Farm Girl's Farm Resolutions

Since people typically make New Year's resolutions during this week, I thought it might be a good idea to make some farm related resolutions here.

And, since my purpose in creating this blog and writing about farming is to emphasize a sustainable food system, I thought I should try and make resolutions that will help to do this.

For starters, sustainable agriculture has some primary goals: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity, so I think that my resolutions should somehow match these.

I am not a farmer, a producer, or even a food professional, but I am a consumer. And as a consumer, I (like you) have more power than I often think. How so?

One of the most basic ways to help meet the goals of creating a sustainable food system is through your purchases. According to the UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, "Consumers can play a critical role in creating a sustainable food system. Through their purchases, they send strong messages to producers, retailers and others in the system about what they think is important."

So, first off when I shop, I resolve to make it clear that I don't want my food outsourced, I don't want my food processed, and I will do all that I can to support small sustainable farmers, so I will ask where my food comes from, who grew it, and how it was grown.

One way to do this is by buying locally whenever possible, which for me, means shopping at the farmers market. There, I can meet the people who grow my food and learn all about it.

I also have some other food resolutions that I have been thinking about for some time. First, I write about fruits and vegetables, and I really need to buy more of them, try more of them, and cook with them, this is a goal I have; to educate myself more on how to use the wonderful bounty we have in California. I also need to wean myself from my processed, junk food addictions, i.e. Cheetos and chips, a habit I have had since I was a kid, very tough to kick but I need to.

As for my other farm related resolutions, as a writer, I need to visit more farmers' markets and local farms to see what's new, what's available, in order to do a better job. Related to this is the goal of having more of my work about sustainable and local/urban agriculture published. So, hopefully my renewed focus here will help that.

Happy New Year to you all and may '08 be a great year for our local farms!

The Farm Can Come To You

The Milkman Comes to LA Farm Girl

It's been a busy week, with the holidays, writing, volunteering, so I thought I'd post just a quick post-Christmas note to let you know an easy (and nostalgic way) you can have the farm come to you.

Today is Wednesday and this morning, just like each Wednesday for the past year-and-a-half, LA Farm Girl was awakened about 6:45 a.m. by a familiar and comforting sound: my milkman's truck.

That's right, the milkman still comes and delivers farm-fresh milk (from Rockview Farms) to my house. And to top it off, I order Good Heart Organic Milk, that is CCOF certified (California Certified Organic Federation), none of that watered down USDA Certification stuff for me.

My milk man is a lovely gentleman named Don Limon, who has been delivering milk for Rockview Dairies for the past 40 years and he lives right here in the South Bay and is a sweetheart.

If you're interested in having your own milk and other items delivered (I also get cottage cheese and chocolate milk for my hubby), check out their website: www.rockviewfarms.com. They are still headquartered in Downey and family-owned, it costs a bit more than going to the supermarket, but to me, it's worth every extra penny to support them.

Celebrate Winter Solstice with Winter Produce

Today is the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day of the year and the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, and the first "official" day of winter.

Despite it being the shortest day of the year, the good news is that every day from now until late June, the days get longer until we reach the summer solstice.

It’s also traditionally considered a "pagan" celebration so that's probably why it's so appealing to me, (not surprising for those who know City Farm Girl).

In all seriousness, I think I like to observe all of the natural rhythms of the seasons because it's a reminder that since ancient times, we have been dependent upon them, they have determined what can grow when and where, and what we eat.

Sadly, we have lost that. We shouldn't be able to eat stone fruit (i.e., nectarines, peaches, plums) in winter if we live in the northern hemisphere, they don't grow here. But, we have disrupted nature's rhythms out of convenience and our ability to "control" it. It just makes me wonder though, but at what cost? That's why for me, it's nice to take a day like winter solstice to remember how things are truly meant to be.

And following the seasons doesn't mean we won't have good produce to eat. Just because we can't get peaches, etc. now, there are actually some produce favorites coming into season now so watch for some of these items at your local farmers' market.

As winter arrives you will find apples, pears, and citrus varieties including navel and blood oranges, tangerines, and tangelos, as well as greens including kale, kohlrabi, cabbage, chard, broccoli, and lettuce, spinach, and turnip. Through the end of the year, you can also still find kiwifruit, cherimoyas, almonds, walnuts, and dates.

Don’t forget that produce availability, variety, and yield are based on California growing seasons, the weather, and amount of rainfall each year.

Another way we live with the seasons.

LA County Agriculture

Since it's the end of the year and since I am working on documenting the history of agriculture for part of the County, I thought it was a good time to reflect on L.A.'s long, rich farming history.

First off, this information came to me courtesy of a wonderful woman, Cynthia Werner, of the Department of Agricultural Commissioner
Weights and Measures, Los Angeles County. She's not only an Ag. Inspector, but she also serves as the agency's Public Information Officer and she truly is a fountain of knowledge. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude for helping me with my book.

Anyhow, she had sent me a copy of the 2006 Los Angeles County Crop and Livestock Report which just happens to feature some great photos from the past because the Department is celebrating their 125th anniversary. You can download a copy online here to see some of them: http://acwm.co.la.ca.us/scripts/publications.htm

Some of the information in the report is hard to believe considering that most of us don't see any evidence of any agriculture in our day-to-day lives. However, there's still plenty here and our history is so interesting.

For example, Los Angeles County was the nation's top farm county from 1909 to 1950!!!! That is an amazing statistic to me. And, citrus was the San Fernando Valley's biggest industry, with at least four packing houses producing annual shipments of nearly 500 rail cars of lemons and oranges.

What happened of course is that post-World War II residential development replaced acre after acre of groves with suburbs although there were still 54,000 acres of citrus in LA county in 1970, until we let our agricultural land be almost completely replaced.

Today, there are 1,923 acres of fruit and nut crops, and 5,959 acres of vegetable crops. The largest agricultural commodity in the county is now nursery products which make up 3,496 acres.

Another interesting fact is that the first Certified Farmers' Market in the County opened in 1979 in Gardena, and continues today as one of over 90 operating in LA County, which make up about 25% of all farmers' markets in the state.

The last statistic that I was really surprised at was the fact that we actually have a pretty fair amount of sustainable agriculture ventures in LA County. In 2006, there were a total of 111 acres of organic farmland including 22 acres of vegetables, 24 acres of citrus, 27 acres of grapes, 13 acres of peaches, and 1 acre each of apples and cherimoya.

Nancy's Ranch

In case you still haven't gotten your Christmas tree, I just thought I'd let everyone know about another wonderful Christmas tree farm; Nancy's Ranch in Santa Clarita.

This is an old-fashioned family farm that lets you cut your own Monterey Pine from the farm, or you can choose a pre-cut fir from their pre-cut lot. Come and support one of the last of it's kind actual tree farms here in LA County.

Nancy's is located at 25039 Magic Mountain Parkway about 1/4 mile east of I-5, (661) 255-6943, http://nancysranch.com/tree_sale/index.html

Good News:Farmer John Out In DVD

Well, I got over my disappointment and remembered that I had wanted to post to let everybody know that the DVD "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" is now available for purchase.

Not sure what it's about? This documentary tells the true story of lifelong (and maverick) Midwestern farmer John Peterson and his struggle to create the kind of farm and community he wants, despite being demonized and viewed as a criminal in his community, he ultimately transforms his farm despite nasty gossip and rumors about him, a sagging economy, and more, creating Angelic Organics. Check out his site to learn how more about the film, and about his farm, Angelic Organics, http://www.angelicorganics.com/.

Cover Photos Disappointment

Just a quick post to let you know that after my shameless plug and bragging, it turns out that none of the photos I submitted to the publisher are good enough to be used for the cover.

So, that means I am back at square one and not sure what to do next. Any ideas? Suggestions? Tips? I sure could use some helpful advice and support.

Anyhow, life goes on and there's plenty of other work and wonderful projects to be involved with including writing some entries for the Encyclopedia of American Environmental History and updating the newsletter for the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market.

More later once City Farm Girl gets over this latest setback.

LA Farm Girl's Shameless Plug

Torrance circa 1931 near my neighborhood! Oil and agriculture!

Well, I just have time for a quick post tonight because (and here comes the shameless plug) I spent the better part of the past two days working on some photo choices for the cover of the book I am working on.

I am doing a pictorial history book for Arcadia Publishing and it's called Farming in Torrance and the South Bay and it will tell the story of the importance of agriculture and family farms here in the South Bay. As I keep uncovering these wonderful stories I will share them here.

So, I thought I'd show you at least one of the possible choices and see if you all think its book cover worthy (although it's lower quality here).

Eating Locally: What's a Locavore?

While at the Torrance Farmers' Market on Saturday I noticed a table in the middle of the market with signs reading "Eat Local" and was greeted by some very enthusiastic UCLA students and their professor, Dr. Michael Silverman.

Very intrigued, I asked them what their booth was all about and they told me that this was part of a project that they were doing for their class about sustainable agriculture and gender, and doing a public program at the market was their idea and how they chose to fulfill their class requirement.

Basically, their goal (as is mine) is to point out that it's better to eat locally and if possible, organically. Why? Did you know that food typically travels between 1,500 to 2,400 miles from farm to plate in the United States?

Think about the effect not only on the food itself, which loses taste, freshness, and overall quality, but about the energy required to transport that food.

The Solution? Eat locally! For those of us living in California, this is much easier since we have a bounty of fresh food to choose from, and we have over 300 farmers' markets to shop at as well.

Eating locally has become an important tool in helping to promote better eating while helping the environment and has become so popular that the Oxford University Press chose Locavore as its 2007 Word of the Year.

As Oxford outlines, "a locavore is somebody who uses locally grown ingredients, taking advantage of seasonally available foodstuffs that can be bought and prepared without the need for extra preservatives. It encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, believing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better."

Locavore was coined two years ago by four San Francisco women who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Since then, other groups have adopted the same motto and the "movement" has spread.

In fact, that's one of the reasons I started this blog, to not only inspire myself to try and increase the amount of locally grown food I use, but to show others how to do the same. So, that's what I will do here, point out local sources, resources, and show how important and easy it is.

Busy Community Service Day

Mary Lou Weiss, Market Manager, Torrance Farmers' Market

I just wanted to post and let everyone that I will be adding a "real" post later today or tonight since today I will be busy out in the community.

First up, is a flower arranging workshop with the Senior Gardeners at Torrance's Bartlett Senior Center. Then, it's home to get ready for the Torrance Public Library Commission Meeting.

I do have a super photo to post though, of my friend and Torrance Farmers' Market Manager, Mary Lou Weiss who had to bundle up on Saturday since it was quite chilly. Enjoy!

Support The Vets Garden

The Veteran's Garden at the West L.A. Veteran's Administration is not only a good example of what urban agriculture is, i.e., basically it's a small farm, with 15 acres, but it's a wonderful place that offers horticulture therapy to vets, enabling them to heal and learn a valuable new skill.

The garden was established in 1986 as a work therapy program, and continues to run as a fully self-sufficient business, selling fresh-grown, pesticide-free produce to individual customers and several local restaurants.

You can find a wide variety of plants, herbs, and floral arrangements, and produce either directly at the garden or at one of their weekly sales at the Main Hospital or the Federal Building. Check out their website for exact times, locations, etc. http://www.gla.med.va.gov/vetsgarden/vetsgarden.htm

The Veterans Garden is also home to the Westwood Farmers' Market each Thursday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. http://www.westwoodfarmersmarket.com/ .

While the garden is designed to be self-sustaining, donations and volunteers are always needed, particularly now as more and more vets are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

An easy way to support them is to come to their Christmas Open House Sale this Saturday, December 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They will have a wide variety of holiday greens and decorations for sale including garland, swags, wreaths, centerpieces with candles, and custom flowers. In the event of rain, the Open House will take place on December 15th instead.

Click here to learn more about this wonderful farm: http://www.capitalpress.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=1007&SectionID=67&SubSectionID=616&S=1

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah! Since tonight is the first night, and one of the classic dishes served throughout Hanukkah is potato latkes, I thought it was a great time to remind everyone to buy farm fresh potatoes.

Where to buy them? Your local farmers' market of course! And, my favorite farm that has yummy potatoes; Zuckerman Farms.

Roscoe Zuckerman farms 1,300 acres on Mandeville Island just outside Stockton. Zuckerman’s Farm was started in this location by his grandfather in the 1940’s.

His almost entirely organic peat soil is perfect for potatoes and he grows many varieties, year-round, most not found at your local grocery store. Some in vibrant colors of red and purple, and the ever popular Yukon Gold and fingerlings.

Some of the farmers' markets where you can find Zuckerman's include Torrance, Hollywood, Encino, and Pacific Palisades.

Check out their profile on this KQED site when they were chosen Farmers' Market Farm of the Month: http://www.kqed.org/topics/home/cooking/farmer-month-apr.jsp.

Real Christmas Trees Come From Farms

Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm

Fillmore and Western Tree Train

Since there's now only a few weeks left until Christmas and the stress of shopping has no doubt gotten to you, not to mention trying to keep up with everything on your list, why not try enjoying it as you cross the Christmas tree off of your list.

While I know my blog is called "LA Farm Girl," I am going to bend the rules a bit here to highlight an awesome outing in Ventura County; the Christmas Tree Train at Fillmore and Western Railway.

This Railway runs through the beautiful agricultural scenery of the Heritage Valley to the Santa Paula Christmas Tree Farm. There, you get off in search of that perfect tree which you choose and cut yourself. Then, you take your tree back with you on the train while enjoying the relaxing ride back.

It's perfect for all ages, Santa even makes his way through the train. You get a fresh-from-the-farm tree, and you get to remember what the holidays are really about for a brief time.

Check out their site for more information and to make reservations which are a must since the trains are filling up quickly! http://www.fwry.com/tree_trains_2007/Tree_2007.html

Today is World AIDS Day

Just a simple note to remind everyone to take a moment to remember friends and loved ones who have been affected by AIDS/HIV, especially those we have loved and lost.

Not sure what World AIDS Day is? Click here http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/days/world/index.html