On 9/1/2014 9:37 AM, ImStillMags wrote:
> I buy a lot of different things from Joe's Garden. It's a local truck garden that has been in operation since the 1920's. It is on of only a very very few truck gardens left in the Pacific Northwest. It is a precious gem and we are lucky to have these wonderful people providing clean, pesticide free food.
>
> Check out their website. The story is wonderful.
>
> I get bedding plants and also fresh fruit and vegetables there the whole seasons long.
>
> http://www.joesgardens.com/2.html
>
> Do any of you have truck gardens where you live? They are a lost art it seems.
>
I live in Ventura County, California, about a 5 minute walk from the Los
Angeles County line and about 9 miles from the Los Angeles City limits.
In Ventura County, the largest non-government industry in terms of
employment is agriculture. The County's Board of Supervisors adopted
zoning and planning policies that declare agriculture to be a permanent
land use (unlike in Orange County to the south, where most of the
agricultural land has been turned into housing tracts). There are farm
stands scattered all over the County. In April, many stands have
strawberries grown on the premises.
In the Tierra Rajada Valley (about a 30 minute drive from here), there
are even farms where you can pick your own vegetables, except for corn
and melons. The farmers say that visitors break down the corn stalks
and then decide the ears are not prime, dropping them on the ground.
They also say that too many melons are broken and trashed by clumsy
customers. But you can pick your own vine-ripened tomatoes and zucchini
and pull your own carrots.
Also, Ventura County carefully regulates the weekly farmers' markets
that are conducted in various places (on Thursdays near my house) to
make sure that the vendors actually grew the produce they are selling.
The major crops in this county are citrus, avocados, blueberries, chili
peppers, artichokes, cabbages, strawberries, grapes, and cut flowers.
There are even some wine vineyards. (I'm sure I have omitted some crops.)
--
David E. Ross
Visit "Cooking with David" at
<http://www.rossde.com/cooking/>