Rutiz Family Farm

Just got back from one of my last environmental lab classes, and I'm stoked because I only have one more class left and I'll have my Friday day's back again. By the way, if you still need your lab credits, TAKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAB. You basically go on hikes and field trips all the time and learn about different areas and environmental issues around you. It has to be one of the best classes I've taken because it's so hands on and I feel like I'm really learning about something which is always a plus! Anyways..

Today's trip was to the Rutiz Family Farm and we learned all about his farm which is pesticide free and he uses organic soil. It was just super cool to learn about what this guy is doing to provide food that is good for people and the people surrounding his farm. He was saying that the farm used to be a strawberry farm, and in case you don't know, strawberries are one of the WORST fruits you can buy non-organinc. The amount of pesticides used to grow them is mind boggling! Anyway, the farm is located in Arroyo Grande in the middle of a bunch of homes, and the old strawberry farm was making people who live around the farm sick. I guess it was just eye opening because pesticides are in almost everything we eat and everything about them is just bad.

Jerry, the new pesticide free farmer, has a really great project going on there and I think if more people knew about him they would totally support what he's doing. One of the coolest things he has going is something called a harvest box. Basically, you get a box full of veggies from the farm and some fruit as well (a really big box) for only $15. The amount of food in this box is enough to support me for about an entire month! You can order these boxes online and you pick them up on Fridays when they're open from 1 to 6.

I thought it would be a cool thing to share! He doesn't go to farmers markets anymore, which are also good ways to support the same kinds of things, but if you're interested in a harvest box or more about what Jerry is doing, you can go to www.rutizfarms.com for more info. Cheers!