Cache Creek Meat Co.

A new, New Farm?

So last night was amazing. Brian and I got a rare night out and we went to the UCD campus to watch a free showing of the film “The Last Crop”. This film is based on the lives of Jeff & Annie Main- farmer friends of ours just a few miles away from our new farm.

Jeff and Annie are nearing their sixties and have children who are probably not going to take over their farming business when they decide to “retire”. So they began this long process of creating a unique farming conservation “easement” whereby they sold the development rights of their farm to Yolo Land Trust who will basically sit on those rights in perpetuity. This then protects the place from being developed in the future for either Mcmanor wannabe subdivisions, or cross fenced horse property, etc.

Their ultimate goal being that they legally structure the farm so that the next generation of owners must farm on it.

This collaborative project is the work of the Natural Foods Co-op’s “One Farm at a Time” project, the Yolo Land Trust, California Farmlink, and others. The process for the Mains to bring this to completion took about 10 years.

The house was packed. Seats filled and people standing everywhere. Truly amazing the way the Davis community came out to support this project. Chuck Schulz- the director- was very nice and we wish him luck with the future marketing of this film.

At the end, there was a great panel discussing the various issues that arose during the movie. And this is where I might have stood up and said some things.

Some things that might end up in more land being added to our farming experience.

Some things that might result in my family hearing about it.

Some things that might mean a new chapter is opening.

Here’s what I said:

The question came up about how new farmers can gain access to land. I spoke up on how we financed our project using the Farm Service Agency’s Beginning Farmer program. And then, I opened my mouth and said something to a large group of people, that we’d only spoken in whispers to one another: that we’re thinking of purchasing another farm.

But this farm is too big for us to handle on our own. In fact, there may even be room for a community of small farmers with small plots to purchase this farm with us. A collaborative model of beginning farmers cultivating a new farm together.

What does this look like?

How does this function?

So, this is our idea and we’re open to considering whomever and whatever the universe brings in service to the success of this idea.

A Girl and her Tractor

Yesterday morning I was driving out to Chowdown Farm, taking some back roads and shortcuts. Ahead of me were two John Deere tractors. Big 7R’s or something along those lines. Tractors as big as your house and twice as expensive.

Moving tractors early in the morning is commonplace- it’s the best time to block the road and piss off the fewest drivers. I politely passed the first tractor- a man inside, no surprise. But as I came up on the second tractor, I began to notice differences.

For starters, this driver was much shorter than the first. And as I got closer, I realized that I was seeing some blond hair…in a ponytail…coming out the back of a hat…. that belonged to a young girl.

I smiled to myself in secret pride as though I knew her. In a way- I do. I was her. Many years ago, sitting in the cabs of enormous harvesters listening to talk radio as my Dad maneuvered his way through rows of corn, wheat, oats… Being assigned to drive a specific tractor from this field to that field and park it just so…. plowing or planting in frigid weather on open air Fords with tarped heat shields around the engines to keep me warm.

I know that girl driving that giant piece of machinery in front of her father. I know that she will be capable of driving just about anything by the time she actually gets her driver’s license. I know that she reads under trees on her family farm and that her horse is her best friend. I know that she pronounces the word “almonds” correctly and that dirt and manure on her clothes are unimportant. I know that she will be bone tired and filthy dirty at the end of some days but goes to sleep knowing that she was a contributing part of the greater whole that is her family.

I pass her in our big diesel truck and smile and wave gently as I go by. Not a big wave, just an acknowledgement. She too, sees me and knows. We are farm kids- and girls at that. I don’t know where they’re headed, but you go girl. You go girl.

New Developments

First, there was Cache Creek Meat Co.

3 years ago, we started Cache Creek Meat Co. on 5 acres of ground we leased from Brian’s grandparents: Frank and Marge hildebrand- we love you guys!!!

Last year, we started thinking and talking about a collaborative delivery/CSA with other small farms. We didn’t want to put it under the CCMC banner because it really is a totally separate thing. We administrate and organize everyone, plus you get our own product.

And finally, when we bought the new farm, we realized that the new farm needed a new name! (Cache Creek Meat Co. didn’t sound like the right name for our new farm! We hope to begin doing more than meat soon.)

So Chowdown Farm was born!

Our goal was to have a name that was fun and focused on culinary/foodie without being pretentious. The intention for this new farm is to be an open door for visitors to walk through and have great small farm experiences. There’s so much coming- just you wait! We hope you’ll join us for fun on-farm activities in the coming years. It’s always Chowtime at Chowdown Farm!

Will we keep CCMC? YES! We’ll retain that as our meat label for now. And if we need to change it in the future- then we will!

Welcome!!

Curmudgeons

This happens to me frequently. That doesn’t mean I like it, but I’ve learned to work around it.

They call me “dear”, or “Girlie”, or talk directly to Brian and ignore me and simply refer to me as “she”. As though I’m not standing right there.

This happens to me frequently. That doesn’t mean I like it, but I’ve learned that in order to get the information that I need, I sometimes need to wade through their egotistical bullshit.

They hear my voice over the phone and refuse to volunteer information. Gruff, unresponsive, one-word answers. Brian gets on the phone and the information flows freely. As though they’re all part of some club with a secret invisible handshake.

This happens to me frequently. Older women have taught me to play dumb, to flatter, to flirt, to acquiesce. That doesn’t mean I like it.

But know this: You may have the muscles in your arms, but I use the one in my head.

And understand this: You may be speaking to the men in the group, but I am the one listening, learning.

And get this: Old man, female farmers are on the rise. I am younger, and smarter, and more determined than the ones before me. And I will raise a generation of female farmers who is even smarter and more determined than I.

Stubborn. Misogynistic. Blind.

Curmudgeon: I am coming for you.