Promise Land Store in Pollock Pines

While there's not much going on in the way of local produce (since it's the middle of winter!), there is a new produce store in Pollock Pines that offers really fresh produce, both organic and conventional. The owners, Jeff and Theresa, are dedicated to getting and selling some great tasting and really fresh produce to our local community. They even email out their list of current produce that has just come in. I like this because it can inspire me to get out and get some yummy produce! They are located in Pollock Pines, on Sanders Drive, in the Pollock Pines Community Center building and across the parking lot from the Pollock Pines Post Office. The store is located just off Pony Express Trail Rd., between the two Pollock Pines Hwy 50 exits (Sly Park and Ridgecrest).

Victory Gardens AND Plant a Row For the Hungry

I attended a great Master Gardener class in Placerville. It was entitled "Victory Gardens" and the two instructors talked about the history of Victory Gardens during WWII and talked about how it is still important today for everyone to have their own garden. Growing your own food will not only save you money, you will also be eating the best, freshest local produce (and hopefully organic!). As an added bonus, you will reduce transportation costs of food traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to your local grocery store. And if you grow an extra row of plants this season, you can help feed the hungry in our community. Check out http://www.par-edc.org for more information about this program and for the location of a food bank near you. For more great classes from the El Dorado County Master Gardeners (they are FREE!), visit their web site at http://ceeldorado.ucdavis.edu/Master_Gardener/ and click on "Public Education Classes" on the left column.

Organic Christmas Tree Farm

I found an ad in our local Gold Panner newspaper the other day for an organic Christmas tree farm. It's called Bill's Organic Christmas Tree Farm and the address is 2300 Larsen Drive, Camino, CA (Apple Hill!), 530-647-2541. The ad says that they have White Fir and Blue Spruce trees...two of my favorite conifers! I assume that there hasn't been any spray on the trees or on the ground next to the trees, but you'll have to confirm that with them. I haven't had a chance to actual visit them yet, but for those of you looking for that perfect organic Christmas tree, you might want to pay them a visit. If you do go and have any feedback, please send me an email at gc7apple@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Local Oranges at Graham's Shed

It's almost citrus season! One of our local producers of oranges and mandarins, Graham's Shed, will hopefully have their farm stand opening soon. The mandarins are or will be ripe any time now, but they didn't get a big crop. So they might have their farm stand opening soon for mandarins, or they might just be taking orders. However, their naval oranges might be ready around December 1. If all goes well, they'll have their stand open for orange sales in the beginning of December. If you are interested in placing an order, you can call them at 530-622-2612. Otherwise you can wait until their farm stand is open and then visit them at 1101 Cold Springs Rd., Placerville, CA. If you are coming from downtown Placerville and taking Cold Springs Road, I think the stand will be on your right. It should be close to the intersection of Cold Springs Road and Gold Hill Rd. I'll try to give everyone an update here if/when Graham's Shed farm stand is open for oranges.

Z and B Ranch - Produce Stand

Okay, this one is posted too late for this year...sorry!.... but next Spring or Summer, the Z&B Ranch (Certified Organic) Produce Stand will hopefully be open again. It is just a minute's drive from the Raley's Grocery Store on Placerville Drive. I think the Z&B stand was open Wednesday through Saturday...maybe Sundays too. It's located on Green Valley Road, so if you are driving on Ray Lawyer Drive next to Raley's, you would go across Placerville Drive and the road becomes Green Valley Road. The produce stand is down about 1/4 of a mile or so on the left. If it's open again next year, I plan on posting their days and hours of operation.

Local Grass-Fed Beef

Jim from Coalwell's Red Shack is harvesting several cows and is taking an interest list of those interested in purchasing meat. The cows have been grass fed. Please contact him directly at 530-622-8467 if you are interested.

Over 30 local organic farms!...Newest one added is the oldest one...Harris Tree Farm

We now have over 30 local organic and sustainable farms listed in our directory at Organic Placerville. It is quite exciting to have this list and to keep finding more in our local community. A few weeks ago, Alix and I met the nice folks from Harris Tree Farm at the Wednesday night farmers market in downtown Placerville. The amazing part of their 160 acre sustainable farm and forest, is that it has been in the same family for over 150 years! The family's seventh generation is now helping out with the farm. I'm sure that there are other families in and around Placerville with ties back to the Gold Rush era, but it's great to actually meet and talk with a family with such strong historical ties to this area. In addition to its great history, the Harris Tree Farm is practicing organic and sustainable farming and forestry. They are selling organically grown produce as well as providing year-round Christmas trees (a plus to military families who wish to celebrate Christmas in the summer when they can be with their families). To learn more about Harris Tree Farm, check out their listing on Organic Placerville under Local Organic Farms or on their web site at http://harristreefarm.com.

Community Potluck at Santa's Acres

On Sunday, June 29, 2008, from 11am to 4pm, join Santa's Acres for a community potluck for their first CSA program harvest. It was originally set up for members of their CSA, but it is open to anyone who would like to tour their gardens and learn more about biodynamic farming. For more info, contact Santa's Acres, 2921 Barkley Road, Camino, CA, 530-644-2865. Hope to see you there!

Fresh Local Eggs from Somerset

At the Placerville Farmers Market today, I found Mama Earth Farms from Somerset. They sell fresh local eggs. They are not certified organic, but their chickens eat certified organic sprouted grains, bugs, pasture, and organic fruits and vegetables. They were selling their eggs at Noah's but will be selling them now at the Farmers Market. Just wanted to report this because I was going to head to Noahs after the market to get their eggs, but at the last minute, saw their booth (thanks Alix for pointing it out to me!). Their eggs are really good!!!

Noah's Ark 15th Anniversary Celebration

I was at Noah's today and picked up a flyer for their upcoming anniversary celebration. It's on Sunday, June 22, from 10am to 4pm. They'll have workshops on sprouting, new products, demos, foods and drinks, kid activities and free yoga every hour. It will be at Noah's Ark, 535 Placerville Drive. Their phone number is 530-621-3663. I hope to make it there, especially to attend their sprouting workshop!