Lin south Napa, she is growing vegetables and fruit for chefs atizzie Moore intends to satisfy that desire inmany ways. As the farm manager of Boca Farm fine restaurants as well as for individuals, and she even has set aside space for locals who’d like to farm but have no space for a garden. asks the farmers to be organic. A special project will be an educational She prepares CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) boxes for garden where she will teach classes to budding farmers. members to pick up, and will also be at the Napa Farmers’ Market on The farm got a late start this year as it’s been a bit wet and cool, but Saturdays this summer. And Boca sells produce at the Oxbow Produce that means she expects to be harvesting late, too, a full twenty weeks. “We Market. harvested into November last year,” she says. Boca Farm, which is owned by the Rogers family, lies next to the In addition to the expected tomatoes, pepper and other crops, Moore is venerable Napa Horsemen property between Foster Road and Golden growing specialty vegetables you rarely find in markets, some at the request Gate Drive, just south of Imola in Napa. Leasing seven acres from the of her chefs. These include many heirloom varieties plus such rarities as Horsemen, she has planted three acres of vegetables and fruits, with room cardoons, a relative of the artichoke raised for its celery-like stalks, not the for expansion. small buds. The property also includes a neglected stone fruit and apple orchard, Though a small business itself, Boca Farm is also incubating two others: which she’s restoring, and wild areas with a creek perfect for wildlife. a farmer growing dahlias and another growing hops for artisan beer. Also This is Boca Farm’s third season. The first year she just planted a in the works is a greenhouse; she now raises starts offsite, including at pumpkin patch, but last year supplied local restaurants like ZuZu, Connolly Ranch. Oenotri, Angèle, Morimoto and Kitchen Door as well as private chefs. A small box for one or two people costs $20 per week or $400 for the Though Moore has to deliver to restaurants, individual members pick 20-week season. A large box for four or five people is $30 per week, or up their boxes each Tuesday afternoon. While there, they can also see chef $600 for the season, paid in advance. demonstrations, buy other local produce and even pick cherry tomatoes, The CSA membership is almost full, but Boca can accept a few more fresh berries and flowers. In all her efforts, she’s doing more than raising members. Reach Moore at 312-0450 or 266-4926. Email lizzie@bocafarm. vegetables; she’s creating a community of members who value her efforts. org or visit www.bocafarm.org to sign up. Boca stands for Building Our Community through Agriculture. Other local farms offering CSA boxes are Hudson Farms in Carneros If they prefer, individuals can plant their own 10x12 raised plots. She and Clif Family Farm in Pope Valley. River Dog Farms in Guinda and supplies drip irrigation and the space for only $35 for the season. She only other farms nearby also deliver to Napa. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 2 21
NVLife_JulyAug_2012
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