from Scott Cratty, Ukiah Farmers Market manager: Friend of the Farmers’ Market, OK, so my prediction of balmy weather was a bit premature. We had a bit of drizzle last Saturday (and a low turnout). But, THIS Saturday! Well, this Saturday should be just perfect. I expect you all to be there. Floodgate Farm and lots of your other favorites will be back. California Balsamics will be back at the market for the 1st time in 2 months, which means you will have a huge range of balsamics and flavored vinegars to sample. Spice of Life will rejoin us with a fresh batch of Janets Curry Blend made this week at the Spice of Life Kitchen. Small samples available upon request. Limited supplies so arrive early! Black Dog Farm promises an extra special jam of the week, strawberry & meyer lemon marmalade. If you think you like strawberry jam, you have to try this - its even better! SURPRISE! The competition was obviously less than fierce in 2014 (see the vote totals). But, much to my surprise, guess which market came in #1 IN CALIFORNIA in the American Farmland Trust 2014 I Love My Farmers Market Contest. Check your answer here: action.farmland.org/site/PageServer?pagename=state_standings# Kim Monroe will be playing for us. As always it is 9-noon on School Street at Clay Street. And now ... an opportunity to possibly help one of our market cornerstones, Lovin’ Mama Farm, find a new home. We are seeking 5 to 50 acres of valley bottom land in Hopland, Ukiah, Willits, Redwood, or Potter Valley. We would also consider the coast or Lake County, as long as the farm has fertile, flat soil. It would be ideal if the land could include a modest home for our family of 5. Fencing, irrigation, and barn/ storage space is a plus as well. Long term agreements, such as a 30 year lease, are necessary, so that we feel secure in our land tenure and can make investments in the soil and infrastructure. We are also looking for lease to own/owner carry/purchase options. In addition, we are interested in parcels that are part of a land trust or conservation easement. If you know of any people with fertile farm land who are interested in organic fruit and veggie production and local food security, we would love to chat! Lovin Mama Farm has been providing Renegade Certified (a local certification stricter than organic certification) produce and flowers for the past 4 years. Our business has made huge growth over this time, and we are constantly figuring out how to produce more food for our community. However, our farm is in danger, since our landlord is forcing us to leave only two years into our ten year lease. We must find a new, permanent location by September 2015, so that we can start preparing for the 2016 growing season. Our deadline to move our farm is February 28, 2016. Mendocino County is a major food desert. With most of the ag land dedicated to grape production, there are only a handful of small farms growing fresh produce for the region, and 98% of our food is trucked in from out of county. Small family farms like ours face many disadvantages in the global, corporate agribusiness world. Land access is probably one of the biggest challenges facing small farmers around the country. Since we do not receive any government subsidies, we are looking to our community to pull together and help us find land to farm. We are seeking investors and donations of any kind to keep our farm alive and thriving in Mendocino! Contact: Corinne Hansch or Matthew Leon Lovin Mama Farm 707-743-1327 Our farming methods and mission: Lovin Mama Farm is an eco-farm dedicated to providing nutrient-dense, delicious, and beautiful fresh produce, herbs, and flowers for residents of Mendocino County. We utilize beyond organic methods, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, organic compost, no-till or reduced tillage, and compost tea. We avoid spraying by growing flowers, herbs, and perennials that provide habitat for beneficial insects, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. We have a flock of chickens that get rotated around the farm for their tilling and insect eating abilities, building soil fertility as they go. We share our bounty with the Mendocino Community at local Farmers Markets, through our CSA, and at local restaurants and grocery stores.
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:09:44 +0000
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