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Creating Local Food Security
Local food security can be enhanced by growing more of your own food, becoming a member of a CSA, purchasing more food from farmers markets, and convincing local stores and restaurants you frequent to purchase more food locally.
Growing Your Own Food
Growing your own food is an easy and fun way become personally involved with localization. If you're looking to hone your skills there are many local resources available to teaching you these skills.
Mendocino College offers gardening courses at their Ukiah, Willits, and Lakeport campuses in the spring and the fall.
The UC Extensions in both Lake and Mendocino Counties offers a master gardener program.
Ecology Action in Willits is a world leader in Bio-Intensive Gardening and teaches numerous courses through out the year. See their events page for more information.
The Mendocino Ecological Learning Center (MELC) teaches a wide range of classes including food production. Check out their calandar for upcoming events.
The Solar Living Institute in Hopland offers a huge spectrum of courses including Permaculture and other food related courses. Their list of classes can be found here.
Out on the coast the Noyo Food Forest is working with Ft. Bragg High School Students to teach food production skills. Give them a call if you're interested in participating. (707) 964-0218.
A bit further afield (pun fully intended) are other wonderful organizations. These include the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center down in Sonoma County, and the Regenerative Design Institute in Marin County. Both of these amazing organizations have Permaculture Design programs.
Become a CSA Farm Member
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms are a wonderful way to integrate into the local food economy. Members pay for a season's subscription up front (some CSA's allow for payments throughout the season) and in exchange receive a weekly basket of fresh seasonal produce. This system allows for farmers to do more of what they like and are good at (growing food) and less of the marketing and selling that comes from distributing food through farmers markets and grocery stores. It also provides farmers with a guaranteed source of income in an industry that is notoriously cyclical. The funds also come at the begining of the growing season when they are most needed.
Live Power Community Farm based in Covelo, produces food for 160 families in Covelo, Willits, Ukiah, and the Bay Area. All their food is grown using organic and [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture biodynamic] methods and all traction power is provided by draft horses (hence the live power). They would love to be able to sell all their memberships locally, thus saving the time and expense of making weekly delivery runs to San Francisco.
Covelo Organics also provides weekly deliveries to Covelo, Willits, and Ukiah but also makes coastal trips to Fort Bragg, and Mendocino. These lovely folks also make appearances at local farmers markets.
Mendocino Organics in Redwood Valley provides subscriptions for beef, lamb, turkeys, chickens and eggs. Contact Adam Gaska at (707) 485-1960 if you would like to learn more.
The Brookside Energy Farm in Willits primarily serves the students at Brookside Elementary School, but is also provided CSA subscription in 2007. If you are interested in their program check out their website.
Shop at the Farmers Market
Farmer's Markets, your community living room, have witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. It's easy to see why when you get to meet up with your friends, neighbors, and the people responsible for growing your food on a weekly basis. In Lake County there are Markets in Kelseyville, Clear Lake, and Hidden Valley and in Mendocino County there are markets in Boonville, Fort Bragg, Gualala, Laytonville, Mendocino, Redwood Valley, Ukiah,and Willits. Follow this link for more information on markets in Lake and Mendocino Counties.
Ask Stores and Restaurants to Buy Local
Many groceries stores and restaurants are boosting the local food economy by purchasing from local farmers. These buyers can have a huge impact in the market place because of the large quantity of food they require. You can help the effort by asking stores and restaurants you frequent to purchase more of their food from local suppliers.
Restaurants that currently stand out for their efforts are Patrona (winner of the 2007 GULP award for their support of local farmers), and the Ukiah Brewing Company.
Grocery stores doing their part include Ukiah Natural Foods who has recently decided to purchase produce certified by the Mendocino Organic Network (MON), Harvest Market in Ft. Bragg and Mendocino, Corners of the Mouth in Mendocino, and Mariposa Market in Willits.
The Mendocino Organic Network is Mendocino County's very own organic certification group. They provide farmers with a way to receive certification without having to jump through the USDA hoops and provides local control of our organic standards.
Back to the GULP Home Page
Return to the GULP Home Page.
