EcoFarm Bus Tour 2016 promises a diverse and informative farm tour on the first day of the EcoFarm Conference, Wednesday, January 20.
This all-day field trip will visit three organic farms and a specialty food manufacturer in the Carmel River Valley and Pajaro Valley. Long known for the production of high quality cool season crops, this region flanking the Pacific Ocean is an area of cool, foggy summers, sunny springs and falls, and mild wet winters (we are praying!), and features a great range of crops suited to the climate and fertile coastal soils.
Tour stops include:
- Morgan Tittle, production manager of Garrett Farms, will guide us through 30 acres of organic raspberry and blackberry plantings, featuring hoophouse production. All berries are marketed through Driscoll's.
- Kathryn Lukas of Farmhouse Culture produces amazing specialty raw krauts and kimchi using local organic crops. We will tour her production facilities and taste the goodies!
- Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms, now in its 15th year, produces a wide array of organic winter veggies, raspberries, and strawberries on the loamy soils near the Carmel River, marketing via farmers markets, CSA shares, U-Pick and wholesale, with a major following by local chefs.
- Dave Blume of Blume Distillation and Whiskey Hill Farms will tour his integrated operation producing ethanol and methane from crop and other wastes, utilizing the effluent and heat produced during the distillation to feed algae and fish production, and provide nutrients and heat for 5 acres of greenhouses, specializing in off season production of organic peppers, tomatoes, ginger and turmeric.
Amigo Bob Cantisano of Organic Ag Advisors, Sam Earnshaw of Hedgerows Unlimited, and Richard Smith of UC Cooperative Extension will lead the tour. Lunch includes a hearty natural foods meal prepared by renowned Santa Cruz chef Jim Denevan, of Outstanding In The Field, with many ingredients provided by our bus tour farmer hosts. Morning coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided. Each year, reservations usually sell out by the early registration deadline.
Participant Comments
- "The best farm tour I've been on"
- "Excellent presentations by the growers”
- "For me, the best part of EcoFarm!”
Registration: $75 (organic lunch included). The buses depart from Asilomar promptly at 8:00am. Lodging is available for those needing Tuesday night accommodations at Asilomar. Don't wait - register now. All aboard!
Date and Location
Day:
Wednesday
Date:
10/27/15
