Elena Bilheimer, EcoNews Journalist
Located in the City of Arcata’s Bayside Park is a three-acre fruit and vegetable farm dedicated to sustainable agriculture and creating an educational space for community members and students to connect with how and where their food is grown. This year, the farm celebrates 30 years in operation. Originally developed in 1993 for Cal Poly Humboldt’s (formerly Humboldt State University) organic gardening class, a group of professors — including Susan Ornelas and Deborah Giraud — created a partnership with the city to aid beginner farmers in their development of practical and experiential skills. Contributing to its significance, Bayside Park Farm was also the first in the county to develop a model of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
Although the city of Arcata owns and operates the farm, it is funded by community members buying a share of the farm to help with startup costs and then receiving a portion of the harvest every week during the summer and fall growing season. Volunteers curious about growing organic food provide much of the labor for the farm, in addition to the two managers employed by the city. “The farm offers a space for people to build community and learn together in providing a source of organic local food,” said Jessica Speyer, one of the farm managers. “CSA members get to enjoy the farm as it changes on a weekly basis and also get to interact with the farm by harvesting their own flowers.”
As well as being a running CSA, the farm partners with other groups in the community to do tours, put on educational workshops, and host volunteer days. Students, volunteers, and visitors are able to learn about permaculture, sustainable farming practices, and appropriate means of energy use. The city’s website states that, “Over the years, this farm has been managed by many generations of student farmers. Many notable farmers within the community learned how to farm here.”
A wide variety of annual crops and some perennials are grown on the farm, including an array of Brassicas, root crops, tomatoes, peppers, alliums, herbs, flowers, peas, beans, strawberries, fruit trees, artichokes, potatoes, squash, and cucumbers. “Strawberries are a great crowd pleaser that we have growing on the farm,” said Speyer. “Most people eat them as is because they are so ripe and sweet. They are also great in smoothies or for making jam. We have five hundred strawberry plants that were planted last spring and will be adding a hundred more new plants this season to fill in gaps.”
For Speyer, continuing the educational legacy of the farm is a large priority. “It’s very rewarding to see the excitement of people who are learning about growing food for the first time,” said Speyer. “I see it as an important skill that many people have become disconnected from.”
To support the farm, people can buy a farm share for $520 to receive 20 weeks of organic produce from June until the end of October. Each share contains a significant amount of produce, and depending on consumption can be split between two to four people. Payment plans are available to those who need it. People can also support the farm by dropping in for volunteer Thursdays from 1:00-4:00 PM. Additionally, the farm offers garden plots that people may rent for a year at a time in order to develop their own abilities. Although the plots are currently full, there is a waitlist for those that are curious.
For those interested in a more in depth learning experience, the farm offers a volunteer program that requires a weekly commitment for two months. Volunteers in the program learn useful general skills like planting, pruning, and harvesting, in addition to transplanting crops, growing crops from seed, irrigation techniques, and many more. Visit Arcata City Hall to sign up. In exchange for their time and help, volunteers receive plant starts and veggies!
To learn more, visit the City of Arcata’s website or email baysideparkfarm@cityofarcata.org. For drop in volunteer days, the farm is located at 930 Old Arcata Road.