Farms We Love
We pour our hearts into the made-with-love, completely ‘from scratch,’ in-house crafted comfort food here at the GoodLife. You won’t find any GMO ingredients in our offerings and we source organic and locally grown food as much as possible. It’s crucial to us that we prepare all of our menu items as if they were for our own families.
We’re on a mission to bring our community and visitors the best, highest quality dishes and treats, and to continue to be the town living room we’ve worked so hard to create these past ten years.
But, we’re also on another mission…
And that’s to pour into and support the beautiful Northern Coast community we call home, Mendocino, California.
One of our favorite ways of doing just that is through the relationships we’ve cultivated with some of our local farms and foragers. If you’re sinking your teeth into some gorgeous produce in one of our dishes, chances are great that it came from one of our local farms.
We love what these amazing folks are doing, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to incorporate their thoughtfully-crafted harvests into the GoodLife. Here are a few of the farms we love.
Green Rainbow Organic Farm & Nursery
Michelle of Green Rainbow Organic Farm & Nursery
Co-owned and run by Michelle McWhorter and her grandfather Rick, Green Rainbow Organic Farm & Nursery is one of our favorite sources of beautiful, healthful local produce. Rick has been growing organic vegetables in California since 1952 and growing on this farm since 1969. From the vibrant flowers to the busy chickens and the thriving harvest of vegetables – this 12-acre farm is a sweet story and labor of love.
After working in the local community center teaching kids about nutrition as a certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant prior to the pandemic, Michelle stepped into living and working on her grandparents’ farm – the Green Rainbow Organic Farm & Nursery we know and love today. As the world began to change, Michelle and Rick saw the need for more locally-sourced, organic food. The land they farm on has been organic for its entire history, and they pour their intention and care into keeping it that way.
Keep an eye out in the near future for a farm stand in the GoodLife’s outdoor area with Michelle and Rick’s bountiful harvest and take some of Mendocino’s finest produce to go. You can catch more of Green Rainbow Organic Farm & Nursery on their Facebook page.
Mist Farm
The farm stand is open!
Another of our favorite local sources of produce, Mist Farm is a homestead-style farm run by a husband and wife team. They use solely organic practices – from raising animals, crafting their own soils, and of course in the cultivation of their produce. Mist Farm is a no-till farm that puts love into all of its endeavors – literally from the ground up. And, it shows!
Like many new homesteaders, Alexia King and her husband – the dynamic duo behind Mist Farm – found that they were creating an abundance of produce. They began bringing their harvest to the community through local farmer’s markets and then opened their Honor System farm stand on their property in 2014. The rest is, as they say, history!
Mist Farms has been serving the area for the previous six years through their farm stand and by reaching out to local restaurants when they find themselves with an abundance. We’re so proud to share in a community with them that holds healthful offerings in high regard.
You can catch more of what’s happening at Mist Farm on their Facebook page.
Big Mesa Farm
This beautiful farm, nestled in the Northern California landscape of Comptche, has its roots in Bolinas, where it spent its first seven years. After relocating to a homestead property dating back to the 1890s, Big Mesa brings its offerings to the community through local grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and of course, the GoodLife.
One of the things we love about Big Mesa is their philosophy about the good work they’re doing and its impact on the local area – “As we grow here in Comptche, we look to form resilient and meaningful connections within our community. The existence of the local farm adds fun vibrancy to a place and can provide avenues for positive and healthy experiences. We believe this is a huge part of the value of the local farm, in addition to our array of organic and sustainably farmed produce!”
Big Mesa has been certified organic since 2012 and uses compost, practices cover dropping, and participates in regenerative farming practices. You’ll find a small community of people living on this completely off-grid farm – it’s completely solar-powered and water, electricity, and sewage are all managed on-farm.
If you feel inspired to get into the soil with some beautiful produce, you can volunteer at Big Mesa on the last Friday of each month. Send them an email and learn more about the farm on the Big Mesa Farm website.
Fortunate Farm
Located in the town of Caspar in Mendocino County, Fortunate Farm is an inter-generational family farm that brings heirloom vegetables and flowers to the local community. The wonderful people that make this farm go are dedicated to improving and protecting the soil they grow in. And, they take pride in carrying on the legacy of organic agriculture in this area.
Fortunate Farm’s mission? “Feed people nutritionally dense foods, sequester carbon and empower our community.” Here at the GoodLife, we can definitely get behind that mission and we’re proud to feature Fortunate Farm’s beautiful heirloom offerings in our dishes.
Fortunate Farm is not only a local source of organic produce and flowers, it’s also a learning center seeking to educate the public about sustainable and healthful farming practices. You can camp on the farm, do yoga in the garden, and visit the Honorstand Friday through Monday. To find out more visit the Fortunate Farm website.
Nye Ranch Farm
Specializing in vegetables that love the coastal climate, Nye Ranch Farm is another source of local produce we love. After a 10-year career in construction, Shea Burns, who runs the farm, stepped in to continue the legacy of this beautiful endeavor in 2021. Following in the footsteps of the farm’s founders, Kyle and Mel, Nye Ranch Farm strives to provide “local, sustainable produce that works in harmony with the soil and the sea.” Shea also works to ensure that the farm is doing its part to support the planet’s sustainability, keep it chemical-free, and keep our waterways clean.
Shea has been a part of the Public Land Cleanup movement, including organizing cleanup projects for areas that have been neglected. Over 8,000 pounds of trash have been collected from areas like these as a result – we love that!
Like our other local farming friends, we appreciate and applaud the care and regard for the planet that Shea brings to his craft. You’ll find Nye Ranch Farm offerings at their farm stand in Fort Bragg every Saturday and at local farmer’s markets. You can learn more about the farm on the Nye Ranch Farm website.
From the bountiful soil of the Northern California coastline to the intention and care that goes into cultivating local produce, to our menu (and your table!) at the GoodLife, we’re so grateful to support our community in this way. We stand behind every dish we serve and we’re honored to bring these lovingly crafted, healthful local offerings into our menu items. When you visit, be prepared to be nourished and we’ll see you at the GoodLife!
