Brooks and Daughters

FARMLAND: 5 acres in Forestville, about 70 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Formerly a cheesemaker, Jim Brooks and his wife, Corie, launched their sprout growing business in 1996. They named their business "Brooks and Daughters" in honor of their two young girls. The business has enabled Jim and Corie to spend the time they need to care for their two daughters, and so it has been a part of building a sustainable quality of life.

The Brooks start all the sprouts in buckets of water outdoors. As the seeds begin to sprout, they "plant" them on 17" x 17" open bottom nursery flats and move them into the greenhouse. In the winter, it takes about three weeks in the greenhouse for the sprouts to reach market size, but in the summer it only takes one week.

The Brooks are proud of their business. In their words: "We grow healthy, organic living foods and we sell them directly to the customer at a fair and reasonable cost."

FERTILIZER: Sea kelp enzyme is applied to wheatgrass.

WEED CONTROL: By hand.

PEST MANAGEMENT: Humane traps.

WATER USE: City water.

WORKERS: Two owners plus one employee.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: None. Use organic growing practices.