The Apple Farm

A few weekends ago I had a very unexpected visit to a biodynamic apple farm.  On this particular weekend I was going to the Anderson Valley Brewery Beer Festival, and came across “The Apple Farm.”  This apple farm is one that I have been buying apples from for a couple of years now.  Every time that I would buy apples I would see the sign that said “Philo, CA.”  And if you are like me, you think where in tarnations is Philo, CA.  I found out this weekend by accident, that “The Apple Farm” was in Mendicino county.

Micheal Pullan writes about apples in his book The Botany of Desire.  The main stream apples that everyone knows today, Fiji, Granny Smith, and Washington apples, are only three varieties of hundreds.  Where did all of these varieties disappear to?  They had no where to grow, with the disappearance of wildlife.  Big commercial farms took a few varieties of apples and mass produced them.  Thus, causing the dissapering act of apple varieties.  Fortunately, for human society not all populations of apples have become extinct.  The small apple orchard called “The Apple Farm,” carries some of the varieties that we don’t even remember, golden delicious, philo gold, macantosh (not the computer), Jonathan, pippin, pink lady, and the list goes on.

When entering “The Apple Farm” I noticed a man on a tractor that I recognized.  It was the very farmer that I had been buying apples from for the last two years.  “Hey I know you, your from the city,” He said.  “Yep! I was out here and I thought I’d stop in.” I replied.  He told me to walk around and enjoy myself, as I did.  An unattended stand was at the front, where my sister, Jen, and her husband, Jon, were browsing.  The farm had an honor system to sell their products on the farm.  Something you just wont see in a city.  Interestingly enough when one spreads out into the country, people are more honest.

Amongst the plethora of apple juice and ciders that were for sale, a apple cider vinegar, and an apple balsamic vinegar are my favorite.  Not only does apple cider vinegar taste great, but nutritional properties always pleased me.  Despite modern societies views on acidity, most people especially Americans have a low stomach acid level.  Apple cider vinegar is one of the best ways to increase ones stomach acid.  My personal Hydrochloc Acid (HCL) level is low which is why I love to use apple cider viniger before I eat.  A small shot (a cap full) 10-15 min before a person eats is all they need to increase their HCL level.  Of course there are many other reasons to drink apple cider vinegar, like the improvement of digestion, or natural probiotics.  But, the most unknown is the above fact about a person’s HCL level.

Beyond the mesmerizing stand of goodies, was a simple farm.  The layout was very organic (no pun intended) and I’m sure a green architect would approve.  Everything was sustainable.  As I approached the house, I recognized the farmer’s daughter who was making compost able pots out of cut up newspaper.  The farm had pigs, goats, rabbits, sheep, and other livestock.  I was there in time to catch and feed some baby goats.  Rudolf Steiner (who coined the term biodynamic farming) himself would have been proud of this farm.  As I finished my mini tour I realized that I truly was happy that I gave my money to this farm.  I would buy apples from these guys, even though the price was more then a conventional apple.  I may be paying a little under double conventional prices, but I was getting 10 or more times the nutrition.  Not to mention the fact that this small farm and farmer are sustainable.

Ok, Ok now you are probably going to ask, where do I find this magical stuff.  Well they are going to be selling every Saturday at the farmers market outside the ferry building next month, until the end of the apple season.  I suggest you check it out, and you can taste the difference in biodynamic farming.