It’s been a quiet season on the blog, but not a quiet season on the ground. Much of the last stretch here at Lunacy Ranch has been devoted to the unglamorous but essential work that makes everything else possible: administrative planning, paperwork, site maps, permit conversations, and long afternoons translating vision into forms the county can understand. This is the part of farming that rarely makes it into photos—the pencils, clipboards, follow‑up emails, and careful patience—but it’s the scaffolding that holds the whole dream upright. One of the biggest shifts underway is a formal pivot to include a small plant nursery as part of our farm operations. That decision came from listening closely to our community and to the land itself. We’re already growing starts, perennials, and food plants adapted to our climate and soil. Bringing that work into alignment with the permit office means clearly defining how plants are propagated, where they’re sold, how customers move through the space, and how the nursery integrates with our regenerative practices. Working with the permit office has been a steady exercise in translation. What we experience as seasonal rhythm becomes a timeline. The goal is the same on both sides: a safe, transparent, and resilient operation that serves the public well. Each revision gets us closer to opening this next chapter with clarity and confidence.
While that groundwork is being laid, we’re also preparing for a more accessible way to share what we grow. Soon, you’ll be able to shop with us through GrownBy, a farmer‑first online marketplace that keeps food systems local and transparent. Even more importantly, we’re in the process of accepting EBT for eligible food plants—an essential step in making fresh, home‑grown food reachable for more households in our community.
We are also working with CNRA to help dial in the regenerative practices that make sense for Lunacy Ranch. As stewarts of our space, we look to create a space that builds on the stories already written in the soil. They will be there for us with inspiration, education, and resources that are helpful to our community.
This season has been about building pathways—between vision and regulation, land and people, intention and access. The plants are growing, the paperwork is moving, and the doors are getting closer to opening. More updates soon, and thank you for being part of this unfolding story.
