Local favorite North Coast Brewing has partnered with Fortunate Farm to help enrich the farm’s soil with hops and grains left over from the brewing process that would otherwise go to waste. Gowan takes these unwanted leftovers and brews them into a rich compost to improve the soil. The sugars in the brewery’s spent grains help the soil to retain water, an important factor in an area prone to drought. Flocks of sheep graze the land, naturally adding their manure to further enrich the soil. The sheep’s wool is sold to local fiber artists.

The farm is committed to nourishing its small community and to giving back. Most of their produce is sold within the community, from their farm stand and in the local Farmers’ Market, held each Wednesday in Fort Bragg and Friday in Mendocino. Some of the produce is donated to the Food Bank and other local resources, such as Project Sanctuary. During the recent wildfires in inland Mendocino County, Fortunate Farm opened their barn, land, and doors to their neighbors who had lost their homes.