LAKE COUNTY— Over the weekend the Big Valley Small Farms hosted their fifth annual tour, welcoming the public on to the farms to meet the owners, tour the grounds, and get to know a little bit more about the local agricultural industry. Every year four small farms along the Soda Bay Corridor open their gates and offer tastings of their homemade delights and homegrown fruits and vegetables while offering a glimpse into the daily life of a farmer.
Heading south from Lakeport, the first stop was Edenberry Farm located at 3036 Stone Drive in Lakeport. Edenberry is an organic family run farm operated by Michael Edenhome, wife Pauline Byron and daughter Annika Edenhome established in 2016. At first they planted thornless blackberries and raspberries but adjusted over time adding an array of native plants like elderberry, then pomegranates, an orchard with peaches, plums and apples, and table grapes which are purchased from Mendocino and are all named after different Native American tribes. Michael shared that they are a zero waste farm adding, “We don’t waste anything, we have 100 chickens and 12 turkeys. So the produce, if we can’t sell it fresh or jam it, goes to them. We don’t bring anything in from the outside.”
Today they offer you-pick as well as farm stand hours but can also be found at seven different Farmer’s Markets around the lake. For the tour, Edenberry offered a spread of their home made jams, jellies, and flavored balsamic vinegars from orange marmalade to strawberry rhubarb, and a raspberry vinaigrette that according to Michael is “The wife’s latest creation, which is very good drizzled over cheese.” More information can be found on the farm’s website edenberryfarm.com.
Next stop on the tour was Ripe Choice Farm located at 2550 Soda Bay Road in Lakeport, owned by Mark and Tammy Lipps. The Lipps purchased the farm in 2020, seeing the potential for not only farming fresh produce, but also creating a rustic rentable venue space out of an old barn, providing gourmet catering and personal chef services, as well as hosting on site farm stays and cooking classes. According to their website, theripechoice.net the property “fit perfectly with our sensibilities and desire to take The Ripe Choice to the next level. This drove our move Lake County.” Joining the Ripe Choice Farm onsite were representatives from the Big Valley Rancheria discussing cyanobacteria and other aspects of Clear Lake water quality while handing out informational pamphlets, stickers, and activity books for kids. Visitors were also greeted by the farms pet pigs and rather large tortoise.
Right next door to the Ripe Choice Farm you find Campodonico Olive Farm located at 2570 Soda Bay Road, established in 2010. Beginning with only 750 trees on two and a half acres, today the family run farm boasts of over a thousand trees on nine acres. Owners Richard and Leanne Campodonico, along with their children Sophia and Steven, cultivate six different olive varietals Campodonico blends them all into their olive oil, which has won awards at LA County’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition and also at the California State Fair.
Leanne shared, “We’re very proud of this oil, a lot of people have tried it and love it.” During the tour guests were encouraged to sample their product and peruse the grounds, enjoying some cold water amid strolling the vast rows of olive trees. Owner Leanne stated, “We greeted a lot of newcomers who didn’t know this farm existed and were just enthralled with the place.” Richard added. “We have met so many people at these events, so many nice people.” More information can be found on their website campodonico-olives.com.
Last stop on the tour was Peace and Plenty Farm located at 4550 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville, who are most well known for Saffron production and infused goods at their farm stand which is open year round. Owners Melinda Price and husband Simon Avery have had fantastic luck with the saffron and owe a great deal of publicity to it. Price noted that it really helped put them on the map. Nowadays the two have shifted their focus. “Saffron is what we initially thought was going to be paying the mortgage but now it’s the carrots and lettuce,” Price said. She continued, “It played its part, but it is such a specialty thing, it’s not something you reach for everyday.”
Peace and Plenty Farm is hosting its annual Lavender Celebration on June 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. inviting guests to “stroll through our lavender field, sip lavender lemonade and pose for photos amongst the fragrant purple flowers.” More information can be found on their website peaceplentyfarm.com
