Teen Observer Archive

BERKELEY, Calif. — “I come every week, rain or shine,” says Willy Halmon, a regular at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market. Riverdog Farm and Blue Heron Farms are frequent stops of his, and they are among Halmon’s favorite stands.

Halmon, now retired, has spent the last 20 years in North Berkeley enjoying the city and the market. Though people know his face, Halmon says he isn’t on a first-name basis with any of the vendors. He is just one of many people thankful for the market. 

The Big Little Bowl of Soup is relatively new to the market, having only been there for about nine months, but Rasa Dresser says he hopes he’s having an impact in the lives of those who buy from him.

“I really just wanted to make a difference in the community, and to nourish the people who are making positive changes in the planet,” he said. 

Dresser makes his soups using what he calls “intuitive cooking.” Thinking and feeling what he wants this particular batch to convey, he will buy ingredients and cook them in the way he feels will get his message across.

The soup he makes is a limited edition, unique to the feeling he wants to get across. What is sold one week likely not be sold again. This makes it difficult to nail down a bestseller or a pattern of any kind, but none of his soups use any animal products, making them vegetarian and vegan safe.

“My favorite part of working here is the people I get to talk to,” Anna Kate, a worker at Frog Hollow Farm, says.

Kate is an environmental science and food systems major hoping to work in agriculture after college. She said she looks forward to seeing the “regulars” and talking to them when she’s at the market.

“I started working here first off because I love this specific farm’s mission,” she said. “… We’re a zero-waste farm.”

The Ecology Center, which runs all three weekly markets in Berkely, refers to the markets as “The heart of the community’s alternative food system.”

BERKELEY, Calif. — Kites aren’t just for kids anymore, and there were thousands of people there to attest to that at this city’s annual festival.

Mark Baker, who has participated in the festival for the last 12 years, said he has been making kites with his brother since he was a kid. The two took almost five years to build their first kite.  

Baker thought his kite-flying days were long gone, but the festival provided him with a place to show off the kite that he created almost 40 years ago along with many more. 

The family-oriented event attracted thousands of spectators as well as experienced kite-flyers. Ellen McCormick, here for the first time at the Cesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley Marina, said she enjoyed strolling along the gravel path with her grandson and viewing all of the activities. 

“It’s a lot more than I expected,” McCormick said. She discovered a petting zoo, face painting, food vendors, candy drops, zip lines, DJs and an international audience and entertainers.

One of those was the celebration and recognition of Japanese traditions. Nao Nagawa, a drummer for a group of traditional Japanese performers, says that the main goal of the show is “… to spread Japanese culture.” The dancing, music and demonstration of a bow are all meant to display aspects of this heritage.

The International Association of Tako Age had special handmade kites soaring throughout the grounds of the festival.

One of the kite-flying members, Dennis Rodgers, has been an avid participant over the last seven years and always brings his family to help him fly his kite.

Rodgers thinks of this event as a way of “turning the sky into an ocean,” as “Tako” means both “squid” and “kite” in Japanese.  

 

BERKELEY, Calif. — This college town is sometimes in the news for gang violence and homelessness. But as proven in local farmers’ market, it is also a diverse city of citizens dedicated to maintaining the city they love.  

“It’s politically activated. There’s always something going on. I might not always agree with it, but it’s so nice to be in a town where people feel empowered to say what they want to say,” said Matthew Jervis, director of vitality for the Downtown Berkeley Association. He works to promote arts, entertainment and historic preservation. 

The Downtown Berkeley Association advocates for the well-being of Berkeley, providing maps and pamphlets at the weekly markets and similar public outings that advertise safety and what Berkeley has to offer. 

“Our main goal is to bring people to downtown Berkeley and coupons and maps are the way to do it,” Jervis said. 

Shoppers and vendors alike said they are extremely involved in their hometown. 

“This is just wonderful because it’s outdoors, and you get to meet vendors and you see your friends. It’s just wonderful,” Julie Dickey, a regular customer at the farmers market, said.

Dickey, a 20-year-resident, is not only a local at the farmers’ market, she is also a political activist.

“I’ve come here to do political stuff and be at a table and get people to sign things,” Dickey said.

She is putting her efforts toward Prop 13 reform, which would reassess commercial property — but not residential property, already reassessed whenever property is sold — in order to better fund education.

“This is money that is being cut off from public services, particularly in our schools, since it passed in 1978, so for 40 years,” Dickey said.

Berkeley is filled with such activists.

“It’s always being rejuvenated for people all over the world,” Jervis said. “Even after being here for 20 years, I keep finding cool things about it.”

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BERKELEY, Calif. — It is a busy, bustling Saturday morning at the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market. Trini Campbell, co-owner and operator of Riverdog Farm, is sorting tomatoes, casually chatting with customers and advising them on the best potatoes for roasting. She says that many of her customers have raised their kids on her food. After 29 years at the market, what keeps Campbell and her customers coming back?

The Berkeley Farmers’ Market prioritizes healthy products produced through environmentally friendly practices. Campbell’s products are regulated and certified organic through the California Certified Organic Farmers, a nonprofit agricultural organization.

Established by the Ecology Center, the Berkeley Farmers’ Markets choose their vendors carefully, prohibiting products fumigated with methyl bromide or methyl iodide or grown from genetically modified seeds. When considering new vendors, the market takes available space, potential competition, seller seniority and each farm’s commitment to sustainable growing practices into account, as outlined in the Ecology Center Farmers’ Markets Policies. Campbell and other farmers use biodegradable bags instead of plastic bags; botanical controls rather than pesticides; and crop rotation to maintain soil fertility. 

Brady Leavitt, a worker at the True Grass stand, explains how the process they use to raise their animals ensures the quality of meat. 

“We use 100 percent pasture grass, and we free our animals in highly intensive grazing for a few days,” he says. The farmers working for True Grass move their cattle around to graze different areas of soil in order to prevent the grass region from becoming overgrazed.

Katy Pomelov, the owner of Lifefood Gardens, said that “people who come here are more health-oriented,” a determining factor in her decision to stay in this particular market. Having tried several other markets, she says the people at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market are the most open to her less-conventional grasses, sprouts and microgreens, such as wheat-grass juice and sprouted hummus. 

“Family is important to me,” says Kimi Sakashita, a regular customer.  “So buying organic, healthy food for my family is important.” 

The health interests shared by farmers and consumers create caring relationships within the community. Daria Goodson, a weekly customer, said, “I care about the farmers’ health, our biosystem, and I care about my own body. That’s why I care about buying products from an organic farm, raised with no pesticides.” She says that she wants to support local small farms and help to keep money in the community.

“Every week I run into neighbors and build connections,” says Sakashita, describing the strong bond between people who meet in the market. 

“It’s a great way to introduce children to organic foods,” Naomi Chapiro, her companion, adds. 

Both Sakashita and Chapiro enjoy visiting Swanton Berry Farm for strawberries, Blue Heron for vegetables, and Happy Boy Farm for melons.

As such, people in the Farmers’ Market look after one another. People come back to interact, communicate and support local farmers and food. Like her co-farmers, Campbell of Riverdog Farm says she loves her customers and is proud of her contribution. 

“I’ve had chefs tell me they’ve gone to other countries, other markets, but they come back to this one,” she says, “and say it’s the best in the world.”

BERKELEY, Calif. — Every week, vendors, musicians and shoppers alike flock to the Saturday Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market, connecting over a love of fresh, organic produce, lively community culture and activities and vibrant displays of flowers, fruits and vegetables. And while many of the more than 50 vendors offer fresh produce, there are also stands with less of a farm focus offering treats and basics.

From customer to seller

For those with a sweet tooth, Coracao provides vegan and organic chocolate naturally sweetened with coconut sugar. The chocolatier’s stand displays handmade candy available in all shapes and sizes, including bars, cups and hearts. 

Customers choose from a variety of truffle and chocolate flavors such as the famous Berkeley Bar — a blend of nougat, cashew butter caramel and almonds —and the coconut and caramel-filled Golden Galleon, a staff favorite. 

All of Coracao’s products are made with naturally sourced ingredients.

“It’s about being aware of what you’re eating. It’s candy that’s guilt-free,” said Coracao employee Ofra Fisher, who started out as a customer of the chocolatier.

“I’ve been buying their chocolate for 10 years,” she said. “I was one of the people walking around spending a lot of money. Now, I’m behind the table.”

A new take on something old

Abrothacary, a relatively new addition to the market, offers a line of tasteful, holistic products. The business, founded by Lauren Gauthier in April of 2018,  specializes in bone and mineral broths. 

“We get the bones from impeccably raised animals,” said vendor Phil Minnick, “and most of the ingredients we buy from our neighbors at the farmers’ market.” 

Minnick added that the broths are a good source of fat-soluble Vitamins A, D, E  and K, which remain stored in the body for longer periods. 

Along with flavorful pistachio milk and sweet treats in the form of bliss bars, Abrothacary also offers a juice cleanse to encourage gut detoxification and help people get in shape. 

“The main goal of our company is health,” Minnick said.

Many flavors of almonds

    Chico-based brand Beber Almond Milk uses almonds from Baugher Ranch Organics, a Glenn County farm, to produce its products. Their range of beverages includes classics and specialty drinks made in collaboration with other Chico companies, such as a caffeine-boosted cold brew and seasonally inspired lavender and chai-almond milk.

For those who are curious or die-hard fans of the beverages, Beber employee David Love says that their products can be found in several Bay Area markets and stores, including the Berkeley Bowl.

Berkeley’s vendors continue to change as growing seasons start and end. The Saturday market is only one of three Berkeley farmers’ markets, each of which occur on different days in different parts of the city.

A Tuesday afternoon market is in South Berkeley from 2 to 6:30 p.m.,  and a Thursday afternoon market runs in North Berkeley from 3 to 7 p.m. All three markets accept food stamps and offer produce, sweet treats and basics for all.

BERKELEY, Calif. — The critically acclaimed 1967 film, “The Graduate,” directed by Mike Nichols, was a heavily influential piece for its time. The ingenue lead, Elaine Robinson (Katharine Ross), attends the University of California, Berkeley, making for plenty of film locations in Berkeley as well as the surrounding Bay Area.

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The Graduate Hotel, previously known as the Durant Hotel, is attached to a common misconception that it was created in relation to the film. The hotel is part of a chain of many other Graduate Hotels in college towns all around the nation. However, Berkeley’s Graduate makes the film a point of pride, displaying movie posters throughout the hotel as well as a plethora of records by the film’s featured artists, Simon and Garfunkel, in the hotel lobby.

While the Graduate Hotel doesn’t have a connection with the making of the film itself, it sure is a fun place to visit if you’re looking to immerse yourself in the background of the industry-changing piece or just the Berkeley culture.

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2647 Durant Ave., Berkeley, California

The Theta Delta Chi fraternity house is briefly featured in the film as protagonist Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman), frantically parks his red convertible in front of the house in the midst of his search for Elaine.

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Durant Avenue in Berkeley

Just across the street from the fraternity house stands the UC Berkeley Unit 1 student living area. As can be seen from the photos above, the area has since been developed into a complex of student housing, computer labs and conference-center spaces.

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Sather Gate, Berkeley, California

In the UC Berkeley quad, just across from the Student Union and student hot-spot, Golden Bear Cafe is a Berkeley landmark near the arched entry, Sather Gate. The gate is featured as Ben subtly watches Elaine from a distance.

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2467 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, California

One of Berkeley’s hidden gems is Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph. Still on the hunt for Elaine, Ben perches at a coffee shop across from the bookstore.