Tierra Miguel Farm

Last weekend I spent an enjoyable morning spent at Tierra Miguel Farm in the Pauma Valley (north east of San Diego) with two of my girlfriends at a Kashi event. The founders of Tierra Miguel Farm met at a composting workshop in the '90s and today the Farm thrives as a Nonprofit Public Benifit Corporation. Not only was it envigorating to be in the fresh air, in the 85 acres of wide open farmland , but we also left with an education too. We learned about the benefits of biodynamic farming, organic agriculture and composting. We also got to plant our own seedlings to take home and grow (I chose bok choy, arugula, leeks, beets and brocolini). But perhaps my favorite part was the palette satisfying tour of the property, in which we got to pick, dig and pluck our way through rows of produce. We tasted heirloom tomatoes, jujube, okra, strawberries, carrots, beets and purslane. Tierra Miguel Farm has a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that currently has nearly 500 members. They also distribute their produce to local restaurants, including Claire on Cedros (Solana Beach), Smoking Goat (South Park), Sea Rocket Bistro (North Park) and Cafe Chloe (East Village). My ears perked up at each of these establishments, seeing that they rank in some of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. One can also purchase Tierra Miguel Farm produce at area Whole Foods and Jimbos. It was such a wonderful experience, and I hope they continue to grow and I hope we, as San Diegans, start to consume more locally!