Hopedance

The following is an interview with Crystal Rae, the new owner of the Rocky Canyon Feed Store in Atascadero, whose strong focus is sustainability and Permaculture.

HopeDance: Crystal, how did you discover our beautiful area?

Crystal: I had attended a Permaculture class last summer in Half Moon Bay and was looking for a Permaculture guild to be a part of. That course exposed me to many wonderful people and various projects. Right after the course, I was contemplating Cal Poly and some other possible projects including an apothecary and restaurant. The land was very expensive around Half Moon Bay where I wanted it located so I started to look at the Cal Poly alternative. I stayed in touch with some of the ÔCentral Coast' people I had met at the course. Rob Kimmell and Karyn offered a place to stay while Emilio and I looked to relocate. One night around the dinner table, Rob mentioned an old feed store he knew was for sale. That night my wheels spun of the possibilities of bridging Permaculture with a feed store. The next day we went and met with the owner who was wanting to retire. He enjoyed our enthusiasm and was most grateful we had come along. (He claimed God had sent us to him.) We worked out the details and a few days just before Christmas we were on our way to creating a Permaculture store front.

So, tell us a little bit about the Feed Store?

Rocky Canyon is an old fashioned country feed store. We carry a full line of livestock feed, milled locally in King City since 1938 by L.A. Hearne Co. To help people take control of their animals' medicinal needs we carry vet quality, do-it-yourself livestock and pet vaccines, wormers and flea control. We also carry breeds of egg laying chicks and turkeys. We have a Rabbitry which includes both pet and meat breeds. As a Permaculture model we are building worm beds underneath the cages and will be selling the fertilizer and worms in the future.

The previous owner, Dee, had served a diverse community including many Ôelders' that still enjoy Ôthe old ways,' primitive skills such as archery, muzzle loading and tanning hides. This was strange to us at first but we decided we would still help them get their supplies. Since we are part of a diverse community we felt it was important to keep a dialogue going with every type of people. They love to come in and chat. I started to see what we had in common. They are very caring people and adhere to voluntary simplicity as well. Since I had assured them I would keep up the supplies they were used to getting, they have been coming back and showing interest in our new inventory.

What is your new inventory?

We have been expanding our inventory by becoming distributors for Photocomm, and Alternative Energy. This gives us access to many great products such as solar panels, solar water pumping, inverters, composting toilets, Sunfrost refrigerators, propane refrigerators, solar cookers and even solar lanterns. We also can get solar kits for your lap top computer and cell phone. Why pay for batteries when the sun is free?

We are working on all the proper permits with the Dept. of Ag. so we can start selling heirloom seeds in bulk as well as start a plant nursery. We want to be able to offer many of the plants useful in a Permaculture landscape including harder to find medicinal plants.

We are encouraging cottage industries to utilize our store front. Currently, we sell local, farm fresh eggs. We would love to sell locally made goat cheese, aromatherapy, and tools for example. We would love to offer many locally made products such as raptor and bird houses, and other useful items.

What is your current clientele like?

One of the most common things I have noticed about our customers is that people are striving for voluntary simplicity and are looking for resources and education. Most want to raise their own food including meat, but lack the time to find the right book and read it. They are very interested in learning. In response, we are hosting many classes and events.

Any special events that we should take note of?

Well the first ones are in direct response to our current clients interests. Many of them have expressed they take camping trips and are interested in the old Dutch Oven and cast iron cookware. So, in keeping with a tradition Dee had started, we will be kicking off our series of events with the Dutch Oven Cook- Off Saturday, May 9th. I was surprised to see the number of people who take it seriously. We will have three divisions: Dutch Oven Chef, Campfire Cook and Juniors for 16 and under. Several Boy Scout troops will be participating! We are offering some great prizes as well as a chance to win prizes every hour with a raffle that will be broadcast live over a local radio station. The Cook-Off will include exhibits as well as educational opportunities. I will be demonstrating a solar cooker that I am making as well as providing several people to talk about Permaculture, chicken tractors and the benefit of red worms. Local naturalist Joe Dabill will be demonstrating primitive skills as well as primitive archery history. We will have an animal nutritionist on hand to answer any questions you might have about your animals nutritional needs. Since we are also a Ôpet' store I have also included an Adopt-A-Pet group to remind people that pets aren't simply cute fuzzy Ôtoys'. They oftentimes get neglected in our busy lives. So, I want to remind people to please be responsible and have them fixed because there are 3 cats for every person on this planet according to the latest humane society statistics!!

Secondly, many people in the neighborhood expressed that they would like to have a swap meet in our big parking lot. So we have scheduled a swap meet for Saturday, May 16th. It will be very big! Many useful tools and items, not nic nacs.

May 30, we will be hosting a Primitive Skills class. This includes a local plant walk, learning about which ones the Chumash Indians used and for what. You'll collect some plants and learn to make a few ropes or twine. The class also includes primitive fire making skills and flint knapping of obsidian.

We also are in the process of scheduling classes for basketry making, making a solar stovetop, making a chicken tractor, Permaculture techniques, animal nutrition and primitive archery where you'll learn to make a primitive bow. If people are interested in teaching something here at Rocky Canyon, just give us a call at 466-2510.

Can you give people some limited general directions?

Hwy 101 to the Curbaril exit. Go East to the steel bridge. Go right towards the grain silo. We are located behind the grain silo on Rocky Canyon Road in Atascasdero.