By David Lewis, Director

New farms by experienced farmers

Of Marin’s approximately 160,000 acres of agricultural land, fewer than 400 are in fruits and vegetables. Is it possible to grow this to 1,000 acres (a target anecdotally cited as both ambitious and doable) - and if so, how? One promising option is to support new and beginning farmers like Arron Wilder and Caymin Ackerman.

Starting a farm is a challenge anywhere. In addition to the farming knowledge and ability, it requires access to land and water as well as a viable business plan. Land in Marin, and especially land with both farmable soils and available water, is at a premium. It is equally important and difficult to develop a customer base and accounts for produce grown prior to planting the first seedlings. Arron and Caymin have risen to the challenge with the right mix of creativity and resourcefulness, along with a keen ability to network.

It is not fair to refer to Arron or Caymin as new and beginning. Both have put in their time to gain the skills and experience needed to farm in California. Additionally, they both arrived at the moment in time when they desired to run their own operations. The result is the respective starts of Table Top and Big Mesa farms in the last five years.

Table Top Farm on Wednesday, October 15

The self-serve farm stand was open for business when I arrived at eight in the morning. There was kale, tomatoes, lettuce, raspberries, and squash available on the honor system. No bar code readers needed, just Arron’s commitment to “a strong farming capacity in the community.” He is concerned about people and communities losing their farming foundation and is addressing this through his farming and community building. In addition to the farm stand at the farm, Arron supplies a west Marin CSA (community supported agriculture), local restaurants, and the Foodshedorganic bulk food cooperative (previously in Inverness with plans to reopen in 2015 in Point Reyes Station).

The stand gate is like the bottom half of a Dutch door, opening onto the acre plot that Arron has leased to establish Table Top Farm. Arron’s search to find land included canvasing neighbors in Point Reyes Station and visiting with area ranchers. “I knew if I could show folks what I wanted to do they would be comfortable sharing land to farm.” He has leveraged this confidence and his skill into four plots totaling 12 acres in Marin. Arron has entered into formal lease agreements and personal relationships with each land owner. The result from his perspective is that the land owners and the broader community are vested in his success. “They stop to visit with me and share how pleased they are that I am here farming.”

Arron has a Bachelor’s degree in Soil Science from Humboldt State University. He has apprenticed for several years on farms, including with John Jeavons, author of How to Grow More Vegetables, a global how-to-resource now in its 8th edition. Arron also has kept a day job until this year with a Bay Area environmental consulting firm. This is common for farming and ranching, with off-farm income supporting the initial implementation and even expansion of a farm to a viable scale.

Standing inside his hoop house to stay dry on the day of Marin’s first rains of the year, Arron and I talked about the need to control soil acidity and how he has managed production during the drought. Invariability, Marin’s soils are slightly acidic. This requires the farmer to amend the soil so the pH will be in an optimal range for plant growth. Arron uses locally sourced ground oyster shells, one source of calcium carbonate that can be used to achieve this.

Arron uses the land owner’s water source, either well or water district hook-up depending on which of his four plots, to irrigate his crops. “Water use is spelled out in our lease agreement…” and “… was important for both of us” in establishing the relationship. Even with those agreements in place, the past three years of drought have meant reductions in water use. To meet this reduction, “I have reduced the acreage I farmed,” Arron offered, as a part of his drought strategy. However, this challenge was also an opportunity for Arron. He explained “I have become a better farmer because the lack of water has forced me to.”

Big Mesa Farm on Tuesday, November 25

It was one of those clear blue days that reveal the Farallon Islands. Turning off of Mesa Road, they and the Bolinas ridge formed the backdrop for Caymin’s Big Mesa Farm. Caymin is in her third year of production farming a total of five acres on two plots of land.

When I arrived late in the afternoon she was cleaning and preparing two boxes of produce - a mix of beets, kale, and onions. She had just finished one of the two long harvest days she does weekly. This is part of her unique business model: she sells wholesale and has from the start. She admits that this approach may be missing out on higher prices for direct sales at farmers markets or even to restaurants. For many reasons, however, the simplicity and continuity of the relationship with local independent groceries works for her. “They really appreciate the quality and consistency of what we grow,” she explained.

She credits her eight years at Wild Rose Farm in Humboldt County for her understanding that quality and consistency are critical for success in farming. “Blake Richard, the manager and owner there, is a great farmer, and his dedication to growing the highest quality crops made a lasting impression on me.”

Caymin is also a Humbolt State University Graduate with a Bachelor’s in oceanography. She started farming while in college, first as a part-time job for Wild Rose and then full-time before returning home. Caymin is an alumnus of Drake High School in San Anselmo and her family lives in Marin.

“So how did you find these two plots,” I asked her. “I posted flyers, canvassed the neighborhood, and networked with community members,” she offered. Her response was matter of fact and did not convey the level of persistence and patience she maintained in searching for land. “I still can’t believe this is real” she later shared. “Finding land (in Marin) is difficult,” she continued, “…in many ways I was in the right place at the right time.”

As we walked past one of two ponds that supply water for Big Mesa Farm, four wood ducks rose up and flew off. These are the only water sources for Big Mesa and also for the two landowners’ ranching operations that she leases from. This means sharing and finding solutions for efficient water use.

The same resourcefulness and networking skills that aided Caymin in finding land came through again in solving water needs. She applied for and received technical and financial assistance from the US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly Soil Conservation Service. “A Sonoma farmer told me about the NRCS program for new and beginning organic farmers” Caymin explained. The assistance resulted in one of the ponds being fenced to prevent livestock access, installation of water troughs to water livestock in neighboring pastures, and a tank to store water for her crops. Caymin described the benefits of the project saying, “this has helped me and the rancher that leases to me, and I would not have had the capitol to do this.”

More room

It is important to keep in mind that the Marin agricultural lands are well suited for livestock agricultural production. The rolling hills in close proximity to the coast’s cooler temperatures contribute to a longer growing season for the grasses relative to other parts of the state. This is why the majority of the farms and ranches in Marin have grazed animals and produced livestock agricultural products for over 150 years.

Part of this history, however, includes a diversity of crops produced and types of farming. While some vegetable farms and orchards were lost to urban expansion in the eastern part of Marin, small in-holdings of fertile land in the western portion have been maintained and slowly added to over the last 40 years.

Experienced and motivated farmers like Arron and Caymin are continuing this effort. They are local faces of Marin’s next generation of farming. They are demonstrating that there is room for more farming in Marin and that the relationship between the farmer, land owner, and community is a valued table to share. Through efforts like theirs and those of other new farmers, along with the community’s receptiveness, the current 400 acres in cultivation might grow to 1,000, accommodating more farmers and more farms.

Next >>