PUMPKIN INVENTORY SQUASHED AT LOMA VISTA FARM IN VALLEJO
Next up: Christmas tree sales
One can often tell the season of the year at Loma Vista Farm, even if obliviously unaware it's the third week in October. And it's not because one of the smarter goats walks up and whispers, “it's almost Halloween.”
First weekend of the month until Oct. 30, count on sprawling orange pumpkins scattered among hay bales. From the day after Thanksgiving until Dec. 19, Christmas tree and poinsettia sales.
The north Vallejo animal sanctuary's plant-based fundraising is imperative, given other cash-raising events were swallowed by the COVID monster this year.
“There's a good profit margin and we get many repeat customers for the pumpkins and tree sales,” said volunteer Arlene Hoffman, who handles the tree ordering.
There was a sense of relief Friday, as “Farmer” Rita LeRoy sat with what's left of a 200-plus pumpkin inventory: 14 small to medium pumpkins that are up for grabs on Saturday. Purchased from Larry's Produce in Fairfield, the logistics for bringing pumpkins to the five-acre farm were minimal.
Getting the Christmas trees here is a bit more daunting, especially after last year's horrific Pacific Northwest fires and continued drought. But Hoffman managed to secure 220 Douglas Fir and Blue Nobles this time around after a 190-tree limit in 2020, all sold early in the holiday season.
“With all the farms that burned last year, a lot of people didn't get any,” said Hoffman. “Fortunately, my contact made a call and got us into another farm, but they could only spare 190 trees. This year, we're ordering an extra 40.”
The trees are grown in Cornelius, Ore. — 623 miles and a 9 1/2 drive from Vallejo.
“We're paying a little bit more this year because they had to charge extra for freight with the amount of gas now per gallon,” Hoffman said, contemplating the pandemic's impact.
“It's just hurt so many people, businesses and nonprofits. It's unbelievable,” she said.
While Hoffman coordinates Christmas tree sales, LeRoy is the “goat to” person on the farm, coordinating student tours and welcoming early Friday morning's rain as the horse, pony, sheep, and alpacas frolicked in a massive field across the street from the school district-owned farm at 140 Ranier St.
“We'll sell off the last of the pumpkins this Saturday,” said LeRoy, possibly shrugging off the standard $3-$5-$7 cost of each pumpkin based on size.
“Whatever you want to toss this way,” she said, pulling one pumpkin out of the lineup.
“That's not a good one,” she said, thrilled that “kids are coming back” to the farm, with LeRoy's “house pet,” a tarantula, a recent star attraction that's either loved or hated by the young students.
“They're either ‘Oh yeah!' or ‘Oh, heck no!'” said LeRoy.
The animals remain constant at Loma Vista Farm, though the horse, Stormy, is a senior at 23, and the two cows are pushing 20 with a shorter lifespan. Two goats, Rocky and DeeDee, are about 15 with a life expectancy of 16, LeRoy said.
“We keep the same happy animals that live out their whole happy life here,” she said.
For information about pumpkin and Christmas tree sales, visit lomavistafarm.org.