Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden

Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden showcases innovative sustainable agricultural and living practices, growing over 300 varieties of certified organic vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs and other perennials. The farm supports pollinator habitat by planting multitudes of flowers, practices integrated pest management by planting for beneficial insects rather than spraying pesticides, practices crop rotation and cover cropping to improve soil health, implements roof-top rainwater harvesting, and uses solar energy to provide irrigation to the fruit orchard. In 2006, three community partners, Conservation Corps North Bay, College of Marin, and UC Cooperative Extension Marin, embarked on a landmark project to establish the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden a 5.8 acre educational organic farm nestled against protected open space at College of Marin's Indian Valley Campus. The farm has been certified organic through MOCA since 2011. The farm crew consists of 5 students at College of Marin and farm coordinator Rebecca Hoehn. The students attend school part-time and work on the farm part-time. Many of the farm crewmembers are passionate about a lifelong career in sustainable agriculture and are complementing their hands-on farming experience with classes in the Environmental Landscaping department including Principles and Practices of Organic Farming, Integrated Pest Management, Environmental Landscaping, Landscape Ecology, Insect Identification, Landscape Design, Nursery Practices, Soils, Irrigation, Plant Materials, and more. Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden provides skill-based green job training in sustainable agriculture, landscaping, and horticulture. The farm teaches students of all ages and local residents about the health and environmental benefits of local, sustainably-produced food, while fostering collaboration between Marin nonprofits, local government agencies, and farmers working for healthy food systems, community health, and youth development. IVOF&G began an exciting new collaboration with The Cultural Conservancy in 2013 to design and plant an ethnobotanical garden on the farm to bring back native crops of the region. Farm Visits The farm is open for self-guided tours Tuesday through Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm, and on Saturdays for Farm Stand sales 10am - 2pm, and for volunteer activities on Tuesdays - Saturdays 9am- 4pm. Group tours are by appointment only.