Getting Off the Farm

January has been a busy month for us in regards to farm related meetings and social gatherings. As part of my duties as President of the Central Coast Chapter of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) I helped to organize our annual meeting which was held in nearby Aromas on Monday the 12th. Three wonderful presenters agreed to speak on topics that are very relevant to growers here on the Central Coast. Lisa Bunin from The Center for Food Safety spoke about efforts to get the organic strawberry industry to transition to organically produced starter plants. Shimat Joseph from The University of California Cooperative Extension talked about the Bagrada bug, which is emerging as a major pest for organic growers up and down the entire state. And John Pedego from the California Department of Food and Agriculture spoke about the passage of AB 1871 and what it means for the state’s efforts to control fraud (the buying and selling of produce that certified venders did not grow) at farmer’s markets.

We had a great turnout of wonderful folks from throughout the area and the combination of good company, a beautiful setting, and great food made for a special evening (and I learned a little about managing meetings, as it ran on much too long).

Also this month was the annual meeting for the Cal-Core Network for which we are a collaborating grower. This large multi-year study looks at the effects of different rotations on yield, disease suppression, insect pressure, and carbon sequestration, among other things, in organic strawberry and coastal vegetables fields. The annual meeting is when most of the researchers, collaborators and growers come together to present their findings. This year’s meeting was well attended and among the highlights was the presentation of a computer model that can accurately predict denitrification and carbon sequestration.

And last but not least was the awards dinner at the annual EcoFarm Conference in nearby Pacific Grove during which my Aunt and Uncle, Jean and Jerry Thomas, received a “Susty” (Stewards of Sustainable Agriculture) award—about as high an honor as organic growers in this area can receive. EcoFarm always has a special atmosphere—a place for growers and others involved in the organic movement to reconnect and get re-inspired after a hectic season—but it was especially so on this evening.  During their acceptance speech my Aunt and Uncle entertained a packed hall with tales of what it was like back in the early days. Jean and Jerry have been our mentors from the beginning. In fact, they launched us into farming back in the late 1990s when they let us take over the Corralitos Connection CSA, which they had started with New Natives and Blue Heron Farm a few years earlier.

It’s been fun getting re-connected with folks, getting informed and inspired, but now the ground is dry, the greenhouse is full of transplants and there is work to be done.