Local Farmer Turns a City Dump into a Charming Urban Farm
Long littered with car
bumpers, scrap metal and trash, a land plot in Long Beach, California
has been transformed into an enchanting petite urban farm. There,
everything is organically grown and tended to the old fashioned way— by
hand, without the use of chemicals or pesticides.
Farmer and founder Sasha Kanno
has built a successful enterprise with the help of grants, donations
and a team of community volunteers. Long Beach Local,
a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is an agriculture-based operation
focused on training young farmers and educating residents about urban
farming. Kanno is a visionary with a background in floral design and
community gardening, who saw the potential for urban agriculture in Long
Beach.
Sale of just-harvested
produce, eggs and honey from the roadside stand helps keep the business
sustainable. Not only do the bees produce profitable honey, they are
important for pollination of the crops as well.
In addition to fresh picked vegetables
and lettuces, esoteric items such as sunchokes and fennel pollen are
sold to local restaurants, Michael’s on Naples (one
of my absolute favorites) being one of the biggest customers.
Micro-greens, which are grown in a greenhouse entirely built from
salvaged materials, are a popular garnish used by many chefs.
The one-acre farm has its own
micro-climate, noticeably hotter than the surrounding neighborhood.
Kanno’s philosophy is not to fight nature, if there is a plant that
doesn’t grow well there, she will move on to another. Along with her
team of volunteers, she maintains raised beds growing chives, leeks and
various herbs, and rows and rows of lettuces, squash, melons, eggplant,
tomatoes, asparagus and more.
Another area of the farm is
dedicated to an orchard of various fruit trees including lesser-known
fruits such as cherimoya. The farming is labor intensive, all of the
produce is grown from seed. Most of the seeds are heirloom variety, many
over 100 years old. Heirloom seeds are cultivars whose unique qualities
have been maintained by gardeners over many decades.
Hens are pastured, they eat
organic grains and forage for bugs. Not only does Farmstand 59 profit
from the sale of just-laid eggs, these hens help with pest control and
soil fertility. Kanno explains that healthy soil is the key to healthy
plants. During the day chickens roam a large fenced area of the farm, at
night they sleep in a coop, protected from predators and the elements.
“We have very happy and
healthy hens and a beautiful little farm,” Kanno said. “We love showing
guests around the farm to see our growing practices and operations up
close.”
Farmstand 59 opened on June 14
and it is open every 2nd Saturday after that from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Each “Second Saturday Market Place” features farm fresh fare, including
organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, and eggs. Other merchandise is also
available, including heritage walnut oil, handmade produce bags,
heirloom seeds and more.
For a $5 donation (though no
one is turned away), visitors can tour the farm with Kanno while she
shares her passion for biodynamic farming and how the dream became a
reality over the past three years.
The LadyFarmer, a local mobile café, serves hot breakfast made from farm fresh produce and eggs, and Pop Up Coffee
provides coffee and tea. Could there be a more delightful way to shop
for food on a Saturday morning and simultaneously support local
agriculture?
Not only is Kanno true to her
mission to develop farmland in an urban setting and offer healthy food
choices, she has also created a place for locals to learn about
gardening and volunteering.
Long Beach Local Farm Lot 59 offers a delicious rural experience for the urban family.
