Established 2003

Owner

Martin Bournhonesque

After farming from farming from 1990 – 1999 Martin took a few years off. He begin working his current farm in 2003.  He wants and has wanted from the beginning to create a “chef’s kitchen garden.”

Oliveto co-owner Bob Klein helped Martin connect with some of Bob’s connections in Italy and Martin was able to obtain a lot of their various heirloom seeds.  Now, some of the vegetables Oliveto gets from Martin are the descendants of seeds purchased from Bob’s Italian friends.

Chef Canales says that aside from “the exceptional arugula Martin prides himself on, he also supplies Oliveto with potatoes, little onions, and field radicchio.  He was the first farm to get us Tardivo radicchio.  He has provided assistance and seed to other farms just starting out including County Line we we buy amazing chicories from.”

Technology

Martin has 2 acres of semi-shaded greenhouses, that are warm and protected from the wind. This works well for delicate products such as arugula. Greenhouses give him the ability to grow a wide variety of crops year-round.

Challenges

Small farmers often have a hard time finding markets that will buy their produce for a price that will allow the the farmer to make a profit. Martin works as a consultant for small farmers, helping them acquire the right seeds, find good labor, and introducing them to markets that will offer them fair compensation.

Principles

To provide great chefs with the produce that will make their food sparkle every month of the year. He believes that it takes at least 5-6 years to learn to be a truly competent farmer. This is the same amount of time it takes to earn a Ph.D. So, by now, Martin feels as though he has his Ph.D. in farming.

Practices

Because he grew up in Berkeley, he feels like a city guy who farms. He lives on his farm Wednesday through Friday, and lives in San Francisco the rest of the week.

Future plans

To consolidate the growth his business has seen in recent years.

Length of relationship with Oliveto

Martin sold to Oliveto from 1994-1999 when he was farming a different plot of land. He started selling produce to Oliveto from his current location in 2003.

Location

5 acres near Salinas

Crops

Salad greens, beans

Organizations/Certification

He plans to be certified in the near future

Distribution

25 Bay Area restaurants, Monterey Market, BiRite Market

Our first soft shell crabs from the Chesapeake Bay came in two days ago.  We never know how long the season will last, but we do know we’ll have them on the menu this weekend.

Also…
Martin Bournhonesque, our source for impeccable arugula among other leafy greens, recently sent us a movie he made last September.  It features his prized, antique, Planet Junior push seeder; a device that was developed in the 19th century and perfected in the 1930s.  He thinks his model is 50-80 years old, and he also believes, “the older they are, the better they work.”

Martin’s farm is in Salinas (# 13 on our Farmers map) and he’s pretty sure it was spinach he was planting last September with his trusty Planet Junior.  So…

This weekend: sautéed soft shell crab with Martin’s spinach in brown butter and capers. While they last.

And just off the wire: minutes ago, our mushroom hunter Anthony showed up with a boat-load of morels foraged from the Burney area, above the Pit River.  They’ll be on the menu this weekend as well.  And everyone knows nothing says “I love you, Mom” quite like morels. And soft shell crabs.  And spinach.

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