Young Farmer Mixer

The young farmer mixer held last Thursday at Pie Ranch in Pescadero was full of energy and enthusiasm for building a new agricultural vanguard to replace America's aging farm population. Over a hundred people showed up to participate in workshops, shuck corn, feast, and watch the newest iteration of The Greenhorns, a documentary about young farmers in America.

Although I sound like quite a pessimist in the Sentinel article below, it was hard to escape

the joy and excitement generated by so many young people excited about farming. I did however run into a few friends who are farming and having a tough time making their land tenure situation work. More fodder for my MSc thesis on land tenure for small and beginning farmers.

Young Farmer Mixer This Thursday!

Hundreds of young farmers expected at 'Greenhorns' screening tonight By Jennifer Pittman Posted: 10/27/2010 08:19:00 PM PDT http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_16451368?

PESCADERO - Hundreds of young farmers are expected to leave their wet fields early today to gather for some local food, music, workshops and a preview screening of "The Greenhorns," a documentary about a burgeoning new generation of American farmers.
The Greenhorns is a 3-year-old nonprofit organization focused on rallying young farmer entrepreneurs into an agricultural movement. It has grown out of a film project of the same name by Severine von Tscharner Fleming, a UC Berkeley graduate who is screening her documentary at regional farm events across the country before its public release in 2011.
The film includes interviews from several local young people for the project including farmers from Freewheelin' Farm in Santa Cruz and Pie Ranch and Blue House Farm in Pescadero. Pie Ranch is hosting the event starting at 3 p.m.
"It's a really powerful and fascinating world to be involved in," said Jessica Beckett, a UC Davis graduate student and "market gardener" who toils part-time in a 1-acre parcel on Ocean Street Extension in Santa Cruz. "It's a cultural movement."

POSTPONED due to rain until Nov 7th: Freewheelin' Harvest Party+Art Show

Living in a Yurt

Recently people have been asking me a lot of questions about life in a yurt. What's it like? they ask. Do you miss living in a house? My answer thus far is well, No. Life in a yurt is beautiful, it's simple, it's elegant.

Like other people we study, work, and even throw the occasional dinner party. The simplicity of our home does not deter us from having guests, lighting candles, nor entertaining. In fact, we almost like it more.
We dine inside an example of alternative living. A manifestation of the idea that there are ways that your life can be simultaneously lower-impact and beautiful to boot.