We live on, farm and conserve 40 acres, bisected by a year-round creek, nestled in the foothills near Lassen National Park. Four years ago a fire ravaged the land and we bought it five months later.

Blackened and charred as it was, and at fire sale prices, we saw abundant possibilities for renewal. Many Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar and Doug Fir had been killed in the fire.

The local miller milled many of these on-site and with this wood we built the small, wood-heated cabin that we live in today. We also received a federal reforestation grant from California Department of Forestry and with it replanted 11 acres in native conifers.

Our farm is completely off-the-grid with a small solar system providing for all our electrical needs. Our fields are irrigated both from our solar pumped well and through a mechanical water powered creek pump.

We garden five different field sites spread out over our 40 acres. These garden are separated to ensure varietal purity in our seeds. Soil quality is a main concern and so our gardens are primarily hand dug and shaped into permanent beds using low till methods.

In regards to low till techniques, virgin soil is initially tilled by hand in many cases and with a small tractor for larger fields.

Beds are then enriched through the use of cover crops, composted manure and crop rotations involving nitrogen fixing legumes. After the initial till many beds only see surface cultivation.

The practice of low tillage means that the integrity of the soil is maintained and top soil is created. We strive to recreate growing conditions seen in nature.

Our seeds are open pollinated which essentially means they are not hybrid. Open pollinated seeds ensure that heirloom varieties continue to proliferate, in turn maintaining genetic diversity.

They also allow the home gardener to save their own seeds. Plants are allowed to go to seed and pollination occurs through wind and insects naturally. We isolate different varieties through time and space to ensure variety purity. We are certified organic with CCOF. Becoming certified didn’t “change’” our growing practices however it did allow us to provide organic growers with certified organic seed.

Meeting rigorous organic standards encourages the chemical free farmer to keep records, maintain high quality and safety protocol and provide the organic consumer with a consistent product. We depend on natural insect pollination and the many wild bees.

Our pest management begins with daily observation and extra plantings that allow for some pest damage. We also strive to create an environment in the garden for beneficial insects.

When pests are spotted the first recourse is hand picking followed by research. If an allowed organic deems necessary we may use it.