Pie Ranch & Peacock Farm

sohanawebseries
May 12, 2015
3 min read

Following many "rogue" interviews with the interesting people of San Francisco, we made way to Pescadero, CA home of Pie Ranch. This was a great property centered around teaching people of all kinds how to farm and homestead. There are great internship opportunities for people to come stay on the farm and learn how it operates. Their programs include: Food Education, Farmer Training, and Regional Partnerships. Pie Ranch conducts a CSA, while here we were able to learn all about CSA's, their benefits for the farm, and how they can help a larger community eat locally and become more aware of their food resources. It was also really great to see the sense of community this farm fosters for its students and residents, the founders even live on the property as well.

We were able to enjoy a most delicious strawberry pie, after learning one of the reasons why Pie Ranch got its name.

"Pie Ranch is a place for “pie in the sky” idealistic thinking to guide social change, such as helping an urban school source local produce for their cafeteria; or a neighborhood to get their “slice of the pie” to ensure access to high quality fresh, locally grown foods. We create meaningful and measurable change toward sustainable communities. We believe enjoyable and thoughtful engagement with good food can bring individuals, families and institutions — from children to school boards — together to create a more healthful and just society."

After being catered to by Nate's wonderful, amazing mother and family, (with endless mini blueberry muffins) we set forth to Eugene, OR. There we were able to meet up with a good friend Jacob Olsen who showed us around Eugene and eventually took us to Peacock Farm. This farm is home to about 12 residents, one of which built his eco-friendly cabin on-site. This was a great place to have many riveting conversations about the current state of the world as well as potential solutions to problems being felt around the globe. We discussed thoughts on revolution and entertained the question "Revolution, why not renaissance?” which correlates with the idea that in order for us to have growth, we need to step back, move slower and together find a way of living that will work with an ecological balance. We spoke often of the universal human need for freedom and the outdoors, along with the accessibility of "nature" and what it means to be "outside".

It was here that we were able to come to a very important realization which has really stuck with us. As affirmed by many of the individuals whom we have interviewed on the street, we have learned that the American dream is transforming by necessity from an individual to a collective goal for the future of communities from families to neighborhoods to nations. Phrases like "I want to start an intentional community" and "I want to live a certain way" need to become more collective in nature; "I would like to take part in the creation of a community" or "we need to reduce the carbon admissions". United we stand, divided we fall can be a beautiful guideline for building community, too bad it enforces nationalism.