and rabbits. I also utilize cover crops in the winter to prevent soil erosion and add nitrogen to the soil.”
ABOUT JOHNNY APPLESEED ORGANIC
Johnny Appleseed Organic creates sustainable, ethically sourced soil amendments that produce the same results as conventional fertilizers without harming the environment. Powered by a science-backed blend of cutting-edge microbiology and fungi, ClimateGard™ and ClimateYard™ empower homeowners, institutions and commercial property managers to reduce or eliminate nutrient runoff while enjoying vibrant gardens and landscapes.
ABOUT MOTHER EARTH NEWS
The most popular and longest-running sustainable-lifestyle magazine, MOTHER EARTH NEWS provides wide-ranging, expert editorial coverage of organic foods, country living, green transportation, renewable energy, natural health, and green building. Lively, insightful, and on the cutting edge, MOTHER EARTH NEWS is the definitive read for the growing number of Americans who choose wisely and live well.