The Farm on 7th

07/21/2024

Yes! It is possible to have a complete garden in containers.

The tables from our 2024 Home Food Production Spring Plant Sale became the platform for our container garden - and the results are impressive!
[UPDATE TO POST: 7/21/24 at 3:18 PM: We realize we caused some confusion since there are some 10-gallon plastic pots showing in the video. The flowers that are seen in the video are planted in plastic pots while most everything else - aside from one tomato, most of the tomatillo plants and a few other random plants - are in fabric pots.]

Yes! It is possible to have a complete garden in containers.The tables from our 2024 Home Food Production Spring Plant Sale became the platform for our conta...

06/07/2024

FINAL DAYS | JUNE 7 & 8 | 9 AM TO 6 PM
The last two days of the 2024 Spring Plant Sale are Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th! We still have tomatoes, peppers, melons, cucumbers, herbs and squash. All varieties of sweet potatoes (except white) are available and one of the new varieties of basil we tried this year - Everleaf Emerald Towers - looks awesome!

PRICES: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6

We also have a few plants available in 5-gallon size. Availability should be up to date in the online catalog if you're wondering if we still have something specific: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog

05/29/2024

PEST MANAGEMENT
We've received some comments/concerns about the post we made about earwigs and realized we neglected to preface it with a discussion on pest management. We should have made it clear it is ALWAYS preferable to have a good pest management program in place in an effort to manage things naturally.

At the Farm on 7th, ducks have always been our primary pest control (chickens can work as well), along with w**d management, removing crops as soon as we've done our final harvest, and growing plants that attract beneficial insects. We have possums and skunks here as well that presumably also play a part in helping keep things in check.

Some feedback from people on what’s been working/what they’re trying/have tried:
• Several people reached out stating that diatomaceous earth seems to help, one stating they buy specifically food grade.

• There are different types of traps being employed. As you can see from the photo of the rectangular plastic container, this size container (roughly 5x9) is doing a fairly good job of catching them and the bugs should be cleaned/strained out regularly. The magic combination seems to be soy sauce to attract the earwigs with oil to trap them. (We can't use these since our ducks would make a mess.)

• Here is another type of trap one of our customers is trying out (using lawn staples instead of tape): https://youtu.be/9d80yKle7eU

• "I found soapy water and vinegar to be very effective in killing them on contact but should not be sprayed in areas where growing is taking place. All other areas I am spraying and have killed thousands."

• "I have tried Cinnamon oil and garlic oil which have not worked as a repellant. The next one I will try is Rosemary oil that I have read works."

As a matter of course, we choose not to "go to war" with the various insects and instead will pull whatever crop is having the issue and try again the next year. However, we are not talking earwig numbers where they can actually serve as a beneficial insect killing aphids. We're talking an infestation of tens of thousands (at least) in some areas of town with earwigs at the property we're currently growing on ravaging the plants and fruit. Fortunately we’re not dependent on income from these crops, but this level of infestation would be a significant issue to someone trying to make a living selling their produce.

The first photo shows a previous year's healthy onion patch versus the onion plants this year. We had planned to have a class to teach people to make onion braids this year, but that is no longer possible. The annihilation of the green tops by the earwigs has also led the normally softball sized onions to be more the size of a tennis ball and some people have told us they got nothing at all.

Aside from destroying onions, the earwigs are destroying strawberries, eating and crawling into the nectarines, and making skeletons out of the broccoli; they destroyed our beet greens and sage, ate through the leaves of our kale and sunflowers, and the list goes on. When a neighbor notes the "whole back of the house wall was crawling black with them"; someone tells us they bit into one of their own homegrown strawberries to find an earwig inside; and a new beekeeper tells us that earwigs are in his beehives wrestling with his bees, things are out of balance.

We have a few other things that have been recommended to us that we're trying out and we will report on them if they turn out to be helpful. Good luck out there!

05/24/2024

2024 SPRING PLANT SALE EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 8TH | THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 9 AM TO 6 PM
For those of you who still have space in your garden – or haven’t yet had a chance to start 🙂 - we are extending the sale through June 8th.

PRICES: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6

We still have stock of most plants and also have a few plants available in 5-gallon size. We're working to keep availability up to date in the online catalog if you're wondering if we still have something specific: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog

05/22/2024

EARWIGS/PINCHER BUGS
Earwigs are at severe infestation levels this year, causing issues for us and a LOT of our customers. If your plants are getting eaten up, but you're not sure by what, go out at night and check with a flashlight as that's when the earwigs come out and do the damage. This photo was taken tonight showing them on the sunflowers.

Although oil traps can generally work with some efficacy, they are nowhere near the level necessary in many gardens this year given the level of infestation. Someone recommended Sluggo Plus to us which is approved for organic food production. The earwigs are definitely attracted to it and it has been helpful. This product also notes it works for cutworms, sowbugs/pill bugs, slugs and snails. (Be sure you get Sluggo "Plus" as the other Sluggo products don't work for earwigs.)

If anyone has had success with anything else, please let us know so we can share and help others. Thank you!

05/21/2024

NURSERY CONTAINERS & FLATS RECYCLING
One of the ways we keep our costs down is by recycling the plastic containers and flats the plants come in (we go through A LOT). So if you've been accumulating plastic containers, flats, etc from your gardening purchases and are wondering what to do with it all, we will happily take all types of containers and trays!

There is a table and a plastic trash can where items can be dropped at 587 7th Street. Or you can leave things right outside the gate as well.

Thank you for helping us keep prices down for everyone and keeping reusable plastic out of the landfill!

05/17/2024

WEEK 7 OF 8 | MAY 16-18 | 9 AM TO 6 PM
Yes! We still have plants - and they're much bigger now. :-)

We tried to make sure we would have a good selection all the way to the end of the sale and right now we have peanut plants back in stock, there are tomatoes on some of the tomato plants, the tomatillos are doing their thing and there are still plenty of other plants to choose from!

PRICES: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6

Online catalog (for reference only: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog

05/15/2024

2024 NORCO RANCH TOUR
We invite you to visit us at our second growing area at the Five Keys/EAT Center farm on Sierra during this year’s Norco Ranch Tour on Saturday, June 1st. We will be there along with incubator farmers who have completed the EAT Center small farmer training.

From 11 am to 4 pm you can visit all 8 places on the tour for only $10! (Children 12 and under are free) You can start at any location and your ticket is good for the entire tour. Spend as much time as you wish at each location. Proceeds from this event benefit local Norco charities.

Our friends at Kmar Farms will also have Norco small businesses Soaps McGoats and Kimpton Farms & Artisan Bakery at their location along with many other vendors selling scones, honey, chocolate, flannels, blankets, hats, candles and more!
https://norcoranchtour.com/

05/02/2024

WEEK 5 OF 8 | MAY 2-4 | 9 AM TO 6 PM
We still have stock of most everything in the catalog and the plants have been loving this warm weather! (Check out the video 🙂🌱)

The pickling cucumbers are ready (although still on the small side) and bush beans are finally in as well. Sweet potatoes will be ready by next weekend for sure!

PRICES: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6

Online catalog (for reference only: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog

05/01/2024

PRODUCE AVAILABLE AT THIS WEEK'S PLANT SALE
This weekend's plant sale will include produce! We will have our always popular, delicious and long-lasting lettuce salad mix which will easily last 2 to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. We will also have Golden and Candy Cane/Chioggia Beets, Red Cabbage and Lacinato/Dinosaur Kale.

04/26/2024

AVAILABILITY UPDATE
Should have known we shouldn't send out an announcement without checking during daylight hours to avoid disappointing people who hoped to get the pickling cucumbers this weekend. :-( The seed order we placed several weeks ago had gotten lost and we didn't get the pickling cucumbers until recently. They will be ready by Week 6 of the sale and we'll be sure to post once they're ready!

Meanwhile, below is a list of updates on stock. Check out the online catalog for descriptions:

NEW ADDITIONS:
Herb: Bouquet Dill, Teddy Dill
Watermelon: Sangria
Summer Squash: Sunburst Patty Pan (Yellow)
Summer Squash: Spineless Beauty Zucchini (Green)
Winter Squash: Table Queen Acorn (Vining)
Winter Squash: Table Treat Acorn (Bush)
Winter Squash: Long Island Cheese Pumpkin

COMING WEEK 6: MAY 9-11
Bush Bean: Momentum, Provider
Cucumber: Pickling (Gershwin)

TO BE DETERMINED:
Sweet Potato: Dowling's, Molokai Purple, Orange Flesh, White Flesh

OUT FOR THE SEASON
Beets: Candy Cane/Chioggia
Broccoli: Godzilla
Herb: Italian Large Leaf Basil, Garlic Chives, Parsley (Forest Green, Italian Flat Leaf), Stevia
Kolhrabi: Quickstar
Lettuce: Tehama
Melon: Canary
Peas: Cascadia Sugar Snap
Pepper: Yolo Wonder Bell, Habanero (bad year), Jedi Jalapeño,
Summer Squash: Golden Glory Zucchini
Tomato: Mortgage Lifter
Tomato, Paste Type: Roma (Tachi)

Online catalog (for reference only: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog)

04/25/2024

WEEK 4 OF 8 | APRIL 25-27 | 9 AM TO 6 PM
SPOTLIGHT: STRIPED ITALIAN ZUCCHINI
We are excited to try out this Striped Italian Zucchini from seeds imported from Italy. The flavor is supposed to be excellent, with firm texture. The plants are super-productive over a long season and it produces many flowers for those of you who like those squash blossom recipes. It tolerates heat, and also does well in cool weather. Or so they say! We'll be finding out about it right alongside you. 😁

CUCUMBERS, MELONS & SQUASH ARE READY!
All cucumbers, melons and squash on our website are ready this weekend! (Except for the pickling cucumbers, which should be available in a few weeks.) All the basils are looking really happy and our dill plants that were suffering earlier have perked up as well.

PRICES: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6 (most plants will be 4" pots)

Online catalog (for reference only: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog

04/03/2024

OPENING WEEKEND (APRIL 4-6) | SNEAK PEAK
We’ve been (and still are) extremely busy preparing for opening weekend for our FIFTH(!) Annual Home Food Production Spring Plant Sale taking place Thursday, April 4th through Saturday, April 6th.

Seems like déjà vu with a forecast of cold temps and possible thunderstorms on Friday with more cold weather to follow, but we’ll be out there – mainly because we learned last year our diehard customers show up regardless of the weather!

The sale runs through May 25th every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm.

A few items were added to the catalog since we sent it out:
• Lettuce - Tehama
• Peanuts - Bailey II Peanut
• Pepper - Bell, Big Red
• Squash (Summer) - Patty Pan, White
• Tomato - Super Sioux

Bulbing onions have been removed since it’s really just too late to plant them and get good results. If you are interested in growing some large onions you will want to buy onion starts from us around December. We do have bunching onions this year.

Please remember we are at the mercy of the weather and due to the cold, rainy weather that we’ve been experiencing not all items listed will be available the first few weeks and certain plants are on the smaller side. Sweet potatoes will be available starting in May.

Prices: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6 (most plants will be 4" pots)

Click the link for the online catalog where you will also find a printable shopping list and a PDF version of the catalog. (Catalog is for reference only - as noted, availability is dependent on weather conditions): https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog

03/26/2024

The 2024 online catalog is FINALLY ready!

For those of you new to our microfarm, our goal is to provide low-cost, healthy plants for home food production along with education for anyone who would like some help in their gardening endeavors. Greg grows everything himself from seed or slips, so you know it will work for your garden as well.

As in the past, knowing money continues to be tight for so many people, and in an effort to encourage people to have food production gardens, we are keeping prices the same for the 4” pots and 1-gallon pots, although we have raised the 6-pack containers by $1.

PRICES: 4" pots - $3 | 6-pack container - $6 | 1 gallon - $6

Hours will be 9 AM - 6PM every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from April 4th through May 25th.

LINKS:
Online catalog: https://www.farmon7th.com/plant-catalog (for reference only - availability dependent on weather conditions)
Printable shopping list: https://bit.ly/2024FarmOn7thShoppingList

02/22/2024

The 36th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week of learning, inspiration and movement-building, starts Sunday! This hybrid conference features over 60 online workshops along with some in-person gatherings at multiple venues around the state. (Nearby in-person gatherings are taking place on February 29th in Sylmar and Fillmore/Camarillo.) Admission is on a sliding-scale, to assure everyone can attend. Just select the amount you’re comfortable paying.

Check out the schedule for 2024 California Small Farm Conference

01/07/2024

WINTER PLANT SALE | NO STRAWBERRY PLANTS FOR THIS SEASON
In keeping with the idea of selling the right plants to you at the right time of the year, we have decided to do a small winter plant sale. To accurately gauge how much to plant, we will be taking preorders in the coming weeks. Please submit your preorder using this link https://form.jotform.com/240058795813160 and we will contact you once your order is ready (approximately 1 month after you place your order).

To give you the greatest value, ALL the plants will be sold in 6-pack containers.

NO STRAWBERRY PLANTS THIS YEAR
The supplier we had been purchasing bare root strawberry plants from is no longer selling smaller quantities like we purchased in the past and we were unable to find another source for the Fronteras variety that we liked so much, so unfortunately we will not have strawberry plants available this season. When we have time, we will work on finding a new supplier.

12/23/2023

WE HAVE A FEW ONION PLANT BUNDLES LEFT!
We have 14 bundles of onion starts left if you missed ordering last week. Planting now will produce large onion bulbs in late Spring/early Summer. Bundles of 25+ are $6.

Use this link to order: https://form.jotform.com/203466202164144.

Orders are for pickup only at 587 7th Street in Norco, CA with payment by cash, check or Zelle at time of pickup. A notification will be sent once your order is ready.

12/14/2023

ONION PLANT STARTS | NO STRAWBERRY PLANTS FOR THIS SEASON | LETTUCE

If you would like to grow your own onions, now is the time to plant your starts! We are selling the correct type for Southern California (short day and intermediate day varieties) that will produce large onion bulbs in late Spring/early Summer. Mixed packs of 25+ are $6.

Orders for onion starts can be submitted online using this link https://form.jotform.com/203466202164144. QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED so we advise submitting your reservation as soon as possible. Orders are for pickup only at 587 7th Street in Norco, CA with payment by cash, check or Zelle at time of pickup. A notification will be sent once your order is ready.

STRAWBERRY PLANTS
For strawberry plants, our supplier is no longer selling quantities to small farms like ours and we were unable to find another source for the Fronteras variety that we liked so much, so unfortunately we will not have strawberry plants available this go round. When we have time, we will work on finding a new supplier.

LETTUCE
Lettuce heads and lettuce salad mix will be intermittent at best this coming season as we need to focus on the infrastructure we keep putting off. We will send out notifications whenever we have it available.

12/01/2023

LETTUCE MIX & HEADS (PESTICIDE-FREE & HERBICIDE-FREE) | POMEGRANATES (LIMITED QUANTITY) - AVAILABLE 12/1 & 12/2 FROM 9AM-5PM (or until sold out)
We spent today harvesting lettuce for the first salad mix of the season! $6 for a 1/2 pound+ bag.

Various leaf-lettuce and Romaine heads will also be available for $2/head.

A limited amount of pomegranates are available for $1 each.

As always, everything is grown pesticide-free and herbicide-free and the lettuce is hydroponically grown.

Available Friday & Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM (or until sold out) at the Farm on 7th (587 7th Street). If you can't make it during that time, send us a private message through FB or email [email protected] to make other arrangements.

11/29/2023

12/3 FARM-TO-FORK LUNCH FUNDRAISER | LETTUCE SALAD MIX
We have some space left at our fundraiser on Sunday for our friends at Barites Veteran Ranch ("BVR").

Enjoy a Farm-to-Fork lunch (tritip, salad, savory sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, pomegranate sorbet & lime bars), candlemaking with Re-Candle and a chance to meet and take photos with the adorable mini cows from BVR!

The cost is $75 per person with all proceeds from the event benefiting Barites Veteran Ranch, a 501c3 entity, Tax ID #85-2244452. Register at https://bit.ly/CowsCandlesLunch. [A child may attend with a paying adult and share the candlemaking supplies.]

SALAD MIX: We will be harvesting the first batch of our always popular mixed lettuce salad mix this week. We'll give you a heads up when it's ready!

11/11/2023

Happy Veterans Day to the brave men and women who serve our country! Today is the perfect day to reflect on what we can do to thank a veteran for their sacrifices.

Here at the Farm on 7th, we are planning to have a fundraiser for our friends at Barites Veteran Ranch ("BVR") on December 3rd with a Farm-to-Fork lunch, candlemaking and time/photo opps with their mini cows!

The cost is $75 per person with all proceeds from the event benefiting Barites Veteran Ranch, a 501c3 entity, Tax ID #85-2244452.

Space is limited! Register at https://bit.ly/CowsCandlesLunch.

10/25/2023

YOU PICK PUMPKINS | OCT 27, 28, 29 FROM 12-8 PM
Don't miss your chance to support local farming AND pick your own pumpkins in Norco's very own pumpkin patch! This Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the EAT Cultural Center farm at 4061 Sierra Avenue.

10/08/2023

THE CITY OF NORCO WAS THE OCTOBER 6, 2023 KCAL SO-CAL SPOTLIGHT!

Exploring Norco: SoCal Spotlight
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/exploring-norco-socal-spotlight/

Farm Training program in Norco: SoCal Spotlight
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/farm-training-program-in-norco-socal-spotlight/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

Horse Therapy in Norco: SoCal Spotlight
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/horse-therapy-in-norco-socal-spotlight/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

Shopping at the Thrifty Horse in Norco: SoCalSpotlight
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/shopping-at-the-thrifty-horse-in-norco-socal-spotlight/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

City of Norco - Government
EAT Cultural Center
Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy
Thrifty Horse

KCAL News reporter Sheba Turk is in Norco, also known as “Horse Town USA,” and she is showing us everything the beautiful city has to offer!

08/12/2023

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 FROM 9 AM UNTIL SOLD OUT - DAPPLE DANDY PLUOTS
Dapple Dandy pluots will be available tomorrow from 9 AM until we're sold out - $7 for 2+ pounds. Other pluots may possibly be available as well. A heads up next week will likely be it for the season.

Pickup only at Farm on 7th at 587 7th Street in Norco. Cash or Zelle.

07/29/2023

SATURDAY FROM 9 AM UNTIL 12 PM - EMERALD DROP PLUOTS
Emerald Drop pluots will be available Saturday, July 29th from 9 until 12 pm - $7 for 2+ pounds. (YES, they're ripe!) Pickup only at Farm on 7th at 587 7th Street in Norco. Cash or Zelle.

07/21/2023

SATURDAY, JULY 22ND FROM 9 AM UNTIL SOLD OUT - EMERALD DROP PLUOTS
This weekend (Saturday only) we'll have Emerald Drop pluots available ($7 for 2+ pounds) until we're sold out. Pickup only at Farm on 7th at 587 7th Street in Norco. Cash or Zelle.

07/15/2023

SATURDAY, JULY 15TH FROM 9 AM UNTIL SOLD OUT - SPLASH AND EMERALD DROP PLUOTS
This weekend (Saturday only) we'll have Splash and Emerald Drop pluots available ($7 for 2+ pounds) until we're sold out. (And YES, the Emerald Drop pluots are fully ripe even though they are green!) Pickup only at Farm on 7th at 587 7th Street in Norco. Cash or Zelle.

07/08/2023

SOLD OUT!
We're sold out for fruit this weekend. Unfortunately that was the last of the peaches, since we didn't have as much fruit as some years between the weather, birds, squirrels, etc.

Pluots will be available for the next several weekends, with different varieties each week. Emerald Drop pluots should be available starting next weekend along with Splash pluots.

If you're interested in sweet potato plants, please send us a message!

07/08/2023

SATURDAY FROM 9 TO 6 - PEACHES/PLUOTS & SWEET POTATO PLANTS: QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED
Mother nature threw a kink in the works and our fruit is just now finally ripening!

This weekend (Saturday only) we'll have peaches available ($8 for 2+ pounds) and Splash pluots ($7 for 2+ pounds). Peaches will likely only be available this weekend and the next, but we will have different varieties of pluots ripening probably for the next four weekends.

We also have 4" sweet potato plants available for $3 - orange, white and purple flesh.

Pickup only. Cash or Zelle.

05/22/2023

“What I'd like to express is this simple affirmation: Growing, harvesting, cooking, and eating something that you've grown - no matter how tiny the yield - is one of the most important and nearly lost of human art forms." Stephen Orr

It is an amazing and wonderful thing to be part of a movement here in Norco and the surrounding areas where people are understanding and learning the empowerment that comes from growing your own food.

We strongly encourage everyone to check out the EAT Cultural Center and its Small Farm Apprenticeship Program (AKA Norco’s free “Learn to Farm” program). The Center also has one-off classes throughout the year on a variety of subjects.

For our part in this movement, once again this year we have collected up wonderful memories and experiences in our fourth year of the plant sale. We really enjoy interacting with the community – from those just beginning to garden to those with years and years of experience. Our favorite part of this multi-week event is opening weekend, when we get to experience what feels like a reunion of extended family. It is such a joy to see people returning each year, telling us about their successes (and failures 😕), the great fruits and vegetables they grew, how they prepared them, their plans for this year’s garden, etc. It’s truly a special community we have found ourselves a part of.