Dear members,
It is with a collective heavy heart that we write to announce the cancellation of the produce portion of our CSA program for the 2021 season. We simply do not have enough water.
In lieu of vegetables… grow flowers!
Fortunately, we will be able to run our strawberry u-pick patch (which is now three times as big) and our herb & flower garden which we are offering through a special Strawberry, Herb & Flower Garden Share!
Read on below for our thoughts on the drought year ahead, how it will affect the farm, a very special announcement, and tips on sourcing produce this year.
THE YEAR AHEAD
Every gorgeous, sunny day this Winter has been a surreal experience, hasn’t it?
To be honest, we have had a sinking feeling in our stomach since early January, having had no big storms yet and with none in sight.
We did a little research: The mean rainfall for the land here is about 43 inches. This year we’ve only seen 17 inches. That amount of rain has filled the irrigation pond before. But these back-to-back drought years, combined with the gentle, evenly spaced storm systems this winter, have meant that the hill drainages that fill our irrigation pond never actually flowed. Now, this late in the rainy season, even an epic storm wouldn’t get us within range of being able to grow the vegetables we so love to grow for you.
We will miss so many things this year; watching the sunrise over the fields and glistening off the dewy rows; the smell of the soil while bunching the first row of rainbow carrots; the threads of great conversation weaving through the days and months with the crew; bagging plump potatoes with CSA kids. First and foremost we will miss the joy it brings us to feed you.
This will be a challenging year for Green Valley Community Farm, but we will be OK. We will use it as an opportunity to pursue additional land offsite, to add options and resilience to the farm, so that we can continue building this beloved community with you for decades to come.
Kayta will pour extra energy into the flower garden and the gnome homes. She is excited about trialing new flowers: Fama Scabiosa and a purple Queen Anne’s Lace variety bred for cut flowers; fancy breadseed Poppies, a new variety of Verbascum, and a new drying flower called Xeranthemum among others.
We expect to harvest a beautiful garlic crop this Summer and will keep you posted on that. (Think, flower imbued garlic braids!) We will liquidate some unnecessary equipment. We are also pursuing a permit from the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture to grow block of cannabis on the farm this summer — a low water crop which, if approved, will serve as a financial lifeline for the year. (We’re thankful to our landmates for giving us the green-light to apply for this.)
Many of you have asked how you can help. The most helpful thing you can do right now is sign-up for our Strawberry, Herb & Flower Garden Share and to refer a friend! Spoil yourself this season with a investment in the sweetest things. And if we can get 100 members we will be able to cover the basic overhead costs of the farm season.
You can also frequent the farmstand in our cooler to help us move the remaining storage crops (potatoes and carrots) we have from last season (as well as a few fresh greens from the greenhouse and field).
Beyond that, you can keep being your sweet, supportive selves, and get PUMPED for 2022! You can also support our friends and allies in the local Sonoma County farm scene, who await you with open arms.
Read on below for tips sourcing produce…
WINTER SISTER FARM
One of the best things that happened last year was that Anna and her sister Sarah purchased a beautiful farm off Cooper Rd. in South Sebastopol! Their goal is to create a CSA specializing in Winter and Spring produce, flowers, and herbs. Hello, asparagus!
To stay updated, sign-up for their mailing list on their website here and follow @wintersisterfarm on Instagram.
In Kate news, she has taken over the beautiful sea-side bluff garden at Nick’s Cove on Hwy 1. Next time you’re cruising down Tomales Bay, be sure to stop in, say hey, and check out her beautiful handiwork.
GREAT LOCAL PRODUCE
Rest assured, dear members, the bountiful local farms of Sonoma County are here for you and await you with open arms.
Farmer’s Markets: With COVID hopefully easing up this Summer, look for West County’s Farmer’s Markets to return to their full glory. Even if pandemic restrictions remain, the Occidental and Sebastopol Farmer’s Markets are full of lovely, hard-working farmers and their farm fresh produce.
Tierra Vegetables: A farmstand and CSA located off Airport Blvd in Windsor. Lee and Wayne James have been growing exquisite produce, beans, and corn since we were in diapers. Their farmstand is an ode to their experience and passion. They sell masa and tortillas made from their heirloom corns; dried beans and lentils; and excellent produce all grown with sustainable practices and love. Stop in during normal business hours or join their CSA.
FEED Bin: Local food distributor FEED Sonoma puts together (and delivers) beautiful produce boxes from farms all over the County. FEED Sonoma is currently on the cusp of becoming a farmer owned cooperative and a wonderful organization to support.
Radical Family Farm: A woman-owned CSA in South Sebastopol specializing in Asian Heritage varieties.
