From Fighting To Farming

In honor of Veteran's Day I updated my Fighters to Farmers story I did a couple of years ago about the wonderful work that the Farmer-Veteran Coalition does. They help our veterans heal and also work towards building a healthy and sustainable food system.

UPDATE 11/11:Tom T. Ishibashi Farm Misc. Equipment & Supplies For Sale

Those of you who follow LA Farm Girl regularly know that not only has it been ages since I have posted, but that I have written much about the wonderful Tom T. Ishibashi Farm @ Torrance Airport and that sadly, Tom passed away in May and his family is finishing out the season since he planned/planted for it.
Tom T. Ishibashi’s farm stand and farm is located at Torrance Airport and is the last farm in Torrance. He was the last farmer from a Japanese American family that has farmed in the South Bay, since the early 1900s mostly on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in Torrance, the Ishibashi’s have been farming the area at the Torrance Airport for the past 60 years and sadly, with his death, the end of an era and the farm comes.

This means that all of the equipment, etc. has to be sold or disposed of. So, I have offered to help spread the word for them.

UPDATE: The farm is now closed. So, if you are interested in any of the following items they have made an email address available for people interested in finding out more info. tomtfarm@yahoo.com.

Address: 24955 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance, CA

Here’s a list of some of what they have (looking for best offer on most things):

Lug Boxes - They have about 1,000 of them. For those who buy a lot of them, they are asking $5 a box; or if you only want a few, then they are asking for $10 box.

Lug Box

Strawberry Baskets – There are 34 cases of clear plastic type, (Pactiv Brand item # 92519) 4 1/8 x 4 1/8, and are asking $100 per case (1200 in a case).

Clear Strawberry Basket

Tomato Trays – They have about 200 of these

Strawberry Trays - They have about 200 of these

Fruit Trees – They have a Japanese persimmon, 3 olive trees all in ground, and 9-12 fig trees, green figs, not sure of variety but they are all in the ground.

Miscellaneous Farm Equipment & Trucks – They have tractors and trucks that are all different and all different ages, some very old and some not so old.

Tomato Stakes – 5 feet each, they have several hundred of these.

5 Foot Tomato Stakes

Irrigation Pipes - They have narrow ones that are 20 feet in length, and wider ones 10 feet. They also have fittings plus working sprinkler heads.

30 Years of Good Food

Here's my LA Urban Agriculture Examiner post all about this week's Good Food Festival and Conference in Santa Monica. It runs from Wednesday, September 14 through Sunday, September 18. Come and celebrate Santa Monica Farmers' Market's 30th Anniversary and have yummy food, hear from renowned good food panelists, attend the trade show and learn how to be a better urban farmer!

Check out my story for links and more info. 30 Years of Good Food

Come To Celebrate & Honor The Ishibashi's Farm History on PV Peninsula

It seems that in the past few months, my blog has become very Ishibashi family-centered and sadly, not always with good news about them.

This morning's Daily Breeze has a front page article about plans to sell the family's historic Ishibashi Ranch on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Ishibashi Family Selling Historic Portuguese Bend Ranch.

The 5-acre ranch is part of the land that James' and Tom's father leased in the early 1900s. The Ishibashi's were one of about 40 Japanese American families who farmed the Palos Verdes Peninsula on leased land at the turn of the 20th Century since they were not permitted to own land.

As a way to honor their farming legacy, Sande Ishibashi is having a celebration at the ranch house on Saturday that is open to the public.

Annie's Stand

Here are the details:

What: Celebration at the Ishibashi Ranch

When: Saturday, July 16, 2 p.m.

Where: 5521 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes

Support the Ishibashi Family and Shop At The Farm Stand!

Today I was at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and for those familiar with the area, you know that it is right across the street from Torrance Airport and the Tom T. Ishibashi Farm.

I parked up on the roof of the parking structure and stopped to look down at Tom's fields and tears came to my eyes when I saw the bounty that was still there and nearly ready, namely the wonderful sweet, white corn that he has become so famous for each summer.

Tom T. Ishibashi's last crop of sweet corn

For a brief moment I forgot that he was gone. It was both comforting and sad to see the farm was still there. Despite the sadness I feel, I am happy that his family is finishing out the season and that the farm stand is still open. So please, go and shop there and support them in this difficult time and give Tom a successful last season.

The Tom T. Ishibashi Farm Stand is located at 24955 Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance, alongside the Torrance Airport next to Armstrong Nursery.

Rest In Peace My Farm Hero, Tom T. Ishibashi

LA Farm Girl is very sad, not only have I lost a wonderful friend, but our community has lost a wonderful farmer, one who cared about not only his land, but the community surrounding it.

He was the last living legacy to our farming past and the contributions of he and his family cannot be understated and must never be forgotten.

I was so privileged to know him and to have him as the "star" of my book. If you are right Tom, then you are reunited with your beloved Maya. I will miss you.

Longtime South Bay farmer Tom Ishibashi dies

Are You Right For A CSA?

If you are thinking of becoming a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program, you might want to think about if YOU are a good match for one.

Check out my Care2.com Healthy & Green Living post that asks you to think about the kind of eater you are, the kind of cook, and if you are adventurous enough to join one!