Paula Manalo Gasko: A Farmer’s To-Do List for a Typical Day in Spring

Paula Manalo Gasko is a farmer in Northern California. She gives us a glimpse into a typical spring day on her organic farm.

Paula Manalo Gaska, Adam Gaska, and
their dog Artemis at the home ranch Photograph © Mendocino Organics

Mendocino Organics To-Do List for a Typical Day in Spring:

• Check the chickens
• Feed the kid goats
• Grind more triticale for pig feed
• Feed pigs, check their water
• Check bank account online
• Check PO box
• Enter new CSA member on Member Assembler
• Upload photos from Saturday’s CSA Open House
• Check/water the propagation greenhouse
• Start 3,000 peppers and 960 cucumbers
• Irrigate Section A.1. of the Coyote Field
• Irrigate Field F at 3WG
• Mow cover crop in Field B and perimeters of hay and veg fields at 3WG
• Herd sheep out of the rangeland; grab three ewes for the Buckeye Gathering folks

Paula Manalo Gasko comanages Mendocino Organics, a biodynamic farm in Northern California. She is a founding member of Greenhorns and is on the board of directors of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association. After working as a natural resources economist, Manalo found her true calling: to grow food, steward the land, and motivate other young people to farm. She is one of the editors of Greenhorns.