In response to a Voices piece posted on Friday, June 21, I would like to offer a different perspective into greenhouse farming vs. open field/orchard farming debate as someone who has long been involved in both practices.
I was 11
years old when my family immigrated to Carpinteria from Holland in 1967. Our
farming roots date back to the 1700s, ranging from open field to orchards and
eventually to greenhouse production. I currently own an 11-acre greenhouse and
farm 50 acres of certified organic avocados, with 15 more soon to be certified
organic as well. In other words, I am intimately familiar with both types of
farming and recognize the advantages that each comprise.
There is no
doubt that my avocado orchards are more pleasing to look at than my
greenhouses, but let’s not judge a book by its cover. Before I built my
greenhouses in the 1980s, I grew gypsophila, also known as Baby’s Breath, in
outdoor fields. This turned out to be both challenging to my bottom line and to
the environment. I planted in July, fertilized it to make it grow, and sprayed
it with pesticides to protect it from harmful insects. Often by the time my
plants were ready to be harvested, inclement weather would destroy the plants
that I had been tending for months. If the rains were severe, there was soil
erosion that washed into the nearby creeks along with any residue of
fertilizers and pesticides.