Farm Life Spotlight: The Refarmery

Live well. Waste not.  These are the simple words The ReFarmery lives by.

This small-scale farm located in Sacramento County was brought to life in 2009. It now offers ethical and sustainable fruit, vegetables, eggs, bread, poultry, herbs, and flowers through a CSA program, online farm stand, and farmers markets.  

Jon - the face behind The ReFarmery was inspired by his grandfather who grew much of his own after retiring. Jon would also read magazines about so many amazing vegetables and would taste the diversity of flavors when he found them fresh. Both of these steered him in the direction of growing for himself. Eventually, he had so much food he couldn't solely eat, so the decision to share it with his community at large pushed him into farming.

His days now start around 6 AM caring for the animals and end around 9 PM or 10 PM after he finishes working the field and putting the animals to bed. On top of this, he preps for farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). 

The Buena Mulata Pepper is one of Jon's favorite crops. It is a deep purple hot pepper shaped like cayenne with floral notes. The heat is low enough to enjoy in many meals, and even in a couple of cocktails that have become summer favorites. When these peppers show up on the table at farmers markets, there are always customers who stop and want to know more about these veggies they have never seen before. It stands out as a great pepper on its' own, but also a gateway veggie in the massive world of varieties that most people have never tried.

Sustainability has always been a focus on the farm. After many trials and challenges, they are now raising American Bresse Chickens that are easy to handle, produce a fair amount of eggs, and grow out fast enough to be a part of broiler operation rather than relying on traditional commercial varieties.

The farm has sold produce through a CSA since its' inception. One of the early members has been coming out to the farm with their children for almost 7 years. As their kids have grown up they still want to come out, and when these children bring friends they refer to the farm as "their farm" which is the greatest success Jon can imagine as being a part of his community.

In fact, the most satisfying part of farming for Jon is sharing the harvest with people who get to experience how different fresh food from the farm is compared to store-bought. Most people know how much better an heirloom tomato is, but an onion, zucchini, pumpkin, or potato can all be a vastly superior experience compared to their store-bought counterparts. Hearing customers say they didn't know they liked a new vegetable they tried makes farming a wonderful life to live.

Over the last decade, Jon has been watching as more and more midsize farms are gobbled up by large farms. At the same time, he is seeing more support for small farms in the way of scaled tools, government recognition, and training from all forms of education to help the small and urban farms find success. One of the wildest things is seeing all the walk-behind and remote power tools both gas and electric being developed for commercial application on farms that range from a few thousand square feet to a few acres.

When it comes to the future of farming Jon believes farms will continue to become more popular. Large farms are not going away anytime soon, but small farms are having a larger impact each year and can provide quality food directly into their communities with connections large farms try to emulate. Jon's world is small farms - he sees the potential for there to be many more small farms supporting their communities and making the world a healthier place for all.

Jon's advice to other small farmers is, "there is no life better than I can imagine compared to farming. Farming is a beautiful experience that keeps you always learning and growing in what is the hardest challenge I've encountered".

When Jon started farming his focus was all on the highest quality products that could be produced while caring for the land. This is still a part of the farm's identity but now there is also a social component in growing not only their own crops but the people who interact with the farm. Jon strives to make the community lives fuller by providing nutrient-dense produce, a greater understanding of where their food comes from, and teaching skills so that everyone can have a better experience in this life. Working to provide local food, community support, and sustainable living for the future is ultimately the goal of The ReFarmery. 

Keep up with The ReFarmery on Instagram or visit their website to learn more about all they do and the programs they offer!