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The Pacific Alpine Farm and Garden Project on Kelly Road and Everson Goshen Most small family farms are being sold for development or for joining "super-sized" farms. This 18.25-acre food-producing farm is probably the oldest organic farm in the state. One acre has a barn, yard, out buildings, framed house, an heirloom and antique apple orchard, and gardens with soil enriched by native and natural materials from the farm. The rest is undisturbed forests, ponds and meadows. The farm is especially valuable for its vast plant and animal species that have never been disturbed. Mycorizill helps plants absorb nutrients. Native fungi and algae in ponds and forestland add to orchard, garden, and forest fertility. The ponds teem with amphibians and reptiles, and the meadows and woods have deer, eagles and many others. Rarely can we see and study so many native plants and animals in one location that has always been free of chemicals.
Our teaching skills are in botany, horticulture, farming, animal husbandry, permaculture, native herbal remedies, greenhouse propagation, etc. We invite others to join us so together we can:
• Save a pristine organic farm from being sold for development.
• Have a place where anyone can teach or attend classes and workshops.
• Create a new intentional community/campus that is a model of sustainable living.
Kids and adults will learn self-reliance skills such as:
Grow organic food to feed your family on small plots of land.
Preserve food (canning, drying, freezing, ground storage, root cellars, etc.)
Choose, gather, clean and store seeds for future use.
Identify native plants and animals and their traditional and non-traditional uses.
Care for domestic and wild animals and develop outdoor/wilderness survival skills.
Milk cows and goats and ride, drive, make harnesses for, and till soil with horses.
Build with green materials such as cob, straw bales and recycled goods.
Build living fencing and conventional fencing and enclosures.
Make and market green products such as:
• Ethanol and biodiesel and the equipment for making it
• Paper, cordage, clothing, plastic, etc. from natural fibers
• Windmills, water power generators, solar panels and solar cookers
• Natural food and medicinal products that create health in people and animals
Some activities need participants right now:
• Weatherize classroom buildings and finish the huge greenhouse.
• Build chicken house and milking parlor and shelter for cows and goats.
• Upgrade and expand existing fruit and vegetable gardens and fruit orchards.
• Recruit teachers, workshop leaders and students and publicize classes and workshops.
The owner says he will sell the land for development if we don't put it to productive use.
The land is being leased for this project. We need to move fast to prove its value. One solution is to pool resources and buy this land, and also surrounding acreage from owners who might sell. This would be enough land to start an eco-village where we model and teach sustainable living skills. To get involved, seek information, or offer suggestions, call Marilyn Flint at 398-9479.
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