LAKEPORT, Calif. – “The Lake County Community Co-op Presents ...” series will feature another of Lake County's many local farmers.

Bio Farm owners Judith and Leonard Diggs are graciously giving members and public a tour of their registered organic vegetable farm in Lakeport.

The tour is from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 19.

Optionally, attendees may bring a dish of food to share and join afterwards for a potluck to celebrate the bounty of produce provided this season.

Attendees will meet at Bio Farm, 2570, Waldo Lane in Lakeport, near Kelseyille, four miles from Soda Bay Road and Highway 29 in Lakeport.

Judith and Leonard Diggs have been farming in Lake County since 2009.

Prior to “transplanting” from Santa Rosa, Judith Diggs began her farming career in Switzerland where she completed an intensive three-year program in organic farming.

She then came to the U.S and further expanded her farming skills at a number of well known Sonoma County locations including Chalk Hill Winery and Sweetwater Nursery in Sebastopol before nurturing the beginnings of Bio Farm in 2009.

When not spending his weekends working their own farm, Leonard Diggs works for Santa Rosa Junior College as farm manager of Shone Farm, a 365 acre farm for teaching college students the many ins and outs of a career in farming.

The Diggs’ 12-acre Bio Farm (the name derived from Switzerland, according to Judith Diggs, which is equated to “certified organic” here in the United States) is yet another newer source to find locally grown, organic produce either direct from the farm or from the local farmers’ markets around the lake.

One of the Lake County Community Co-op’s goals is to educate Lake County residents on how to live more healthfully and sustainably by keeping it local. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet your local farmers and, at the same time, join in community by meeting other local people with similar interests at the potluck afterwards.

The tour is free and open to co-op members and the public. For more information, contact Lori Patotzka at 707-994-1618 or visit www.lakeco-op.org.

Now celebrating almost three years in existence, the Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) envisions cultivating an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility.

The co-op wishes to support our local farmers and producers and provide a forum for community activities. Member input and participation for the continued success of the co-op’s co-creation is highly encouraged.

For more information or to become a member of the LCCC, follow the links at http://lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.

Workers at Adobe Creek Packing in Kelseyville, Calif., packing pears. Photo by Shirley Campbell.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – On Saturday, Sept. 25, during the 18th Annual Kelseyville Pear Festival, there will be a pear packing contest held at 1:30 p.m. in the Westamerica Bank parking lot, behind the “Pear Pavilion” on Main Street.

Everyone is invited to sign up and give it a try.

The contestants will be packing a standard 40-pound box with a size 90 pear.

For people who have never packed before and are brave enough to give it a try there will be a short packing class prior to the contest.

Contestants will be judged on speed, the correct pattern and quality of pack.

First prize is $150, second place is $100 and third place is $75.

Signs up will begin at 1 p.m. by the packing tub that will be located behind the Pear Pavilion. Judges will be people from the pear industry.

Please come and watch these men and women as they compete for the chance to be crowned the best of the best, winning the all important “wooden pear.”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – There is an amazing variety of tomatoes available for you to buy at local farmers' markets this year and to celebrate the peak of our tomato season you will be able to taste samples of more than a dozen at this Saturday’s Morning Market at Steele Wines, as well as participate in a blind tasting of a couple of varieties.

With names like Lakeport Lady, Black Krim, Red Lightning, Green Zebra, Sweet Million, Flames, Black Cherry and Italian Ice, how can you resist?

You are the best judge and your farmers value your feedback. The winners will be tallied at the end of the market day and announced the following week.

Make sure you allow for enough time to enjoy the cooking demonstration by Esther Oertel, the Veggie Girl, at 10:30 a.m.

Along with all the regular summer produce you can now get fresh dug potatoes, red flame seedless grapes, foot-long beans, summer lettuce, figs, apples, pears and, finally, local peaches.

Join Lake County Farmers' Finest at both the Wednesday Evening Market at Library Park in Lakeport and the Saturday Morning Market at Steele Wines in Finley, and enjoy fresh foods and flowers, live music, snacks and beautiful crafts for every occasion. The markets continue through the end of October.

The markets also will feature the following musical performances: Sept. 15, Diego Jameau; Sept. 18, Michael Barrish; Sept. 22, Travis Rinker; Sept. 25, Diego Jameau; Sept. 29, Michael Barrish.

For more information go to www.lakecounyfarmersfinest.org or leave a message for Cornelia Sieber-Davis at 707-263-6076.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Esther Oertel, “The Veggie Girl,” will demonstrate the preparation of fresh gazpacho from the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and basil available from the farmers at this week's Friday Night Farmers' Market in Clearlake at 6 p.m.

Community members will also enjoy the musical talent of Wildcard.

Gazpacho, a cold tomato-based raw vegetable soup is from the southern region of Andalusia in Spain.

Traditionally, gazpacho was popular with field hands to cool off in the summer. Peasants used the soup to finish up stale bread.

Today, gazpacho can be found in higher-end restaurants and is considered a seasonal delicacy.

The public is invited to this demonstration at the Lake County Community Co-op's booth.

The market runs through September from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Redbud Park in Clearlake and features local and regional farmers, freshly prepared foods and baked goods, pickles, and cottage industry arts and crafts. There are only two markets remaining for this season.

The Friday Night Farmers' Market is a cooperative venture between the Lake County Community Co-op, the City of Clearlake, and the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, visit www.lakeco-op.org or contact Market Manager Hileri Shand at 707-483-0785.

Celebrating almost three years in community, the Lake County Community Co-op cultivates an evolving community by nurturing values of social, economic and environmental responsibility. The Co-op encourages member input and participation for the continued success of its co-creation. It supports and enhances the local food system while providing a forum for community activities.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 18th annual Kelseyville Pear Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street in historic downtown Kelseyville in Northern California.

The centerpoint of the Kelseyville Pear Festival is the Pear Pavilion — a large showcase of “everything pear” including historical photos, videos, and agricultural exhibits as well as some of Lake County’s finest “pear products” — from jams and jellies to refreshing pear ice cream and delicious pear pies, which always prove to be a sell-out. Pear taste tests, parade, and children’s activities are all part of the family fun.

The event, which is held each year on the last Saturday in September, celebrates the local pear harvest. It is a day of fun for the whole family with a quilt show, a fine arts show, local arts and crafts, as well as performances throughout the day from local musicians, dancers, and cloggers.

Mule-drawn wagon rides transport event-goers along the streets, adding to the hometown feel. Displays and exhibits focus on the town’s agricultural heritage, featuring the many types of pears grown in and around Kelseyville, affectionately known as the “Pear Capital of the World.”

The Kelseyville Pear Festival Parade – a Lake County tradition – begins at 9:30 a.m. and is a must-see for families. Children also will enjoy a wide array of activities including jump houses and a petting zoo with miniature animals.

Antique tractors, steam engines, and all types of farm equipment will be on display as part of the antique tractor and engine exhibit where many local tractor collectors show off their finest, oldest, and most unusual models.

Admission to the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Saturday is free. Please visit www.kelseyvillepearfestival.com for more information.

For visitor information, contact the Lake County Visitor Information Center at (800) 525-3743 or www.lakecounty.com.

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