Green

Photo/Sage Leehey

Tom Stille eats a tomato in a high tunnel or hoophouse at River School Farm.

Feeding friends

Local farm has changed greatly over 22 years

by River School Farm isn’t new to Reno. It’s been around in a variety of forms since 1992 when owner Tom Stille started it out as a nursery. “Well, I started it because I was in the landscape business, and I wanted

Sage Leehey to start a nursery,” Stille said. “And for eight years we ran the nursery, and sagel@ then some of bigger ones like Home Depot came. Then I did a kite shop for newsreview.com a couple years because I liked to fly kites and my son did, too. And then we changed and got more into the school because we built another building and then we had the dance studio and mirrors, and we started the farm.” The business has three basic divisions now, according to Stille. There’s the landscaping division where landscape architects and gardeners build gardens for clients. And then there’s the school and farm divisions. RSF hosts many classes in farm-related activities, dance, yoga and drumming at various times as well as various events, programs and camps. It’s also meant to be a demonstration farm for locals to get inspiration and help. The buildings on the premises have electric and hydronic solar to heat them and their water, and some of them are made with two-foot thick straw bale earth plaster. “They serve to utilize our resources, but they’re also really good for insulation,” Stille said. “And then some of our wood came from a fire that was here about 15 years ago maybe, Floriston Fire. We harvested all this wood from the dead trees, so we do a lot of recycling.” There is also a stage made of pieces of the old Mapes Hotel that is used River School Farm is located at 7777 White during weddings. Stille said the farm is a relatively popular wedding venue and that they usually have about 3 weddings a month in the summer. Fir St. to learn more “One of the newer things we’re trying to do is grow food for the wedding about this farm, visit dinner as well as cut flowers,” Stille said. “So the bride can walk down the www.riverschoolfarm. org. aisle with the same kind of flowers that are growing around here.” They also dry fruits and vegetables—pears, grapes to make raisins, tomatoes, beans and others. Stille said he had done some of this before, but now does a bit more in a shade tunnel on the farm. And Stille said they also use low, mid and high tunnels for growing, which have helped revolutionize farming in the high desert because they protect crops from animals and the weather, and they raise humidity levels. One of the newest additions to RSF is a farm at nearby Patagonia where they sell food to the cafeteria. They also sell food to area restaurants as well and have their own online market. (The online-ordered food can be picked up at the farm on Thursdays.) Stille said that an important aspect of RSF is that he is constantly trying to limit their inputs. They do this is in a variety of ways, including with a worm bin and with composting. They use kitchen and landscaping scraps from the farm and from landscaping jobs to make their compost and compost tea. RSF has also started making hard cider and various types of vinegars inside their solar closet. They’re even making a malt vinegar from leftover beer from a wedding. “Reno needs to be connected to our planet,” Stille said. “We need to be more sustainable, so doing many things locally including growing food, I think, is really important for Reno. … I think building community around the local economy is really important, so that’s why we do all this.” Ω

Itʼ s happening in

ACTIVITIES

NV150 WESTERN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

This free event celebrates Nevada’s 150th birthday and traditional Nevada arts and culture. Demonstrations in basket making, spinning and weaving, quilting, saddle making, etc. will be presented. Sa, 10/4, 11AM-6PM, free. Victorian Square, Victorian Ave. (775) 722-0109

SCHEELS RUNNING CLUB

Run with expert pacers and enjoy running in a group. Tu, 6:30PM through 12/9, free. Scheels, 1200 Scheels Dr. (775) 331-2700

CROCHET CONNECTION

Learn to crochet or share tips with other crochet enthusiasts. Th, 4-5:45PM, free. Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Lake Highway. (775) 4241800

FOUR SEASONS BOOK CLUB

The book club meets the fi rst Saturday of each month. Call to fi nd out each month’s book title. First Sa of every month, 1-2PM, free. Sparks Library, 1125 12th St. (775) 352-3200

CONVERSATION CAFE

The drop-in conversation program meets on the fi rst Saturday of each month, 2-4PM, free. Sparks Library, 1125 12th St. (775) 352-3200

FOOD TRUCK DRIVE-IN

Food Truck Drive-In comes to Victorian Square on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month through October. 5PM to 9PM. Enjoy the fi nest in mobile cuisine including Hawaiian fusion, desserts, hot dogs, pulled pork nachos and much more! After dinner, head to Saint Mary’s Ampitheater for a free movie at 8PM. Our upcoming movie (October 11) is Despicable Me. Victorian Square, Victorian Ave, free.

CLICKETS KNITTING GROUP

This class is for knitters of all ages and levels. Yarn and needles are available. First and Third Su of every month, 1:30-3PM, free. Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Lake Highway, Spanish Springs (775) 424-1800

PERFORMANCE AND MUSIC

JOHN DAWSON

W, 10/1, 7PM, Th, 10/2, 7PM, F, 10/3, 7PM and Sa, 10/4, 7PM, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

YOU MATTER - THE TOUR WITH FOR KING & COUNTRY

Coming to the Reno Area, KLOVE Radio Presents: the YOU MATTER TOUR featuring For King & Country. Join us for a spectacular show! Th, 10/9, $10-30. Doors open at 6pm, concert starts at 7pm. Sparks Christian Fellowship, 510 Greenbrae Dr. For more information about this activity, contact Jonathan Velasquez at (775) 750-4431

ACOUSTIC WONDERLAND

This is a singer/song writer Showcase. Come down to Paddy’s and bring your acoustic instruments. Sign ups are at 7:30PM and music begins at 8PM. M-Su, 8PM. Paddy & Irene’s Irish Pub, 906-A Victorian Ave. (775) 358-5484

DJ RAZZ

Come dance the night away to DJ RAZZ! You can even karaoke if you like. Ladies Night every Friday night. Drink Specials all night. F, 9PM. Paddy & Irene’s Irish Pub, 906-A Victorian Ave. (775) 3585484

BIKINI BULL RIDING

DJ and Bikini Bull Riding Competition. Su, 5 & 9PM through 12/28, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

LOCALS NIGHT

Locals Night, DJ. M, 5PM through 12/29, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

LIVE MONDAYS WITH TANY JANE

Open mic night every Monday at 8PM, hosted by Tany Jane. M, 8PM, no cover. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030

CLASSIC ROCK NIGHT

Classic rock night with DJ. Tu, 5PM through 12/30, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

OPEN JAM WITH TAZER & FRIENDS

W, 8PM, no cover. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030

LADIES NIGHT & TOUGHEST COWBOY

Ladies Night w/live music and Toughest Cowboy Competition. DJ breaks until midnight. W, 7 & 9PM through 12/31, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

A SINGERS-SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE

Bring yourself, your instrument and your song. We look forward to hearing and seeing you there! Th, 8PM through 12/18, no cover. Paddy & Irene’s Irish Pub, 906-A Victorian Ave. (775) 358-5484

LIVE MUSIC & LATE NIGHT DJ

Live music with late-night DJ. F, 5PM-2AM & 7-11PM through 12/26, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

LIVE MUSIC & LATE NIGHT DJ

Live music with late-night DJ. Sa, 5PM-2AM & 7PMmidnight through 12/27, no cover. John Ascuaga’s Nugget, 1100 Nugget Ave. (775) 356-3300

KARAOKE

KARAOKE COMES TO SIDELINES

Every Monday Night!!! M, 8PM. Sidelines Bar & Nightclub, 1237 Baring Blvd. (775) 355-1030

KARAOKE WITH BOBBY DEE

Tu, 8PM, no cover. Morelli’s G Street Saloon, 2285 G St. (775) 355-8281a

KARAOKE

Th-Sa, 9PM, no cover. Bottom’s Up Saloon, 1923 Prater Way (775) 359-3677