Ella Bella Farm

FARMLAND: 16 acres in Watsonville, about 90 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

PEOPLE: Brandon and Michelle Ross; their children, Ella (the farm’s namesake), Harry (born in 2004) and Maggie (born in 2008); 3 full-time, year-round field workers; and Brandon’s parents (who help with farmers’ market sales)

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Brandon Ross comes from a family steeped in farming and the politics surrounding it. His paternal grandfather was a founding member of the United Farm Workers union, a mentor to Cesar Chavez, and leader of the grape boycotts in California in the 1960s. His maternal grandfather was a grape farmer who was boycotted by the UFW and victimized by the union struggle. Brandon's parents met during these boycotts and fell in love despite their families' differences.

In 1999, he and Michelle O'Hearn started Ella Bella Farm, named after Michelle's daughter Ella, on 30 leased acres in Corralitos. They worked hard to convert this initial plot to organic where they established their berries; they have now streamlined their farm and moved their production to 16 acres of certified organic land across the street. In their work at Ella Bella Farm, Brandon and Michelle bring together a love of farming, a concern for farm-workers' rights, convictions about the social and societal context of farming today, and a deep commitment to ecological sustainability.

SOIL: Sandy loam built with cover crops, crop rotation, composted chicken manure, and organic amendments.

WEED CONTROL: Plastic mulch for strawberries, crop rotations, hand weeding, and machine cultivation.

PEST MANAGEMENT: Integrated Pest Management including habitat for beneficial insects, release of beneficial insects, micronized sulfur on tomato plants, soap, and neem on berries.

WATER USE: Many crops are dry-farmed, including potatoes and most tomatoes. Minimal irrigation is applied to other crops using drip lines and sprinklers.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: Monterey County Certified Organic