Chickens will soon be eating local wheat at Eatwell Farm in California

By Marc

When Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm near Dixon, California, discovered that much of his certified organic chicken feed was coming from China, he realized that he wouldn't feel right marketing his eggs as "local," so he started to look for a new supply of feed. It turns out that he didn't need to look far — just over to the next farm.

A neighboring wheat farmer was looking to transition to organic practices — with the goal of eventually gaining certification — and so the farmer and Walker started a collaboration to grow wheat for the Eatwell chickens.

I heard Walker describe his new wheat farming venture and was able to watch part of the wheat harvest (shown in the photo above) when I went on a farm tour organized by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA, the group that runs the San Francisco Ferry Plaza farmers market).

The chickens at Eatwell are housed in mobile coops like the ones shown in the photo below. They can walk around, take dust baths, socialize, chase bugs, and spend their days being chickens. Periodically the chickens and their houses are moved to lush fields of fast-growing alfalfa or to fields that have recently been fully harvested (like the strawberry fields from which we were able to sample juicy sun warmed berries). The chickens help to clean up the fields and provide fertilizer for a future crop.Their supplemental feed includes wheat, seeds and various other vegetarian items to keep them healthy (definitely nothing nasty like arsenic, which is given to industrially-produced chickens to control parasites).

Eatwell farm has a CSA and sells direct at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza Market. Some of their herbs appear in chocolates made by Recchiuti Confections (like lemon verbena), others appear in essential oils or body products.  To keep up to date with happenings at the farm, check out the Eatwell blog.

Marc lives in Berkeley, California.  He writes Mental Masala (an enticing blend of food, history, travel, and nature) and contributes to The Ethicurean. More photos from the above tour and others can be found at Flickr.

Comments

[Kudzu Fire]

maybe this buy locally movement is feasible

[Meredith Niles]

I am not surprised to see Eatwell Farm be so conscientious about the source of their chicken feed- they have been leading the way for organic and beyond farming for a long time. Their purchase of organic chicken feed was preventing the release of hundreds of tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the production and transportation of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Yet, by opting to buy more locally grown chicken feed, Eatwell has yet again proven their commitment to the environment and local sustainable communities. Since their previous feed was from China, the foodmiles racked up by all of that transport was definitely creating a big footprint!

By switching to local and organic feed, Eatwell is doing what is best for both the earth and their chickens by reducing food miles and other unnecessary agricultural emissions. Yet again, Eatwell Farm is a pioneer in the agricultural movement and I applaud their timely efforts and would encourage them to sign onto the Cool Foods Campaign at www.coolfoodscampaign.org

[Robin]

Love the idea of locally fed chickens. Now where does one purchase these eggs?

[Marc]

Robin -- The eggs page at Eatwell Farm's website tells where they sell the eggs.

[Alfred Britton]

I am going to start a small flock of layers and wanted to know what feeds you would recommend. I really want to buy organic feeds and thought you would have some suggestions. I am located in Granite Bay, California and would like to purchase feed locally.

Thank You
Alfred Britton

[Marc]

Alfred -- I don't know anything about buying chicken feed, so I'd suggest that you contact some farmers that sell at farmers markets around the state, especially in your area. Other organizations like the Organic Consumers Association, a trade organization for organic farmers, or a university extension program could be helpful (I think that UC Santa Cruz has an organic extension program).