Join us this month as we visit our first urban farmscape!  What was once a vacant city lot in West Sacramento is now made up of two separate farms owned and operated by two amazing women. Laurie Gates owns Flourish Farm where she grows a variety of flowers. Rubie Simonsen, owner of First Mother Farms, grows drought tolerant herbs. 

     This location is one of the first of five urban farm sites through the West Sacramento Urban Farm Program sponsored by the Center for Land-Based Learning. Both Laurie and Rubie recently graduated from the Farm Academy in Winters and now have 1/8 acre each where they do everything themselves from planting, irrigation to harvesting. All of the fresh flowers and herbs are sold or donated locally. "This will be my first year committing to farming as my own business" says Rubie in her online biography. "It's been a huge learning curve,  but it's been a fun challenge." says Laurie.  

    Together with lots of hard work they have literally brought this street corner to life with a colorful array of herbs, yarrow, statice, zinnias and amaranth, to name a few. And one of the most gratifying rewards is  the special connection that continues to grow with the people in the neighborhood who walk by and say: " You're doing a great job" or "It looks lovely, thank you!" And, says Laurie, "I especially  like early mornings when all the insects and dragonflies come out. When I'm here with all the beautiful flowers I'm at peace."

   

For more information on the farms & their owners click the links above.

Artists are welcome to set up under the shade of the old mulberry

or oak trees that stand on either side of the property. 

There is no street parking bu t there is ample parking in the lot on 5th St. right across the street .   Rubie and Laurie welcome you to their farms!