For Nikki Ausschnitt and Steve Krieg, owners of Petite Teton Farm in Anderson Valley, farming is more than a livelihood — it’s an art form and a deeply personal endeavor. After 20 years of cultivating their small family farm, they continue to face economic challenges familiar to many small farmers in Mendocino County.
Petite Teton Farm grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables, which the couple preserves in their commercial kitchen. They also raise chickens, ducks, pigeons, rabbits, pigs, fish, and cows, selling various types of meat and eggs. While they say that their farming practices exceed organic standards, the farm is not certified organic.
Krieg, a former lawyer, and Ausschnitt, a former artist, moved from San Francisco to Anderson Valley two decades ago seeking a more meaningful way of life. For Ausschnitt, the transition from art to farming was seamless. “Farming is the art,” she explained. “I treat the land like a canvas, constantly moving things around and finding beauty in preservation and growth.”
Despite their passion, profitability remains a significant hurdle. “Our goal is to break even, and we’ve been working toward that for 20 years,” Krieg said. Rising costs and the need to pay fair wages to their staff of eight make financial sustainability a constant challenge.
To reach consumers, the farm sells goods at farmers’ markets in San Francisco and Oakland, as well as locally through direct sales. “The farm is open every day for people to drop in,” Ausschnitt said, though she noted that farm visits are not their primary source of revenue. They also participate in MendoLake Food Hub, a web-based ordering system that connects local consumers with farmers.
While the couple’s technological approach is minimal — relying on pencil, paper, and Excel spreadsheets — they emphasize treating the farm as a business, not a hobby. Ausschnitt and Krieg expressed hope that the county could better support small farmers by promoting farm-related tourism and valuing locally produced food. “Food doesn’t get the attention it deserves compared to other industries,” Krieg said.
For Ausschnitt, farming is both practical and artistic, with the land itself serving as a medium for creativity and expression. “I don’t pick up a pencil anymore,” she said. “I just go out and dig a hole. That’s the pleasure of life.”