Everything you wanted to know about joining the Green Goose Farming Club.
QHow do you select club members?
We look for who would benefit most from the experience, who would fit the vibe of the farm, and who would fit in with the other members.
QWhat does a typical day look like?
Initially, work will involve prepping the field and work site, then move to amendments, irrigation, fencing, and making starts. Planting, and weeding, weeding, weeding. Short term greens can be harvested and replanted, vines staked, more plants added, mistakes corrected, weeding, etc, etc.
QWill you teach irrigation?
Like most things, this will be taught by observation and direct experience.
QHow large are the growing spaces offered?
This depends on what the group decides. Initial layout is around 75'×35'. More is possible, depending on how much people want to take on. This is a communal plot, shared between club members.
QHow does plot designation work?
The club follows a village peasant model with a single piece of land, worked by many hands. Joint work with shared harvest, but members can decide among themselves about personal crops or experiments.
QAre these raised beds or in-ground beds?
This is a pasture-based farm. As with historic practice, sections of pasture are occasionally broken for cropping. After vegetables, the area will be turned back over to animals to restore fertility.
QWhat is the type of soil, and what grows in it?
The base soil in the northern Petaluma watershed valley is a heavy clay. Pasture management with animals results in high organic material content, producing a rich friable loam. Most everything grows well, with the exception of plants that prefer sandy soil (such as potatoes).
QWhat are the limits to what can be grown?
Only your imagination! Well, actually there are limits to water, time, labor, and costs. But these are things we can work on together.
QIs there only space for annual crops?
This whole thing is an experiment for this season. Perennial crops and long-term projects are a different, bigger question.
QDo you have access to hoop houses and nursery space?
I wish I had hoop houses. There is a rather sad greenhouse we can use though.
QWhat kinds of produce are typically included through the season?
The farm has produced melons, squash, corn, tomatoes, pepper, beets, carrots, kale, chard, beans, tomatillos, onions, herbs, sunflowers, flowers, etc. in past years. It is up to club members what they raise this season.
QCan I bring my own seeds?
Absolutely! The farm only has a few from other seasons. Club members will have to decide and procure most of what you will plant.
QCan I bring my family, friends, or dog?
This is a six-member club, not a public garden plot. Think of it like opening up your house to have people come in and use your kitchen, living room, and office — we have to negotiate this private/public balance. Definitely no pets; this is an animal farm. On the other hand, we hope friends and family will be able to see what you achieve here.
QWhat about gophers?
We have plenty of them; you don't have to bring any more.
QIf I'm not selected, are there volunteer opportunities?
Possibly. The main thing is to not make more management work for the landed peasant guy (me). We host travelers and interns year-round already.
QIs the work schedule flexible? Can I just come once a week?
Yes. The schedule is up to you, as long as you can get in 3 hours of fun at least one day a week, on either of the two days and times listed in the flyer.
QDoes the farm have dairy animals, and are there opportunities to help care for them?
We had to give away our dairy goats a few years ago, as we thought we were losing the farm. We hope to have goats and a cow/calf pair some day. This club is for vegetable production, and animal care is not part of it per se — but for those interested, I love to teach. I just have to preserve my time.
QAre there skills you recommend focusing on for someone interested in cheesemaking and small-scale agriculture?
Pasture-based animal husbandry is a master skill. There is plenty to learn of this here.
QWho owns the farm?
I do.
QIs there a longer-term vision to scale this program?
A key goal here is to create a farming club model that can be replicated on other farm properties throughout the County.
QWho came up with this idea, and do more farmers do this?
Thank you so much for saying this! I know of one farm in Corvallis, Oregon that is doing something similar. I hope we can convince others to consider inviting community to their land.
QHow many years has this been going on?
This is the first year. We can be the first to try to make this work. No pressure though…
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