Spring time at the farm!

After a few months of working out at Good Humus, one “treasure” among many that I have discovered is the multitude of visitors that come. Though it has become routine to see new faces for unexpected reasons (to me that is), this past Friday a visit was made that was unusually special to me. As I was clearing the garden beds of the shoulder-high wild oats, up drove two large white vans from which a gaggle of slightly scruffy and seemingly curious college students stumbled out. For a change, these were familiar faces, my fellow UC Davis peers; only now instead of being in class with them, I was giving them a tour of the farm. It was a surreal moment- just two years ago I was in that class having my first visit ever to Good Humus (there are scenes from that day recorded in The Last Crop) and now I am working here. I have gone from helping Annie at market, to interning once a week, and now working 4 days a week. I am spending my last few months in Davis with the people who have taught and provided me with more than I could ever ask for- Jeff and Annie are my newfound heroes!

Hero implies bravery, noble qualities, and sometimes life-saving acts- I can say the Mains have certainly lived up to these implications. Just about everyday Jeff and Annie tell some story about when they first started farming or when some terrible accident happened or when they undertook a new project. The stories never end and many are currently in the making, such as the Land Preservation Project. Personally, I can attest that they have saved my life- not from anything per say, but rather by giving me life. When Annie offered me a job on the farm for the Spring, I thought, “Sure, why not? I like farms, I like the Mains, and it’s a job.” But little did I know how much I was going to get in return.

One of the things I have been helping Annie with lately is school visits. Just about every week, a second grade class from a local school comes out to the farm for the day. Usually do I not only spend very little time with children but I also tend to stay clear of the educator role; while I love to learn, teaching others is not my forte. However, I must say I love being with these kids, and I’ve come to realize it’s usually them who are teaching me.

Another aspect of the farm that I wasn’t expecting was the relationships with the other workers. First of all, I have had to sharpen my rusty high-school Spanish. I forget and take for granted the ease of communication with people who speak English. This is a good reminder for me as I prepare to staff at an international camp this summer and study in Turkey this fall. Most of the time I don’t understand what is going on or how to say something, but it doesn’t really matter. The ladies are wonderfully hilarious and have taught me that laughter really is a universal language. They have also taught me that making flower bouquets is not as easy it looks…

These days it seems as though Jeff and Annie aren’t just my heroes. Saturday morning Annie and I made a flower delivery to the Sacramento Food Coop, and since I had never been before, we took a look inside. Little did we expect to see the produce aisle lined with six large banners of pictures from Good Humus, including a shot of the whole family- even Bean the dog made it up there! We were awestruck. The display is part of their new campaign called One Farm at a Time, which is working with the Mains to preserve their farm and extend the model to other farms in the area. It has taken eight years of brave, persistent work for the Mains to get their project where it is today, and what a gift for it to soon be passed on to other farms as well.


The upcoming weeks will be filled with exciting happenings both at the farm and in the local community. For one, Zach and Nicole are getting married at the farm in May, which means lots of preparation- getting the garden and house in good shape and prepping food (no caterer at this event, just another heroic act…). Despite the looming work ahead, we are all looking forward to the celebration and seeing the many people who will be coming from far and wide. Also just around the corner are three screenings of The Last Crop see below for the schedule:

April 23 6:30pm Silvina’s Basket Woodland-$25 we have tickets if you want to purchase one or two….

April 28 7pm Eleanor Roosevelt Circle Davis-$10

April 30 5:30 Community Learning Center Sac-$10

April 30 8:30 Community Learning Center Sac-410

If you are in the area, be sure not to miss it!

Hope to see many of you there- Katie

A recent Good Humus newsletter

This Week on the Farm (from my perspective)

As I slipped into bed last night with the rain and wind whirling against the walls and the citrus trees rustling outside my door, a strong sense of serenity and gratefulness came over me. How lucky I am to be at Good Humus Farm with Jeff and Annie Main.

So, you are probably wondering who this is writing to you today. First off, my name is Katie. I was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN and by fate have wound up in California working for Jeff and Annie at the Davis Farmers Market. I actually fell in love with Davis the moment I saw the market. I told myself “Davis is where I’m going to school and the market is where I’m going to work.” From the day my parents dropped me off in Davis after driving across the country until now, I have had the privilege of working for the Mains at the farmers market. Without a doubt, my life in Davis would not be the same without them. But besides selling Good Humus vegetables one to two days a week, I am a student at the University of California Davis studying International Agricultural Development. I have a strong interest in creating an agricultural system that encourages new farmers and sustains the current ones, promotes more ecologically sound agricultural practices, and ensures that all people have access to good food. My passion for ag all started in the kitchen where my creativity and love for food has no limits. Food is truly amazing. I love everything about it: how it grows, how it tastes, and, most of all, how it connects people. After all, it was food that brought me to Davis, then to the market, and ultimately to the Good Humus stand.

As I’m now seeing my college days come to an end, I am trying to make the best of the relationships and experiences I have developed here, and that is what brings me to the farm today. Starting last week, I’m coming out on Fridays to help Jeff and Annie where needed in hope of both giving them more time to work on the house and also teaching me a few things about running a farm. While I have worked on a fair share of farms before, never have I understood the “behind the field” work that maintains the farm. And what better people to learn from than your CSA farmers? While I don’t know what the future holds for me, I do have a dream of being a farmer one day. Yes, that is a big responsibility to take on, but I’m doing what I can now to best prepare for whenever that day comes.

My first task of the day has been getting to write to you all- not so bad, aye? As the days go on, I’ll be filing recipes and other GH documents, doing seed inventories, preparing things for market, doing office work, and well just being an extra hand- on a farm something always comes up, so there’s no worry about keeping me busy. More than anything, I get the opportunity to witness a true partnership at work. Working at the farmers market, I only see one side, but being at the farm I’m beginning to see the whole cycle. The many steps it takes to get that bunch of carrots into the hands of the first customer is truly amazing. We all know it takes a lot, but to see it in action and comprehend it all is a whole different deal. Last Saturday morning at 5:45, as I stumbled into the barn lighted by the moon, there wedged between the cooler and the van was Jeff loading the boxes of vegetables that were picked, washed, and packed the day before by Ricardo, Francisco, Jose, Cuca, and Celia. Usually, I just pull those boxes out of the van never taking a moment to appreciate them, but now I see their faces, hands, and life-long dedication.

Speaking of packing boxes, I better get going. With the rains today, the guys got a day off so that means I get to pack your CSA boxes. In the weeks ahead, I look forward to the unwrapping the many “treasures” (a common term used on school visits) of Good Humus Farm and sharing with you what I find. Lastly, I just want to thank both Jeff and Annie and also all of you for bringing me into your partnership at this farm.

Best to you all, Katie Cooper

Cheers to the decade behind and ahead!

Well, another year and decade have come and gone. Lately, I’ve been troubled by the media hype on the terrible moments and decisions that have occurred during the past decade in our country, but I have decided to dismiss the negative hype and reverse my thinking. Now, I’m in a state of amazement over realizing what strides have been made, especially with food and agriculture. Just think what you knew ten years ago about the food system and then compare it to what you know now. For me it’s mind blowing how much I have learned. I’ve gone from a Kraft mac-n-cheese “cook” to a wannabe farmer who makes sauerkraut in her spare time. Of course, the past decade has just happened to be my most developmental and educational years of my life, but nonetheless I think similar changes around food have happened in our society.
The Mains at the Davis Farmers Market in 2001

Just this morning, for instance, on NPR Martha Stewart spoke about the connection between food, the environment, and our health and the importance of organic production. Ten years ago Martha Stewart was focused on fancy cakes and decorating dinner tables. While I don’t hale Martha as the queen of food, she is an icon for mainstream America and represents a cultural shift in awareness. Even more momentous is this: after more than half a century of decline in number of farmers, 2008 was he first year that the number of farmers increased! Small organic farms, farmers markets, CSA’s,… have increased tremendously and continue to. Today, college students can major in Sustainable Agriculture- in 2000 those words weren’t even spoken of in universities. Now, that’s worth toasting to!

I could write all day about the changes that have occurred for the better in our food system, and likewise I could list the many things that still need changing, but that’s not what I want to do. Instead, I want to leave you with optimism. Think what has improved in your life and community, and next time you’re discouraged by the huge hurdles that seem impassable, remember that change does happen- sometimes it’s slower than we would like, but little strides make a big difference.

On a final note, I want to commend the work of both the Mains and BluePrint Productions. The past decade has been huge for both- the very notion that there’s a documentary on preserving farms is in of itself amazing. But this next decade will be crucial for both crews: the Mains will see a shift in the ownership of their land as it’s put into an easement for permanent farming, and Chuck and David will finish and release The Last Crop. This means that not only do they need our support more than ever but also that we have lots to look forward to!

Tis the Season...

Well, I just got home after spending a wonderful evening out at the Main’s farm. My mom is in town visiting me, and Annie invited us out for dinner, so we journeyed out to the country. As we were driving to Capay, the sun was falling behind the hills intensively lighting the open fields- I so easily forget how vast the sky and land are. When we arrived Zach was the only one on the farm- working on the house, putting up drywall in the upstairs bedrooms. He gave us a tour of the house, showing us the latest additions and upcoming projects. Then he headed home, and Mom and I took a walk around the farm guided by the dogs, Molly and Bean. California is not known for its fall color, but I have to say there were some mighty rich shades of orange and yellow dangling from the trees- persimmon, apricot, peach, and nectarine leaves. The tomato and basil rows were disked, and the lettuce, chard, and carrot rows were lush and untouched, while the navel oranges, ¾ turned, knew they were the next to go.

Not too much later, Annie and Claire, whose home from college for Thanksgiving, came driving up. It was funny to be greeting them at their own house. Jeff, who was unfortunately not able to join us, was meeting with Kendra Johnson of California Farmlink to finalize the easement plans. All girls tonight. We assembled a meal of spinach salad, cheese and crackers with quince preserves, some wine, and dark chocolate to top it off. We talked about the early days of the alternative food movement, which both Mom and Annie were actively involved in, and where it’s headed now (are we finally reaching the tipping point?). Annie shared stories of traveling the world farm by farm, and we reminisced on my first day working at market when all met. At the time I was just looking for a part-time summer job, and now two and half years later we’re sitting together at their kitchen table.

This was my last time to see Annie before I go home for Christmas break- I’ll be missing market this week for Thanksgiving, and the following week Jeff and Annie will be traveling to the East Coast. They are first headed to see Allison in Brooklyn, where she attends Pratt Institute, and then to Durham, NC where they will gather with the other “Five Farmers” (You may recall that in May, NPR broadcasted a series called “Five Farms” which followed five farmers in different regions of the US. The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, who made the program, is now bringing them all together to meet.) Luckily, Chuck will be there catching the action on film, so hopefully we will get to see a bit of that experience in the future. I know it’s not easy for them to leave the farm and can even be harder to go somewhere so different like New York City, but it should be good nonetheless- well, at least as long as it rains here in the valley.

I wish good times and safe travels to you all over this season!
If you want to check out the “Five Farms” series (five 1 hour pieces), go here: http://cds.aas.duke.edu/fivefarms/

Falling out of Summer

As I opened my pantry this morning, the stacks of home-canned tomato sauce came roaring at me. I glaze over them every day, but today I saw them beyond just their jar and contents- as a symbol of what has been and what is to come. Summer has slipped away; the days of tomato abundance, triple digit heat, dry air, and long hours are done. Some days I feel as if I just arrived back in Davis and others as if I never left. Where time goes, I don’t know, but at least there have been some hallmarks along the way to remember what’s happened these past two months. My work at the market with Good Humus has continued of course, only now it’s not just the Davis Farmers Market- it’s America’s Favorite Farmers Market. That’s right, America voted and Davis was the winner. There was a celebration one Saturday for which Annie spoke about the early days of when it all first started and how she hired the still long-running market manager. It was a proud moment for everyone, and I can’t say I’m a bit surprised that Davis won.
Now, market has begun to slow, and with dusk drawing earlier each day, Wednesdays are losing their summer zeal. The produce is changing with bits of summer harvest still hanging on and new things popping in each week: winter squash, root veggies, and greens in every shape and size- ah, the glories of year-round growing in California!
In order to stop and enjoy the change in seasons and what summer harvest has brought, there’s a tradition here to celebrate all that and more; it’s known as the Hoes Down Festival. But don’t be fooled by the name, as it is no time when the farmers actually put their hoes down. In fact, it’s “hoes up” for the Mains and the farmers of Full Belly Farm, where the event takes place. For 22 years they’ve put on this event that brings in 3-5,00 people each year. It’s one Saturday full of every farm craft, activity, music, dance and good eats you could imagine. It’s impossible to do it justice in words (I recommend visiting the website: www.hoesdown.org), but I will say that after 3 years of attending and helping before, during, and after the event I have witnessed the most amazing collaboration of farmers, families, and friends who pour out all their compassion and energy into making this event the best it can be. They are a special group of farmers that are not only gifted in tending the land but creating community – community around what our culture has progressively drifted away from over the past century: the farm. All I can say now is you must come next year! It’s always the first weekend in October- be a volunteer, camp out under the orchards, and enjoy a beautiful, fun-filled, awe-struck weekend in the Capay Valley. You won’t regret it.
So with Hoes Down behind us and the rain just beginning, I believe that Fall is actually here. Last week, the air was still stark and the ground was dry as bricks, but after two days of downpour and tumultuous winds, life is looking a little different in Yolo County. I’m seeing growth and life in places that have been dead and dormant over the summer drought. It’s funny here in California, as elsewhere in the country the vegetation is preparing for winter hibernation. But no matter where we are one thing we can all do is look at our jars full of summer’s creation and be thankful for the cycles of bounty and regression, and then just think of warm tomato soup…

Screening The Last Crop's WIP in Central Valley and Bay Area

Hello Everyone,

It has been a very good week to ten days. I am getting ready to drive to Somoma State University for our 4th screening of our new work-in-progress (WIP) this week. Slow Food Sonoma State University's students are hosting a Northern California Slow Food Gathering from 12-5PM. Our screening follows the event at 5:30.

It all started with a evening screening at the 22nd Annual Hoes Down Festival held at Full Belly Farms in Guinda, CA on 10/3 . On Tuesday the 6th, we had a brown bag lunch screening at the CA Department of Food where Annie and Jeff Main spoke directly with Secretary A.G. Kawamura. Later that afternoon, we had a great screening and talkback session with 70 Sacramento State University students of the Environmental Student Organization at the university's Hinde Auditorium. Another 100 people attended our Friday night screening at the Senior Davis Performing Arts Building hosted by Slow Foods Yolo and the Davis to Farm Connection.

The response to our WIP has been very positive. The feedback has been constructive and appreciated.


We have another busy week of screenings coming up with a requests to screen our WIP at:
Land Trust Alliance (national) Rally
Portland Convention Center
Tues Oct 13 in the "Working Lands" - "When Conservation Easements Aren't Enough"...

And

Davis Senior High School's - Agriculture Department

Followed by screenings at the San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking - hosting San Francisco Slow Foods members on 14th and with Slow Food Russian River on the 15th.


Stay tuned for next week's news.
Best

Chuck

Reflecting on TN, CA, and a little bit of in between

I just had my last day working on Williams Island Farm, and as I sit here in the humid air with billowy clouds above me sad to leave the farm and people I love yet anticipating what’s ahead of me back in California, I’m comforted and restored by what I’ve seen and been a part of this summer. You might expect that after working on a farm for two months in the middle of the summer I would be burnt, sore, itchy, and just plain tired. But, in fact, that is not the case at all- I’m hopeful, energetic, and ready to progress (and well, still a little itchy). I’ve learned a lot, done a lot, seen a lot, thought a lot, and guess what? so to have many others- all over the country. It’s like I’m this microcosm of a greater thing- that thing being the Food Movement and a resurgence of young new farmers. I’m now convinced it’s a movement. For a while I was unsure, but now I’ve been from one coast to the other and seen it for myself. People are learning and caring about food and change is happening. When I left for college in 2007, I knew of two organic farms serving the Chattanooga area and now I can easily name seven, though I know there are more. Community gardens are popping up left and right; just a few weekends ago there was an open-house community garden tour including churches, schools, food banks, and neighborhoods. This isn’t just a boogie, white, upper-middle class fad. Issues such as food deserts, food insecurity, and farmland preservation are being addressed. I read the statistics all the time- farmers markets, CSA’s, farm internships are higher than ever but now I’ve seen it for myself.

This doesn’t mean, however, that I can just sit back and watch the change happen. I’m definitely aware that this movement has long strides to make. It’s easy to get caught up in a bubble of the reality that I want to see, yet it doesn’t take much to realize how the majority is living. Just the other day I took a little visit to a Wal-Mart grocery store with a friend who shops there. I went in with a fresh and observant eye and was quickly reminded of the food that most Americans have access to and choose to buy. My Wall-Mart reality check got me thinking: just as I can go about anywhere in the US and find a Wal-Mart with buggies full of sugared cereals, frozen entrees, and fat-free everything, I too can find farmers markets with cloth bags full of summer’s bounty, artisan cheese, and fresh baked bread. But while Wal-Marts (or whatever corporate food chain there is) are the same everywhere, farmers markets are anything but the same. Yeah maybe you can find squash, tomatoes, and melons anywhere this time of year, but they aren’t the same. Each place, each farm, each product has a different story.

For this reason, I love to change where I’m living. By periodically migrating, I’m able to appreciate each place more while at the same time thinking of ways to improve them. At the first glance, two places seem fairly different, but over time similarities start popping out. I love both Davis and Chattanooga- the landscapes, markets, people, and food- for they each have their own unique flavor yet share similar values and hopes for their communities. There’s a connection, an unknown relationship, and it’s not just between these two communities- like I said earlier, it’s happening all over the country. Sometimes it just takes getting out a little bit to realize.

In honor of my love for both these places, I invited the Island women farmers, Beth and Ashley, over to share with them a taste of my experience working with Annie. We prepared a delicious Mediterranean meal of homemade falafels, dolmas, sauces, and Island veggies. The highlight of the evening, however, was teaching them how to make dried flower wreaths like Annie’s. I had been talking these wreaths up all summer long. Though we certainly don’t have the variety that Annie does, we did our best collecting what we had throughout the summer- straw flowers, yarrow, wheat, dogwood buds, and laurel branches. Since I had attended one of Annie’s wreath workshops (which luckily I sent my wreath home so we could have it as an example), I had an idea of what we were doing. At first they were doubtful, but as their wreaths slowly filled out the women were amazed with their efforts. As we continued making our wreaths, I showed them pictures from the Davis Farmers Market- in particular Annie’s flower bouquets, wreaths, and vegetable displays. They were both shocked and inspired by the variety, the bounty, and the beauty. They kept asking, “And Jeff and Annie do all this?” They have help, but yes, they are renaissance farmers. The evening ended in the best way possible. We had apricot tart (with the Good Humus apricots that I brought home and froze) and watched the latest cut of The Last Crop. For them to see the Mains in all their hard work and to hear their words was indescribable; it brought out emotions in me I didn’t even know I had. I think they were not only inspired as farmers but also assured that I was returning to good people in California. In sight, sound, taste, and touch I was able to share my California farmers with my Tennessee farmers. I can’t imagine a better way to end my summer.

With that said, I’m headed back to Davis in just a few days and will be working at the market and going to classes soon. I’m grateful for what I’ve learned and gained from being in Chattanooga but excited for what lies ahead. There’s a lot happening in this country with food issues and I’m ready to jump on. I hope that wherever you are you can appreciate the community you have and then take a step back and see your place and effort as a piece of this greater network. I think you will be amazed- but don’t get caught just watching.