Aleta Pierce, owner of Beet Generation Farm in Forestville, brings years of experience and passion to her farm stand at Sonoma County farmers markets and her CSA farm boxes.

Aleta spent her youth in Forestville, and after a long circuitous route she is back on the property where she grew up. Aleta focused on environmental studies and biology at Tufts University in Boston. She was interested in sustainable agriculture and she realized that “Agriculture is a big part of the problem in climate change, but it is also a big part of the solution.” Aleta says, “I have always been aware of how our food choices affect the planet.”

Aleta has always been drawn to the bounty of the land. She took a job at a non-profit environmental education farming camp where she had access to an 11 acre, 400 member CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). She loved walking the fields. After she graduated, Aleta returned to Sonoma County and began working on local farms and volunteering at Beet Generation Farm, which was then run by Libby Batzel in Sebastopol. Then life took Aleta to the East Bay to manage a nonprofit CSA in Alameda for 6 years. Just when Aleta was looking for a reason to come back to Sonoma County, Libby reached out and offered to hand over Beet Generation to Aleta. It turns out Aleta was a perfect choice.

Beet Generation CSA

About 2 years ago, Aleta added a CSA to Beet Generation. She says, “Community Supported Agriculture is the best model for small farms and the best way to support farmers. I know who I am growing food for and know exactly how much we need to harvest.” Beet Generation is up to 40 members this year and wants to grow the membership. The weekly CSA box comes with all the seasonal favorites such as a lovely mix of 6 different varieties of lettuces, tomatoes, a wide variety of sweet peppers, raspberries, melons, and of course, lots of beets. “I like to grow what I like to eat!” Aleta says.

Now that the farm is working toward a 10-15 year lease, Aleta has exciting plans. “I want to shift the farm to a more perennial, no till, food zone. I have a very experimental spirit and I love trying new things.” This year they added Mexican sour gerkins, aka cucamelon. Next year she hopes to add ginger and turmeric.

Slow Food Local Farmer Grant Recipient

Aleta is proud to be part of the Slow Food community. Just this year she received the Local Farmer grant from Sonoma County North. Aleta says, "The grant money from Slow Food covered the entire irrigation install costs, which was so incredibly helpful for getting us up and running and planting at this new site."

Hedgerows for Planet Earth

In 2023, Aleta received a grant through the Xerces Society. In October, she will receive the California Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kit to establish native perennial hedgerows on her farm. The kit includes beneficial plants such as Coyote mint, Milkweed, sticky monkey flower, California needlerod, and Pacific Aster to help create a rich ecosystem, to enrich the soil, and attract beneficial insects.

In addition, Aleta’s farm borders Green Valley Creek which is one of the last active salmon spawning habitats in Sonoma County. In an effort to do everything to protect the creek, the grant will include Narrow leaf willow trees, elderberry, Golden currant trees, and California bee plant. The restoration work on the creek is through the Thomas Creek Restoration Project.

Aleta’s passion for her work comes from her desire to heal and regenerate our planet and to be part of the solution. She says, “Slow it down and localize it.”

Aleta will be one of the speakers at our Annual Meeting on October 15.