People

Robin and Nancy Gammons with their daughter Jill and 3 full-time employees.

Farmland

5 acres in Aromas, about 95 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Farm History

The Gammons purchased the plot of land in Aromas and began farming in 1977.

Robin and Nancy Gammons were both native Californians and enthusiastic home gardeners when they met in 1970. They were married in 1975, and, with the help of Robin’s father, were able to purchase land in Aromas. They started farming in 1977. The farm is named after their four daughters: Lucy, Jill, Dusty, and Prema. The Gammons’ approach to farming has always been organic and ecological, and they have a strong commitment to maintaining a natural, healthy ecosystem on their property. One of their four daughters, Jill, is now following in her parents’ footsteps and has begun a flower-growing project of her own on the farm.

Certification

California Certified Organic Farmer (CCOF) since 1988

Soil

Built up with compost, turning everything back in.

Water Use

Drip and misting irrigation. The land has native springs and a high water table.

Weed Control

Hand and machine weeding.

Pest Management

Although they have acquired a small tractor, they continue to use a rototiller and hand tools for planting, so as to disturb the land as little as possible. They have found that this approach means that they have very few insect pests to contend with. The healthy, harmonious farm ecosystem self-regulates and takes care of those pests. They do have one non-insect pest: the deer that roam the beautiful countryside surrounding their farm, and they are currently building a fence to protect their crops from being munched by deer.