First Tractors and Truffles event tears it up in Fallon

From my mailbox to you...

Tractors & Truffles Showcases Nevada Agriculture & Arts

Fallon celebrated its inaugural small farm agriculture and arts event Tractors & Truffles on Saturday, April 24, with a sold-out crowd who were treated to farm tours, wine tasting, gourmet dinner and a performance by country blues artist Rory Block.

The event showcased the small farm agriculture industry that is alive and thriving in Northern Nevada. Guests toured two Nevada farms and feasted on a lunch and four-course gourmet dinner prepared almost entirely from Nevada-grown foods.

Grow For Me personal farmer program - an expanded CSA

General local food knowledge says that if everyone purchased as little as 10% of their food from local farmers communities could nurture and maintain small farms in their region and farmers could stay on the farm rather than work two or three jobs. It takes remarkably little effort to eat 10% in Nevada during “the season”, especially if the family diet is vegetarian. Each year it gets easier as more new or established farmers offer CSAs. For those looking to get even more variety in their CSA, here’s a great new program.

Introducing the Grow For Me Personal Farmer program. This is a one-stop-shop (mostly), sustainable, chemical-free CSA that will include veggies, fruit, eggs, meat (beef, chicken, lamb, and pork), and milk! For a few hundred bucks a month, depending on the payment plan a family chooses, it is possible to eat way more than 10%. Bonus, going “grocery shopping” could be a visit to the farm where kids (or you!) can see where food really comes from and only 20 miles or so from Reno and Sparks. Gotta love that!

There are other benefits as well, too numerous to go into here so check out the Grow For Me website.

Annual Lattin Farm corn maze family event

From my mailbox to you...a little late 'cuz it got buried in my overflowing mailbox.

Lattin Farms in Fallon celebrates 100 years and five generations of farming with the opening of the Centennial Corn Maze.

The Centennial Maze is part of the Fall Festival at Lattin Farms and is open to the public every weekend in October, 5-8pm, Fridays, and 10am-8pm, Saturdays. For the full moon on the weekend of Oct. 2-3, it stays open an hour later for visitors to try their luck at getting through by moonlight.

This is the 11th year for the Maze which has a different design cut into the corn each year. To celebrate their centennial year, the family chose a design with a picture of Bill and Edna Lattin, the third generation of Lattins to farm in the Lahontan Valley. They are now retired and live a short distance from the working farm.

Great Basin Community Food Co-op event

Here’s a great opportunity to meet like minded people, and pick up some seedlings for your winter garden while you’re at it. In case you care, I won't be there because I work Sundays.

From my mailbox to you…


Fall has arrived and the Great Basin Communiyt Food Co-op + Transition Town Reno are kicking off the season with an event you don't want to miss, the first annual LOCAL FOOD AND FUN FEST!! -- Celebrating local farmers, our community, and our local future. The event will be held on October 4th from 9 am-4 pm at the Co-op on 542 1/2 Plumas Street. Featuring a winter seedling sale in the morning, the Hub's stellar with coffee, Great Basin Brewing starting at 11 am, music, free solar cooking demos, food, fun & good conversation about the future of our community!

Goat Day at Lattin Farms

Hard to believe it's time for Goat Day already!

This event takes on a new meaning for Mark and I this time because this year we met a couple of people who keep goats, and we love them! The people and the goats!

Walker River Paiute Tribe annual Pinenut Festival

I've lived in Nevada my entire life and never knew about this event! From my mailbox to you....

"The Walker River Paiute Tribe extends an invitation to the public to join in festivities at the Annual Pinenut Festival from September 17-20, 2009.

The Tribe hosts the Annual Pine-nut Blessing on the third weekend in September of each year. The Blessing features the best singers and beautiful songs for the Pine-nut Blessing Ceremony. This is a time honored event when Tribal members come home and Indian people from many nations come to partake in the blessed event.

Plan a Visit to Custom Gardens Organic Farm..... in the near future!

From my inbox to you:

Don’t wait until annual Farm Food and Harvest event this fall …… See what is growing soon, and often!

We don’t want anyone to miss out on seeing the Mediterranean Garden Demonstration plot, as it is bursting at the seams with big healthy crops of Beans, Lettuces, Melons, Squash, Cucumbers, Peppers (including the Internet famous Aleppo Pepper, among several other pepper-types, Pimento, Paprika, Hot and Sweet varieties).

Mills Ranch raises grass-fed beef - here's a chance to eat BBQ and vist the ranch!

From my mailbox to you:

July 25 is Farm Day at Mills Ranch in Fallon! Join them for an afternoon of food, friends, and fun. There will be farm tours, cooking demonstrations and favorite recipes for grass-fed beef, presentations and discussions, and barbecued beef from Mills Ranch.

The festivities begin at 3 pm and last until 7. Please RSVP to 867-3431 by July 17th! Mills Ranch is a 3-generation family farm located at 5707 Candee Lane in Fallon. More info at www.millsranch.org.

Lattin Farms Cornucopia of Corn

Here's a great family event! From my inbox to you:

Another harvest season has passed and the Lattin Farms Corn Maze is done for the year. Now, what will Farmer Rick do with all that corn? Give it away! Join us for corn picking & corn milling (on an antique corn mill) so you can take home as much corn meal as you can carry!

When: Saturday, December 13th from 10-3 pm
Where: Lattin Farms, 1955 McLean Rd, Fallon, NV 89406
For information, call 775.747.3910 or contact the River School.

Bring gloves and bags!

Custom Gardens Farm Holiday Open House at the Farm

Ray and Virginia at Custom Gardens are offering opportunities to come out to their place this holiday season. Learn something, buy something, or get a peek at the farm this very popular CSA program comes from. From my inbox to you:


HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT THE FARM scheduled.
Silver Springs:

Custom Gardens Farm owners, Ray and Virginia Johnson are planning to greet weekend (Saturday and Sunday) shoppers, starting Saturday November 22 and ending on Sunday, December 21. Open House at the farm is scheduled from 10 AM to 2 PM. The Organic Produce farm is located at 3701 Elm Street in Silver Springs.

The Holiday Open House, at the farm, is to show and teach visitors hoop house production, what will grow in North-Western Nevada during off-season, and to show the various ways people can be involved with a local farm, not just during the summer months, but also from fall through winter and spring.

Featured and available for sale -- for the 5 weekends, (from pre-Thanksgiving to the Dec. 21 winter solstice) will be; a large variety of hoop-house grown Greens and “Roots”, (for salads, soups, stews and stir-fries) living herbs, Kamut wheat grass, micro-greens pots and trays, other edible treats for people and pets plus floral gift ideas, from the farm’s nursery.

To benefit a local food program, visitors, and shoppers are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or make a cash donation in the farm’s “food-bank” - to be given to a community food program for holiday meal baskets.

For more information, please call the farmers, Ray or Virginia Johnson at: 775-577-2069. Information on the farm’s various programs, including CSA membership for 2009, is also available via snail mail or Email, upon request.

Fallon Centennial Maze to open at Lattin Farms

Lattin Farms is celebrating agriculture and history with the opening of the Fallon Centennial Maze. This is the tenth year for the corn maze which attracts thousands of visitors each fall. On Saturday, September 27, and Fridays and Saturdays throughout October, visitors can enjoy the maze and other family attractions at Lattin Farms. Appointments may be made to visit the maze during other days of the week. Located at 1955 McLean Road in Fallon, a fall festival, pumpkin patch, scarecrow factory and hay rides are just a few more of the fall harvest festivities.


The field in which the maze is built consists of 12 acres of corn and more than a mile of twisting trails. The corn stalks will peak at a height of over 10 feet. “Fallon is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2008 and we’re joining the party,” says Rick Lattin, owner of the family farm. “This year’s maze theme will reflect the history of this great city.” Visitors can try their luck at getting through the maze by moonlight Friday and Saturday evenings in mid-October during the full moon.

A fifth generation farm, the Lattins have been farming in the Lahontan Valley since the 1860’s. In the late 1970’s, Rick and BAnn Lattin opened their farm to the general public to share their farm experiences and traditions. The farm features pick-your-own produce, children’s play area including Critterville, a roadside stand, and educational tours. For more information, call 1.866.638-6293 or visit www.lattinfarms.com.

LATTIN FARMS CENTENNIAL MAZE

What: Centennial Maze, a three-acre, living crop corn maze

Where: Lattin Farms, 1955 McLean Rd., Fallon, NV

When: Saturday, Sep 27 ~ 10am-8pm
Fridays in October ~ 5-8pm
Saturdays in October ~ 10am-8pm
By appointment Monday thru Thursday
Special Moonlight Mazes in mid-October
Closed on Sundays

Phone: 1.775.867-3750 or 1.866.638-6293
Website: www.lattinfarms.com
E-mail: mail@lattinfarms.com

Cost: Adults - $7
Children 14 and under - $5
Under 4 - free
Group rates available (call for price)

Other Attractions at Lattin Farms:
Children’s play area including Critterville
Hayrides & Cow Train
Lattin’s Country Kitchen
Pumpkin Tower (Saturday, October 18)
Old fashioned roadside produce stand
Open picnic area and sheltered area for group/company events

Pick-your-own raspberries & produce
Educational tours
Group parties and company events!

Special Events:
Goat Days -September 27
Fall Festival with Scarecrow Factory, hayrides and more – various dates
Pumpkin Tower & lighting - October 18
Craft fair – Saturdays, September 27 - October 25

Goat Days 2008 at Lattin Farms in Fallon

Celebrate everything goat at the 3rd annual Goat Days at Lattin Farms in Fallon. Highlighting the event will be a contest including ugliest, prettiest, best-dressed and stinkiest goat. Goat owners are encouraged to enter their animals in the free competition. In addition to the contests, there will be a goat obstacle course, a pack goat demonstration, goat meat samples and recipes. The celebration will be held on Saturday, September 27, from 10 am to 6 pm at Lattin Farms, 1955 Mclean Road. Goat Days is also grand opening day for the Fall Festival at the farm. Every Saturday through October 25, the farm will host a cornucopia of family activities including the Magical Corn Maze, hayrides, a pumpkin patch, the cow train, a scarecrow factory, and pick-your-own produce. A fifth generation farm, the Lattins have been farming in the Lahontan Valley since the 1860’s. In the late 1970’s, Rick and BAnn Lattin began selling produce and opened their farm to the general public to share their farm experiences and traditions. For more information, call (775) 867-3750 or visit www.lattinfarms.com

You-pick apple post correction

Oops! The Apple Basket you-pick start date is September 20th, not the 21st.

Nevada you-pick apples 2008

Organic Nevada-grown apples are ready to pick!

A couple of days ago we visited The Apple Basket at Agape Organics in Washoe Valley where Delane showed us around the orchard. For four years she and her husband have been caring for the 190 dwarf apple trees on their property, and this year the harvest is good.


Delane and Al use organic practices to grow and maintain their apple trees; we learned a little about what that looks like in an orchard and some of the tools they use. My favorite of their organic “tools” is the flock of chickens; 6-8 of them following everyone around doing that really soothing clucking thing, eating bugs, laying down really great fertilizer, and then scratching it into the soil. From each tree hangs a coddling moth trap filled with home brewed bug juice. Delane generously shared the recipe so I’ll be making some to counter moth infestation on my neighbor’s tree next year. Toads hide during the day, patrolling and eating bugs at night. Daily maintenance consists of picking up windfalls to ward off coddling moths and other orchard issues. No conventional chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used!

Apple Basket is a you-pick operation. So, starting September 20th, each Saturday from 8-5 anyone can visit the orchard, pick and pay for apples in the really cute gift shop, and have a bring-your-own snack at the newly installed picnic table.

And bonus, this year my husband and I will be canning Nevada applesauce!

Visit Creamcup Minature LaMancha Dairy Goats near Reno/Sparks

You could be visiting this beautiful baby soon!


From my inbox to you:

Visit local Creamcup Minature LaMancha Goats! Sat, Aug.23 at 2:00 pm

Have you ever thought about moving out of the city, becoming more self-sufficent, maybe even getting some milk goats? Even if you don't plan to get your own, this will be a fun and fascinating farm visit!

Miniature LaMancha dairy goats are the perfect family milk goat - small enough to be handled by children or older adults, large enough to give just the right amount of creamy, delicious milk for the small family, and with an udder size and capacity to make hand milking easy!

* Because of its high butterfat MiniMancha milk makes the BEST kefir, cheese, and soap.

* Because of their small size, MiniManchas do not require the space for housing and other accommodations that standard goats do.

* Because of their colors and cute tiny ears, they make wonderful pets even if you don't want to milk them!

Your children are welcome - (children must be under your direct supervision at all times!) Farm is approx 30 miles north of Reno - we will organize carpools. Feel free to invite some friends! RSVP REQUIRED - Please RSVP to Bari Caine at 775-851-8590, or by email at greenleaf@lycos.com.

"Work on the Farm" family event

Gary Romano & Son
A view from the farm June 2008

Event information from my mailbox to you:

On Sunday July 20th, Slow Food Lake Tahoe is holding a "Work on the Farm" event at Sierra Valley Farms, followed by a potluck picnic at the farm. Sierra Valley Farms grow vegetables, supply local restaurants, and operate a booth at the Truckee Farmers market as well as hosting their own Farmers Markets on Fridays. We will help with weeding, picking... whatever Gary and Kim Romano need help with. This is a kid-friendly event, we'd love to see families joining in - we plan to have fun while we work and learn in the fields. Let's enliven those vegetables lives by entertaining them with great conversations!

Work time is 7:00 am-11:30 am, with the potluck picnic starting at noon.

Wear clothes and shoes that don't mind getting dirt on them, and bring garden gloves, hats, suntan lotion, (insect repellent), plenty of water, and, of course, food and drink to share at the picnic.

If you plan to join us, please RSVP to me so that we know approximately how many people to expect.

Slow down and participate in all aspects of life!
Have a slow day,

Here's a chance to meet local growers who serve Northern Nevada

Just received these dates from Jana at the GRCF Co-op. Here's a chance to meet the people who grow our food!

We're pleased to announce the dates for the Great Basin Community Food Coop's first annual Local Farm Tour dates. Please rsvp up to 3 days before each trip by emailing or calling Jana: jvanderh@mac.com or 412-8771. Each tour is limited to 20 people max. Schedule is subject to change: individual registrants will be notified of details on carpooling and what to bring, etc.

Saturday, July 12th: Early morning tour of Hanco and Sodbuster Farms. We will meet at the Coop at 7 am and carpool from there to the North valleys. First stop: Hanco Farm: we'll tour Hank Schendel's green houses, grapes, and more. Hank has been providing the Coop with affordable fresh produce all winter and spring! Next stop: Sudbuster Farm, where Clufford and Deborah Sherreck have been raising chickens and providing our members with special order poultry for a few years now. They are also dedicated growers for the Great Basin Basket CSA and supply the Coop with garlic, peas, radishes, and more. We will return to the Coop around 1 pm.

Saturday, August 9th: Morning tour of Heavenly Organics. We will meet at 9 am at the house of John and Jane Stoker, famous for their elm-oyster mushrooms and lavenders! John will have the distiller out to demonstrate lavender oil production. Tour will end before noon.

Saturday, September 6th: All-day tour of Mewaldt Organics and Nanadew Herb Farms. Meet at 7 am at the Coop for carpooling. Bring a sack lunch, $ and containers for U-pick tomatoes! Contact Jana for more details.

Northern Nevada apples in 2008

Apples grown in Northern Nevada are in our future! Delane Pennington of Agape Organics-The Apple Basket report that their apple tree blossoms survived the very erratic 2008 spring weather and they’ll have apples and pumpkins for us this year.

They grow Golden Delicious, Cameo, Gala, and Braeburn apples in a you-pick orchard located in Washoe Valley. When it is time to harvest they send out postcards to let their customers know the orchard is open for business. If you and your family and friends want to experience Northern Nevada apples email Agape Organics at delane@agapeorganics.com or call Delane at 775-885-1988 to get on the mailing list.

Life is good!

Applesauce, plan B

I continue to be amazed by how much I don't know about food. This time it is apples and pears.

Life's hectic right now and I've been wondering how I'd find the time to get to Apple Hill anytime in the next six weeks but managed to clear yesterday, so I took the beautiful drive to the California apple region via Highway 80 to Auburn, and 49 through Placerville. I'd never been before and was by myself (Mark had an activity planned with his Little) so I visited the first orchards I could easily get to that had a wide selection, High Hill Ranch and Boa Vista.

I took along my copy of Chez Panisse Fruit because I don't really know which apples are better for sauce, pies, or out of hand and needed something to reference. This worked out all right but a better resource is The Best Apples to Buy and Grow, fragrant, with unpolished skin and leaves mixed in with the fruit. Picked up two big boxes of apples for the astonishingly low price of $20.

The first box is filled with Gravensteins which will be transformed into applesauce sometime this week; during the drive home my car was filled their intoxicating fragrance. The second box is a mix of varieties I'm familiar with like Rome Beauty, Jonathan, and McIntosh, and others I'd not seen before like Mutsu, two varieties of Winesap, Red Gold, and Empire. I also bought two Red Delicious apples just because I wanted to know if they tasted any better than the ever-present globes you see in the supermarket. I ate one on the way home but it wasn't very tasty so I'll store the other one for a while to see if the flavor improves. Apparently some apples need some time in storage to give the flavor time to develop, and some very tasty varieties are practically inedible without it. These varieties do not meet the "money first, taste last" criteria of industrial shippers so you probably won't ever see them in supermarkets. These are the ones I want!

We'll be making a second trip in a few weeks to pick up the late harvest varieties, Arkansas Black and Pink Lady among others. Boa Orchards had some Bartlett pears but they were ready to eat. I needed slightly under ripe so we'll try for other varieties and different orchards on the next trip.

I always try to buy from Nevada growers first and Agape Organics was my first choice for apples but 2007 frost and fire forced me go with plan B. For my family's needs I define local as anything produced with 150 miles, so Apple Hill is still local because it is 144.24 from my door to the apple tree-filled parking lot, the produce is grown in a sustainable way, and the money I pay goes directly to the people who do the actual work and raise their families in their communities. Do you know that growers receive only about 6-11 cents of every dollar spent on their product when it is purchased in some far-off supermarket? The remainder goes to middlemen and corporations. Doesn't seem right.

Apple Hill is a great family day trip. I've always lived in the desert so a drive that includes trees is endlessly fascinating. It'll be fun to see how the landscape changes as fall takes over the next few weeks. Could there be a trip in your future?