Melanie Blankenship
Melanie Marie Blankenship is a 4th generation native of the beautiful County of San Luis Obispo, California. She comes from Grandparents and Parents that are hard working, loving and understanding what is takes to diversify to be sustainable in the county. In 1999, she married her high school sweetheart, Clint, who also grew up in San Luis Obispo County. They both graduated from Paso Robles Schools. A mother of two beautiful children, her biggest wish for her children is that she can give them at least half the freedom that she had as a child when she was growing up.
When it came to starting her career she looked around and felt that the county was lacking local food. From learning from family, friends, neighbors and previous employers and just the experience from doing and being a part of the natural medicine, horticulture and agriculture environments is where she acquired her knowledge and experience. Most of her knowledge has come from her successes and failures. She started a wholesale plant nursery in 1999, Nature’s Touch Nursery, which specializes in California Natives, Herbs, Antique Flowers and Heirloom Vegetable plants. Nature’s Touch Nursery customers are Local Small Farmers, Home Base Gardens, Landscapers and Farmers Markets. Currently, she is an Owner of a retail grocery store with a specialty plant nursery. Nature’s Touch Nursery & Harvest only sells locally grown within California Certified Organic and Naturally grown produce, meats, dairy, breads and grains. You have to know your food to understand it. The best way is to grow it yourself and if you cannot grow what you need then support your neighbors who can.
In our beautiful county you get your air filtered from the Pacific Ocean and have so many diverse micro climates to be able to live, grow and support your own local food system.
When it came to starting her career she looked around and felt that the county was lacking local food. From learning from family, friends, neighbors and previous employers and just the experience from doing and being a part of the natural medicine, horticulture and agriculture environments is where she acquired her knowledge and experience. Most of her knowledge has come from her successes and failures. She started a wholesale plant nursery in 1999, Nature’s Touch Nursery, which specializes in California Natives, Herbs, Antique Flowers and Heirloom Vegetable plants. Nature’s Touch Nursery customers are Local Small Farmers, Home Base Gardens, Landscapers and Farmers Markets. Currently, she is an Owner of a retail grocery store with a specialty plant nursery. Nature’s Touch Nursery & Harvest only sells locally grown within California Certified Organic and Naturally grown produce, meats, dairy, breads and grains. You have to know your food to understand it. The best way is to grow it yourself and if you cannot grow what you need then support your neighbors who can.
In our beautiful county you get your air filtered from the Pacific Ocean and have so many diverse micro climates to be able to live, grow and support your own local food system.
Bill Spencer
Our family farm, Windrose, has been registered as an organic farm with the State of California since 1993 and certified with C.C.O.F. since August 1999. The farm has been "clean" for ten years; since its purchase in 1990. For the first three years, I worked to bring life back to the soil with compost and cover-cropping yearly.
In 1993 Windrose began going to the Farmer's Markets with produce from their first small market garden. At the end of 1995 we took the plunge into full-time farming. Having already discovered the enjoyment of growing many "specialty" varieties of vegetables - most particularly heirloom tomatoes and potatoes, we loved selling to wonderful restaurants as well as to their friends at Farmer's Markets.
1998 saw the addition of the apple orchard. Working with Terry and Carolyn Harrison of Sonoma Antique Apples, Windrose planted 40 different varieties - including antique types that are specific for eating, baking, sauce and cider.
In addition to tomatoes and potatoes, Windrose grows onions, garlic, green and dry beans, peppers, eggplant, winter squash, carrots, turnips, beets, cucumbers, melons and many varieties of greens. They also have the apples and stone fruit. Their little valley is a unique micro-climate that is good for the diverse crops of lilacs, apples, super-sweet onions and melons.
In 1998 Windrose began opening the farm two times a year for the Spring Open House in April and the Tomato Tasting the third week-end of September. What began as a way to say thank you to their friends and customers has evolved into a whole new focus for Windrose. They have always believed that this beautiful spot was more than just a "food machine" and should be shared with as many as possible.
In 1993 Windrose began going to the Farmer's Markets with produce from their first small market garden. At the end of 1995 we took the plunge into full-time farming. Having already discovered the enjoyment of growing many "specialty" varieties of vegetables - most particularly heirloom tomatoes and potatoes, we loved selling to wonderful restaurants as well as to their friends at Farmer's Markets.
1998 saw the addition of the apple orchard. Working with Terry and Carolyn Harrison of Sonoma Antique Apples, Windrose planted 40 different varieties - including antique types that are specific for eating, baking, sauce and cider.
In addition to tomatoes and potatoes, Windrose grows onions, garlic, green and dry beans, peppers, eggplant, winter squash, carrots, turnips, beets, cucumbers, melons and many varieties of greens. They also have the apples and stone fruit. Their little valley is a unique micro-climate that is good for the diverse crops of lilacs, apples, super-sweet onions and melons.
In 1998 Windrose began opening the farm two times a year for the Spring Open House in April and the Tomato Tasting the third week-end of September. What began as a way to say thank you to their friends and customers has evolved into a whole new focus for Windrose. They have always believed that this beautiful spot was more than just a "food machine" and should be shared with as many as possible.