There’s a relationship between design of marketplaces and the success of local businesses, including food system related operations. Here I go into the dynamic in the particular place that I am working in, but the concepts are near universal I suspect. Walkability via non motorized paths, smart design of vehicular infrastructure, and proper placement of developments, including spaces for the sale of locally produced wares (such as produce) is key, and I suggest there’s an optimal pattern or design code.

There have been some struggles and lessons learned the hard way out here on Family and Friends Farm in Petaluma California this summer. I discuss observations in adequate irrigation, considerations for affordably improving the soil, including making and using “JADAM” microbial solution, and other efforts to increase yields of vegetables.

Living in Ca, the threat of fire is present, as summer is beginning to bake our grasslands. We’re all concerned and trying to do our best preventative maintenance. However I’m puzzled by what seems an unnecessarily tenuous and arduous situation. I dove into some local history and was challenged by what I found. For over 10k years prior to 1820, the region I call home was managed much differently by the people who lived here. They deliberately burned all dry organic matter, staying ahead of catastrophic fires, and in the process creating a highly livable, beautiful and easy to manage landscape. The past 150 years of arrogantly ignorant mismanagement has manufactured this crisis. Moreover our current prevention practice depends on problematic fossil fuel based machines. Though today we cannot set fires as they did, we can still learn from and put in practice indigenous landscaping techniques, and empower individual households to safely burn off refuse on site.

Here I talk about my experiences building a customer base or outlets to sell vegetables as a small scale grower, at local farmers markets.

Here’s a bit about the strategy we are using to prepare ground for growing vegetables while building soil at Family and Friends Farm. We start by covering ground with tarps for a few weeks. Then pull it off, add a layer of compost, work it in, then plant into it. After 2 successions of plantings, a cover crop mix is seeded. We will use native seeds for the cover crops. After that matures, it’s smothered with the tarp, and the process repeats. This all done without mechanization, no tractor.

I’ve started a small produce farm on family land, using minimalistic methods. Here I ramble about the farms founding, and some of the early decision making considerations, and initial methodology.

I’ve had a significant life change which has brought me back to my hometown of Petaluma Ca. I’m starting a vegetable farm, and have been getting acquainted with local affairs across the spectrum of issues. This season will involve discussions centered here and now, and how the triple bottom line framework is, is not, could and should apply. Thus though this will be much about particulars here, I suppose the issues are similar in many other localities, as they look to gain autonomy.

Tonight there’s an open house to discuss the future use potential for the Petaluma fairgrounds. I’ve heard a few exciting visions for what could be, including improved event center capacity, and the development of a community services block.

A critique of using corporate online media sources and food giveaways as part of a regional food security strategy.

Ins and outs of managing this urban farm market in Wilmington, DE