Farm Tour Lowdown: Massa Organics and Green Gulch Farm
October 17, 2008
Autumn has been a busy season for CUESA farm tours. Here’s what we’ve learned:
Massa Organics
Growing rice without herbicide is not easy. Just ask Greg Massa and Raquel Krach. Organic rice fields yield half as much of the grain and require extensive weed control, achieved by flooding and draining the fields. And, due to a recent rise in the price of conventional rice, organic rice is no longer more profitable, so many farmers in the Sacramento Delta are reverting to conventional practices. But for Greg and Raquel, however, the principles of land stewardship and sustainability are worth the sacrifice.
Green Gulch Farm
Green Gulch Farm Manager Sarah Tashker was generous enough to give CUESA volunteers an in-depth tour on her day off. She explained the workings of this small non-profit farm, which, located in a gorgeous valley 16 miles north of the city, is the closest farm that sells in our market. Sarah explained Green Gulch ‘s organic practices and Salmon-Safe certification and how, as part of the San Francisco Zen Center, the farm is an ideal place to integrate Buddhist philosophy into food production.
See photos of the tour here >
Topics: Farms, Food & Farm Tours