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October 5, 2006
Down on the Farm
story and photos by BOB DORAN
The Friends of the Humboldt
County Farmers' Market Fall Farm Tour offered a fascinating cross
section of Humboldt's organic agriculture community. Among the
stops: Flora Organica in McKinleyville, where Andy Zierer (above)
led tours of his greenhouses and fields where he grows over 300
varieties of flowers, herbs and potted plants. "Diversity
is the key," he said explaining how he keeps out pests without
harmful chemicals.
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Chaske and Jasmine Carr from Eureka
(left) went on the tour with their grandmother and came home
with carrots they'd pulled from the Potawot Community Food Garden,
part of the United Indian Health Services facility behind Mad
River Hospital. Eddie Tanner and Eddie Mata run the 2-1/2 acre
garden growing food for the local Native American community with
funding from a diabetes prevention grant. |
"As an organic farmer weeds are my
biggest problem," said John Gary (right) of G Farms on West
End Rd. before pulling two heads of butter lettuce from a covering
of pigweed. Gary grows starts for lettuce, broccoli and cabbage
in greenhouses, then uses a mechanical transplanter to plant
them in long straight rows. He's farming 20 acres, but could
use another 60 to meet demand. Got land? Call him. |
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In contrast to the limited
crops and straight rows at G Farm, the garden behind barefoot
farmer Paul Lohse's Produce Stand near Blue Lake seemed as wild
as Paul's blonde locks. A dog follows him as he shows off his
corn crop, offering visitors a taste of sweet raw corn as fresh
as it gets. Paul and the dog sleep in different parts of the
garden to ward off invading deer. |
your
Talk of the Table comments, recipes and ideas to Bob Doran.
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