Nash's Olive Oil E-Z Does It! Farms

FARMLAND: 20 acres in Corning, CA. Approximately 169 miles to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Nash and Dellene have been selling olives for nine years. They practice gentle agriculture where all levels of production are given equal and fair attention. When they moved to the farm, it had been fallow for 35 years; therefore, it has been organic for over 40 years. The farm is not certified organic, but follows sustainable methods.

They hand-pick their olives and cold press them once, which produces the highest quality olive oil. They are one of the few farmers pressing Sevillano olives, which are more expensive because they produce less oil. They also grow Manzanillo, Frontola, and Mission olives, which they press with roasted garlic, lemon, and orange. They value their employees and claim that they are probably the highest paying small farm in the area. Recently they have increased the number of female pickers -- traditionally a role filled only by men in the local olive oil industry.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY PRACTICES: The 150 hens forage free range throughout the farm's 20 acres and their neighbor's 20 acres. They only receive supplemental feed when there is not enough in the orchards. For this, Nash puts together his own mix of oats, corn, molasses and oyster shells. Nash and Dellene have six varieties of birds:Australian white and Rock white (white eggs), Rhode Island Red and Plymouth (brown eggs), and Aracauna (green eggs).

SOIL: The soil is very rich and is fertilized by their horses, goats, sheep, and chickens.

WEED CONTROL: Nash mows the fields and turns over the soil to manage weeds.

PEST MANAGEMENT: No sprays or pesticides are used on their crops.

WATER USE: Flood and drip irrigation from 2 domestic wells and the Corning Water District.

WORKERS: 25 during the olive harvest. Nash and Dellene work year round.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: None