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!