From the Field – Spring Lamb

Just this morning Don Watson showed up with four, first of season spring lamb, about 90 days old. We’re hanging them for a few days to help tenderize the meat & plan to have them on the menu starting Saturday night (remote possibility not until Sunday). They’ll be on the menu through Tuesday or Wednesday….

The Economy – The State of Our Food

“Cooking with foods grown by farmers you have met, in nearby places that you have driven past, will give you a sense that your world is one of interconnected parts. You will observe the vitality of the produce in the way it tastes, smells, and feels, and by how long it remains wholesome and appealing [...]

Paine Farm Pigeon – Profile

Almost 30 years ago Phillip was working at the Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco and commuting from Sonoma. He enjoyed his surroundings in Sonoma so much that he decided to figure out a way that he could live there full time & not have to commute to a job in the city. He started out not knowing much about raising squab other than thinking that it looked like something he could do….

From the Field – Niman Ranch Update


After learning this past week of the sale of Niman Ranch, I called Paul Willis our Iowa hog farmer and co-founder of Niman Ranch Pork Company, to make sure he was OK. We were just beginning a week of Whole Hog dinners. The Niman Ranch name and the network of several hundred hog farmers who share animal treatment, feed and handling standards remain, but the company has not made it through this economy…

Jones Rabbit Farm – Profile

Willis started raising rabbits in San Mateo in a friend’s backyard. Willis’ grandfather raised rabbits, so it is part of his family tradition. When he retired, he moved to Santa Rosa…

Magruder Ranch – Profile

The ranch has been in the family for 4 generations. Mac’s mother grew up on the ranch and Mac’s father grew up on a plantation in Mississippi, studied as a banker, and then went into the Navy before he married Mac’s mother and took up ranching…

Napa Valley Lamb – Profile

Raising lamb, although a passion was not profitable on its own. In 2003 Don was going out of business and realized he could make a profit marketing his sheep as bursh-clearers, which ultimately saved the business…

New Life Farm – Profile

Juan grew up in Mexico, where he worked on a chicken farm. Juan’s brother (who has since passed away) went to church with the neighbors of Mac and Nancy Warner. When these neighbors mentioned that there was an opening for a temporary position on the Warner’s farm, Juan’s brother recommended Juan for the job…

Sonoma County Poultry Liberty Ducks – Profile

Sonoma County Poultry was founded in 1992 by Jim Reichardt, a fourth generation duck farmer, in response to chefs’ demands for a larger, meatier, more flavorful duck…

Willis Farm – Profile

Paul Willis still lives on the farm where he grew up, in Thornton, IA about 100 miles north of Des Moines. Paul’s passions have always included animals and taking care of the land. It is this passion that led him…