Leafy Greens vs. Grassy Lawns and other Visions for Creating California’s Biodynamic Future

Fairview Gardens and the Center for Urban Agriculture:
Leafy Greens vs. Grassy Lawns and other Visions for Creating California’s Biodynamic Future
By Amy Wong

100 years ago California’s Central Coast was heralded for its fertile farmland, boasting the richest topsoil on the West Coast, some thirty feet deep in places. During this heyday, Fairview Gardens—located just north of Santa Barbara—was one of many orchard-lined farms where the earth was happily tilled. Of course, suburban sprawl encroached and much of coastal California’s farmland disappeared—including that around Fairview Gardens—leaving it an island adrift in a world of fast food franchises, supermarkets and cookie-cutter condos.

It was at this time that Michael Abelman, a visionary farmer, educator and writer, came to Fairview Gardens. His practices, books and publications—all encouraging a sustainable movement that goes beyond the increasingly manipulated “organic” catchphrase—have implored people to re-develop a relationship with their food, the land it comes from and the people who grow it in order to live more holistically. One of his greatest achievements was safeguarding the farm from future development by forming a non-profit organization that bought the land and placed it in a public trust, ensuring that both sustainable food and education would continue to be sowed—and the Center for Urban Agriculture was born.

The Center is dedicated to promoting and living their vision while serving as a model for individuals and collectives looking to embrace more lasting and innovative methods for feeding themselves. It is also a place for community to gather and explore the challenges of the day. For example, despite recent heavy rains, water rights are still, as they have long been, an issue in our drought-ridden state and will only continue to escalate—a touchy subject for any farm as collectively, they use 75% of California’s water supply. However, only 15% of farms employ efficient irrigation—illustrating how far Fairview’s message could be heard.

The 12.5 acre farm is a working example of moderation, using as little water as possible by mulching, a process where hay or other organic material is placed on plants or their roots to retain moisture, employing drip irrigation systems and shower hoses—all emitting a small amount of water—as well as planting cover crops, which, while not necessarily edible, hold moisture in the ground through their roots as well as above-ground sun deflection. Long-standing methods of biodiversity are also used—climate-appropriate crop rotation amends nitrogen levels, thereby creating healthy, biologically rich soil—a scarcity in a “field” that relies heavily on chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Both of which are responsible for groundwater pollution, as well as poisoning over 70,000 people in the U.S. annually.

While Fairview Gardens is a certified organic farm, Vincent Smith, the resident Program Director, is quick to point out that many non-certified small farms employ even more stringent chemical-free measures than organic ones and urges consumers to get to know these people and their farms if that is their local option. When moving past the organic label and into the realm of true life-sustaining action, broader issues need to be considered. Take purchasing a tomato—whether organic or not, if locally grown, fossil fuel use is minimized when compared to shipping an organic tomato from South America to Southern California.

As well as above-the-earth farming techniques—Fairview’s farm equipment runs on Biodiesel or waste vegetable oil and all workers are paid a living wage. When asked about other visions for the future, Smith’s profound, back-to-the-land idea that agriculture will need to move into our individual yards—creating edible landscapes that lessen the impact food makes on the world before it ends up as nourishment—resonated deeply—as deep as the soil once was.

The Center for Urban Agriculture is a wealth of information for those looking to learn more. A complete listing of upcoming events, Michael Abelman's books and links to other useful sites are available at www.fairviewgardens.org.