Barking Moon

Six miles from the town of Applegate lies the pastoral landscape of Barking Moon Farm. Owners Josh Cohen and Melissa Matthewson have been doubling their scale every year since beginning the farm in 2006. To prepare themselves for agricultural enterprise, Josh interned with Whistling Duck Farm, and Melissa completed a Master's degree in Environmental Studies, specializing in Sustainable Food Systems.

Josh and Melissa have a son named Everett, who evidently "runs the place." They currently have two interns and additional help in their busiest season to work the 4.5 acres planted in vegetables and the 6 acres devoted to pasture for their organic egg operation. The entire farm is certified organic, so beyond the requirements for organic crops, Josh and Melissa adhere to strict standards set for livestock. This means they feed their chickens organic grain, and keep up with the extensive documentation required to maintain their certification. Barking Moon also offers a Community Supported Agriculture program to the Rogue Valley.

Prior to coming to southern Oregon, Josh and Melissa lived in southern California. Going even further back in time, Josh was born in New Jersey and Melissa was born in Missouri. In both their cases, farming skipped two generations, (their great grandparents were farmers) but eventually the green gene found expression again!