AUGUST 2017 FARM VISIT

 First Mother Farms | Flourish Farm (Aka: West Sacramento Urban Farm)
317 5th St. West Sacramento, CA   95605

(Scroll down for link to Google Maps)

Thu, AUGUST 17~8am-12pm  |   Sat, AUGUST 19~8am-12pm

Dear Artists and Supporters,

Join us this month as we visit our first urban farmscape!  What was once a vacant city lot in West Sacramento is now made up of two separate farms owned and operated by two amazing women. Laurie Gates owns Flourish Farm where she grows a variety of flowers. Rubie Simonsen, owner of First Mother Farms, grows drought tolerant herbs.

This location is one of the first of five urban farm sites through the West Sacramento Urban Farm Program sponsored by the Center for Land-Based Learning. Both Laurie and Rubie recently graduated from the Farm Academy in Winters and now have 1/8 acre each where they do everything themselves from planting, irrigation to harvesting. All of the fresh flowers and herbs are sold or donated locally. "This will be my first year committing to farming as my own business" says Rubie in her online biography. "It's been a huge learning curve,  but it's been a fun challenge." says Laurie.  

Together with lots of hard work they have literally brought this street corner to life with a colorful array of herbs, yarrow, statice, zinnias and amaranth, to name a few. And one of the most gratifying rewards is  the special connection that continues to grow with the people in the neighborhood who walk by and say: " You're doing a great job" or "It looks lovely, thank you!" And, says Laurie, "I especially  like early mornings when all the insects and dragonflies come out. When I'm here with all the beautiful flowers I'm at peace."