Mano Farm

The water footprint of the world – map

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:57:07 -0800

“Water used by the agricultural sector accounts for nearly 92% of annual global freshwater consumption, according to a study that quantifies and maps humanity’s water footprint – a measure of the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services”

Field Notes: Mano Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture Newsletter, February 19, 2012

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:50:44 -0800

Dear CSA members,
This is Quin. Apologies for the scant CSA newsletters as of late. Even though the days are still a bit short in the field – and strange, I might add, with all this wind and desiccation, and drought-like conditions emerging – things are busier than ever outside of it. Part of this is that our seed company has been gaining a little momentum lately, with an article published in Saturday’s Ventura County Star (“Going to seed” by Lisa McKinnon) and our involvement in planning an Ojai Valley Seed Swap that will occur this Saturday, February 25th, 1pm at Chapparal Auditorium on 414 East Ojai Ave.
But this letter is more about the CSA. We have, in the ground at present, fennel, onions, carrots, parsnips, radishes, broccoli, kale, peas, Swiss chard, lettuce, potatoes, parsley, and cilantro. And lots of garlic. We’ll have green garlic in the spring, followed by mature garlic in the summer. (Summer’s another story so I’ll get into that another time.) Will probably plant some more collards and arugula this week; would like to get some leeks in the ground but not sure if we have the space. Please, continue to remind us of what you like.
Some of these things are starting to make their way into the CSA. Some will take a bit longer. But once everything hits in spring the share offerings will definitely rebound from their staidness. In the meantime we hope you’ve been enjoying the plethora of winter vegetables!
An update on chickens + eggs. Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to do it this spring, so perhaps either this autumn or next year. It was basically a funding + planning issue: the system that makes sense for us to adopt – ecologically and labor-wise – was of course, a more expensive system than we anticipated. We’d rather do it right or not at all, so we’re going to wait. As farmers who bootstrapped it, we know the lesson about bootstrapping it twice would be: it sucks to bootstrap it.
A few other local food reminders (some for folks who are new to the CSA):
Our CSA member and friend Ben DiGregorio bakes bread that you purchase and can pick up during CSA pickup days. Email him at bencooksinojai@gmail.com or call 805.272.8023.
Folks who are interested in finding local chicken need look no farther than left when you enter of our property driveway. Our friends Paul and Darinka have Funny Farms, offer locally raised birds every few weeks. Email them at funnyfarms@me.com or call at 805.669.8478.
Our friends, Eric Hodge, and Taylor Connell, have started an Ojai Community Fish Co-Op. They fish off the Ventura Coast, then the next day sell what they caught to the community. These folks are awesome… well, Eric Hodge is basically brilliant. He fishes, he makes soap (we’re going to put some of his soap in your CSA shares in the coming week), and he’s an incredible auto mechanic. If you are interested in being added to their mailing list, call Taylor at 805.640.5643 or email ojaifishcoop@gmail.com.
Also, we know you’re probably oversaturated with of winter squash; we keep hositing upon the CSA table expecting this to be the last week, but our boxes in storage keep running deeper. I promise, it’ll be over soon. J In the meantime, why not check out Martha Rose Schulman’s New York Times article on “New Ideas for Winter Squash.”
-Quin

#lavender #calendula #organic #CSA #ojai (Taken with instagram)

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:59:03 -0800

#lavender #calendula #organic #CSA #ojai (Taken with instagram)

Going to seed in Ojai » Ventura County Star

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:47:44 -0800

Going to seed in Ojai » Ventura County Star:

This article about our seed company was written by Lisa McKinnon of the Ventura County Star. Check out our seed company web site at http://www.agtoseeds.com

More Humane Egg Production

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:31:48 -0800

More Humane Egg Production:

House Republicans and Democrats have introduced a sensible bill that promotes more humane conditions for egg-laying hens.

Sent with MobileRSS for iPhone

Modified Crops Tap a Wellspring of Protest

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:11:00 -0800

Modified Crops Tap a Wellspring of Protest:

Consumer resistance to transgenic food is high, part of a debate that is coming to life in courtrooms and online.

First potato seedlings of the season #organic #potatoes...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:09:38 -0800

First potato seedlings of the season #organic #potatoes #agriculture (Taken with instagram)

Now selling our seeds at Rainbow Bridge Warehouse.

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:40:04 -0800

Now selling our seeds at Rainbow Bridge Warehouse.

Our seed company is co-hosting a Ventura County/Ojai Valley Seed...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:39:35 -0800

Our seed company is co-hosting a Ventura County/Ojai Valley Seed Swap along with the Ojai Valley Green Coalition: Saturday, February 25th 2012, 1 pm. Chaparral Auditorium. 414 E. Ojai Ave. Email: agtoseeds@gmail.com. Phone: 805.758.3184. Hope to see you there!

Notes From Underground

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:59:25 -0800

Notes From Underground:

Reasons to root for the underdogs of vegetables.

Food Crisis as Drought and Cold Hit Mexico

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:15:26 -0800

Food Crisis as Drought and Cold Hit Mexico:

Government officials said the drought is the worst since record-keeping began and has left two million people without access to water and devastated cropland in nearly half of the country.

California farms are looking greener than ever

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:48:25 -0800

California farms are looking greener than ever:

This is article shows how the globalization of the food marketplace has benefitted some of the larger scale farmers in California. A quote from farmer Stuart Woolf: “Bakersfield to Sacramento is like a giant greenhouse with really good soil,” he said. “The big picture is that we are going to be perpetually stretching our resources as California feeds more people around the globe.”

Some rainy day greenhouse planting #agriculture #organic #seeds ...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:42:40 -0800

Some rainy day greenhouse planting #agriculture #organic #seeds (Taken with instagram)

Seed catalog work

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:34:21 -0800

Seed catalog work

CNRFC - Google Maps - Precipitation Summaries

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:20:00 -0800

CNRFC - Google Maps - Precipitation Summaries:

Breathing much easier now that rain is dropping in the Ojai Valley. If anyone is interested in precise precipitation measurements, check out this feature of the National Weather Service.

Japanese Struggle to Protect Their Food Supply

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:51:14 -0800

Japanese Struggle to Protect Their Food Supply:

The discovery of tainted rice 35 miles from a damaged nuclear plant has Japan scrambling to plug gaps in its food-screening measures.

Farm Logos: A History, a set on Flickr.Via Flickr: We’ve...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:59:25 -0800

Farm Logos: A History, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
We’ve slowly evolved our signage an identity since the farm’s inception in August 2009. Since Summer 2011, Goda Trakumaite has been the farm’s illustrator. Check out her work at goda12.tumblr.com/

REPORT: 30 Years of the Farming Systems Trial | Rodale Institute

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:45:12 -0800

REPORT: 30 Years of the Farming Systems Trial | Rodale Institute:

“As we face uncertain and extreme weather patterns, growing scarcity and expense of oil, lack of water, and a growing population, we will require farming systems that can adapt, withstand or even mitigate these problems while producing healthy, nourishing food. After 30 years of side-by-side research in our Farming Systems Trial (FST)®, Rodale Institute has demonstrated that organic farming is better equipped to feed us now and well into the ever changing future.”

All Good Things Organic Seeds: Tomato Cultivation Details

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:34:15 -0800

All Good Things Organic Seeds: Tomato Cultivation Details:

Our first detailed cultivation about tomatoes is now available via Scribd.

Spring and Summer 2012 Planting: All Good Things Organic Seeds

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:08:00 -0800

Spring and Summer 2012 Planting: All Good Things Organic Seeds:

Now’s the time to start to think about planting seeds. Check out our seed company, All Good Things Organic Seeds, and find our certified organic seed varieties. New varieties are being added all the time! (Pictured: Fizz Kale).