Casey O’Neill is a farmer and owner of Happy Day Farms in Laytonville, Calif. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. If you’d like to write your own column for The Mendocino Voice, send your idea to info@mendovoice.com.
The veil is thin, and I’ve been thinking about my Ma and other treasured elders who have passed on. I’m glad for the memories, the lessons and teachings, the sweetness that remains, yet is tinged by the melancholy sadness of the fleeting nature of life. As the season shifts towards a time of reflection and a gathering of my thoughts about the year, I take stock of our work, the struggles of the seasons gone by, the joys and victories.
As we wrap up the cannabis harvest and continue our winter plantings, I am reflecting on the level of effort it takes to keep all the balls in the air. Burnout went deep this year, but support systems did too, and I am grateful to see us all pull together with fun and jokes to carry us towards the finish line. The work is never easy, but there is so much joy in the shared effort that it is a balm for my tired soul.
Weather that favors one element of the farm may disadvantage another, but having a variety of enterprises makes it more likely that the weather will be perfect for some of them. The brassica mostly failed in the heat this fall, but it was perfect weather for finishing cannabis, and we are super excited for the quality of our harvest. Now that the plants are in, we’re working on clearing the beds to sow winter salad mixes, hearty greens and cover crops.
We made monumental strides this week towards the comfort and functionality of the space where we wash and pack produce for market. After twelve years of farming through the winter, we now have a covered area to work under, and I am deeply grateful for the upgrade. Uncle Matt led the charge as we poured concrete footings, set posts and beams, nailed rafters and laid clear corrugated roofing.
Winter farming is hard enough without having to get rained or snowed on while washing produce. We’ll still have to harvest outside, but the difference in having a dry workspace is a huge upgrade. It also means that all of our totes and gear have more storage and that we can reimagine the workflow to upgrade and optimize how we take produce from field to clean-and-ready-for-market.
This year we got a grant from the Good Farm Fund for a second bubbler tank for washing greens and a second salad spinner. These upgrades will take away some of the time crunch on harvest mornings, allowing us to be more efficient and faster in our wash-pack process. The new tools will now have a covered home, though I still have to pour some concrete and figure out the interplay of the slight slope of the whole area with the need for flat spaces for the equipment.
Visioning and imagining how the farm will grow and change is one of the most exciting parts of it all, the element of “hope springs eternal” that pushes us forward through the struggles as we learn and grow through the lessons. I love the way we’ve gelled as a team, working towards a cooperative reality based in community and shared effort. Nothing about it is easy, but we show up for each other, and that makes all the difference.
Farming is governed by the goals we set for ourselves and by the reality we encounter with weather, crops, pests and physical/mental capabilities. The gap between goals and results can drive me to madness if I’m not careful, so I have to learn to be flexible and adapt. This year garlic isn’t going in until the second week of November, six weeks after I wanted to plant it, but we haven’t had the water to spare because of the lack of rains. The nice thing about garlic is that it doesn’t matter so much when I get it planted, it will just take a little longer to finish on the other end. We’ve planted beds in January that finished out great.
It’s hard to contrast my need for control with my absolute dependence on the weather, the rains, the climatic experience of farming. This interplay stretches me in uncomfortable ways but leads to growth and resilience over time so long as I don’t burn out. I deepen into my routines and methods of self-care, making bone broth as often as we need it and blending herbs for medicinal teas. Early bedtimes give me enough rest to be up early and preparing for the day so that things are more likely to flow smoothly.
As we edge into the slower season, my mind turns towards the myriad projects that have been waiting in the wings while the more pressing tasks of the busy season kept us occupied. Forest work begins again in the next couple of weeks, as will live willow plantings in the newly fenced riparian zone at the ranch once the rains come. Variety is the spice of life, and a mix of activities keeps us engaged and enjoying ourselves. As always, much love and great success to you on your journey!