When God closes a door, He always leaves a window open. On October 8, 2017, He slammed the door shut. We barely survived the Tubbs Wildfire. The destruction was unbelievable. 14,000 people were burned out of their homes in less than 24 hours.
The open window led to formation of Basaltic Farms. The farm altitude is 3,100 feet and receives four true seasons. This is important to the vernalization of garlic and when garlic receives at least 40 days of cold/freezing weather it aids greatly to flavor of garlic. We believe this is a key factor to growing flavorful garlic.
Over the years we have come to love growing in our unique soil. Our family is dedicated to growing the world’s finest garlic. We use sustainable, chemical-free methods that honor both the land and your family’s health.
Why Choose Basaltic Farms?
When you choose Basaltic Farms, you’re not just buying garlic. You are investing in a small family farm who works year round to bring you the best quality. There is a lot of unseen work needed to make a farm sing. We are always striving to work smart and apply old style farming methods (now called regenerative) with new technology.
Our certified organic garlic farm stands apart from corporate operations and imported alternatives. We’re committed to authentic farming practices. We build direct relationships with customers. Every bulb we grow reflects our dedication to excellence, from modern cultivation techniques to hand-selecting the finest bulbs in our curing barns.
🌋Five Reasons Basaltic Farms Delivers Superior Organic Garlic:
🏔️ Volcanic Soil Advantage
Our basaltic soil contains all the trace minerals. Our mixed cover crops ensure the proper sulfur levels. This creates more potent, flavorful garlic that stores for 8-10 months when stored correctly.
🏆 Triple Certified Purity
CCOF certified (higher standards than USDA and includes Real Organic Project verification) and USDA Organic certified. Annual inspections ensure zero chemicals. No shortcuts. Complete transparency.
👨👩👦 Quality Assurance
As our garlic is processed it is inspected many times for any visible defects before it is released from the farm. Our family of four lives on the land we farm.
🌱 Regenerative Growing Methods
Cover crops, composting, and soil-building practices improve the land yearly. We produce nutrient-dense garlic without synthetic inputs.
📦 Farm-Direct Quality Control
Every bulb is hand-selected for size, quality, and perfection before shipping.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Our customers’ stories mean everything to us.Read all our customer reviews → to see why families across America trust Basaltic Farms for exceptional organic garlic. From home gardeners growing their first bulbs to professional chefs serving restaurant-quality dishes, their success stories and genuine testimonials show why our volcanic soil garlic creates such loyal customers year after year.
Mission Statement
To cultivate exceptional organic garlic that honors the volcanic land we steward. We provide families nationwide with pure, nutrient-dense food. Our regenerative farming practices build soil health and support biodiversity. We create lasting connections between our farm family and you.
Core Values
- 🌍 Land Stewardship First – We view ourselves as temporary caretakers of this land. We’re committed to leaving it healthier and more fertile for future generations. Our organic practices work with nature, not against it.
- 🌱 Purity Without Compromise – Every decision on our farm prioritizes health. The health of our soil, our crops, and ultimately your family. We maintain strict organic standards that exceed USDA requirements.
- 👨👩👦 Family-Centered Agriculture – As a multi-generational operation, we understand that real farming is about relationships with the land, with our crops, and especially with the families who trust us to grow their food.
- 📚 Continuous Learning – From ancient farming wisdom to modern soil science, we constantly educate ourselves. We learn the best organic practices. We share our knowledge freely with fellow growers and home gardeners.
- 💚 Community Impact – Supporting local food systems and teaching sustainable growing methods. We prove that small family farms can compete with industrial agriculture while maintaining environmental responsibility.
About the Team
The heart of Basaltic Farms beats through our close-knit family team. Each person brings unique skills and unwavering commitment to growing America’s finest organic garlic. Forged by adversity and united by purpose, we’ve built more than just a farm. We’ve created a legacy of quality, integrity, and genuine care for both the land we steward and the families we serve.
Our Farm Family Team Members
Gene S – Founder & Visionary 🌾
Just turned 72 years old, I’ve been self-employed since age 21. I’ve owned and operated many types of businesses over the past 50 years. I have enjoyed growing vegetables since age 8 and got pretty good at feeding our family of 14 during my teen years. Our garlic family has now grown to more than 5500 customers as of 2024. We are proud that we only have 5 star reviews. Garlic is a very interesting plant and has been cultivated since time began and now has over 100 different viritals. So far we have grown 13 different types of garlic and we plan to add 2 or 3 new types each year. It takes about 3 years to grow enough garlic to sell to the public.
We are grateful that God has led us to this patch of land to care for.
Jennifer Heinichen – Branding & Creative Marketing 🎨
Gene’s oldest daughter has stepped in to help out part time with our marketing for Basaltic Farms brand development. Her contributions have included artwork, visual design, and branding campaigns to help communicate our farm’s authentic story. Her full time job is an executive director at The Rutherford Dust Society in Napa Valley for the development of wines.
Caleb S – Marketing Director & Digital Strategist 💻
Gene’s firstborn son manages our online presence from Houston, Texas, combining his SEO expertise with a lifelong passion for organic growing. Although miles away, he remains closely connected to farm operations through regular family video calls, helping to share our story with garlic lovers nationwide.
Like his father, Caleb has always felt connected to the soil. Since relocating to Texas after the wildfires, he maintains a modest garden despite the challenging heat, experimenting with composting and homemade compost teas. This firsthand experience with different growing conditions gives him unique insight as he oversees our digital strategy. He approaches everything with the same philosophy: the energy invested in the land directly reflects in the harvest—whether that’s garlic bulbs or website visitors. Married to Tatiana with four children—Serenity, Phoebe, and twins Yinah and Jasper—he’s ensuring our family’s commitment to organic growing extends to the next generation.
Zack S – CEO & Lead Grower 👨🌾
I’ve always had a green thumb. I grew up spending weekends in my grandfather’s garden during the summer. I learned to love gardening as a kid. It wasn’t until I got addicted to drinking tea that I started to really grow things again. After the fire, I found myself in McArthur, California. We all lost everything and were ready for a fresh start.
Gene’s youngest son discovered his calling in these volcanic fields after losing everything in the wildfire. Zack now oversees all growing operations, soil management, and quality control. His attention to detail ensures every bulb meets our exacting standards. Recently engaged and planning his wedding in 2026, Zack dreams of building a multi-generational farm legacy.
Kevin M – Master Mechanic & Equipment Specialist 🔧
Kevin became best friends with Zack some 22 years ago when they were young teens. Kevin’s mom died unexpectedly from cancer when he was 14. It was devastating, to say the least. He ended up staying at our house more and more. We have not been able to get rid of him. Joking aside, he has become a stable, healthy, and strong young man.
Kevin keeps our farm running smoothly with his mechanical expertise and engineering background. From tractor and harvesting equipment maintenance to irrigation systems, Kevin’s problem-solving skills ensure our modern farming equipment supports optimal growing conditions. His dedication to precision and reliability makes him indispensable during critical planting and harvest seasons.
Reagan – Soil Health Expert & Farming Specialist 🌱
Reagan joined the family about 15 years ago after applying for a job at our mini ranch in Santa Rosa. His first day blew us all away. No nonsense and his super hard work was impressive. He is the kind of worker everyone wishes they hired. He also came with a respectful personality and a generous heart. So we took him in and had no regrets.
Reagan is our cover crop and soil specialist. He brings an infectious enthusiasm for regenerative agriculture and beneficial insects. First, in the fields each morning, he manages our cover crop rotations, composts, and natural pest management systems. His podcast-fueled learning and hands-on dedication have elevated our soil health beyond certification requirements. We all love him too.
Jaxson Schallert
Jaxson S is Jennifer’s firstborn son and 1st grandson to Gene
He is 16 years old and just arrived on the farm on June 8, 2025. He is staying for the summer vacation. He was here last year, too, and was of great help. We love him, and he is a hard worker.
The Fire That Forged Our Farm
From Ashes to Abundance: How Wildfire Created Our Organic Garlic Farm
October 8, 2017, changed everything. The Tubbs Fire swept through Sonoma County with 68 mph winds. It destroyed 36,807 acres and 5,643 structures in hours, including our home of 24 years. Gene, Zack, Kevin, and Reagan lost everything material but gained crystal-clear purpose through the devastation.
Standing in those ashes, we faced unempathetic insurance adjusters trying to find ways to void people’s policies. Our adjuster dared to say we burned our house down out of opportunity. They delayed making payments and forced us to move 13 times in 12 months. As you might imagine,this was not an easy time for anyone hit with a fire.
We ended up at the Tides Inn in Bodega Bay for several months during that time we had to figure out what was next. Since the 4 of us have lived together for the past 15 years we had to make a choice to either stay together or make new lives. We decided we had the enough talents to make an outstanding team to start a farm.
The Search for Soil
From the comfort of the Tides we began the search for the right property. We found the farm listed on Zillow with 100 acres of pristine land at 3,100 feet elevation. After obtaining a soils report. We found nothing detrimental, and moved forward with purchasing the property.
The farmland was blessed with a combination of sandy loam and basaltic rock containing all the trace minerals from ancient lava flows that traveled 100 miles from Lava Beds National Park. While listening to a podcast from Ward Labs we discovered that all soils have all the minerals for growing anything. The secret is unlocking the minerals for plant uptake. Balancing cover crops provided the correct micro environment for growing exceptional garlic. So we just needed to get the blend right and Ward Labs helped lay out a cover crop map. So we have been mixing cover crops each year. It is a lot of fun planting and then getting an updated report to see the results.
Building from Nothing
Although the new houses on the farm are a far cry from what we used to live in. We were more interested in the soil than the housing. Fortunately the fire insurance provided enough funding to get the farm started. We purchased all the needed equipment and we seem to be adding new equipment each year, now that we know what it is used for.
The first harvest in 2019 proved our instincts correct. The garlic grown in volcanic soil surpassed anything we imagined. You can’t learn anything if you don’t make a few mistakes which we did. Leaving the garlic in the sun too long cooks the garlic bulbs and turns them into mush very quickly. So don’t do that.
Certification and Recognition
We decided that to be successful we need to be certified and a legit grower. In 2020, Basaltic Farms started the arduous process of certification. There 100’s of conditions that must be met and a lot of paperwork is needed. We were able to satisfy each and every condition and became a real certified growers. We can now display USDA and CCOF certifications on all our products. We were able to add The Real Organic Project certification the following year, so we now have three certifications. We also have three annual on site inspections. We are delighted that we continue to pass those rigorous inspections.
The fire that destroyed our old life gave birth to something extraordinary. A family farm that proves American agriculture can be both profitable and principled, productive and pure with some good ole hard work.
Future Vision for the Farm
Building a Multi-Generational Legacy of Sustainable Agriculture
Our vision extends far beyond growing exceptional garlic. We’re pioneering a model of family farming that proves small-scale, regenerative agriculture can thrive in modern America. We build soil health, support biodiversity, and provide families nationwide with pure, nutrient-dense food.
🌱 Expanding Regenerative Practices
👨👩👦 Next Generation Leadership
🤝 Helping Other Family Farms
📚 Teaching What We've Learned
🌍 Environmental Stewardship
Essential Garlic Growing Resources
📚 Complete Learning Library for Organic Garlic Success
Whether you’re a home gardener planting your first cloves or a commercial grower transitioning to organic methods, these resources provide the knowledge and tools for growing exceptional garlic.
🌱 Growing Guides & Education
- Complete Garlic Growing Guide – 5,000-word comprehensive resource
- Planting Garlic – Timing, depth, and spacing secrets
- Harvesting Garlic – Perfect timing for maximum storage
- Garlic Pests & Diseases – Organic prevention and control
- Health Benefits of Garlic – Nutritional science
🚚 Ordering & Customer Support
- Ordering Guide – How much to buy, when to order
- Shipping Information – Delivery times and packaging
- How Much Garlic Calculator – Personal consumption planning
- Contact Information – Direct farm communication
- Returns Policy – Satisfaction guarantee details
📋 Legal & Policies
- Privacy Policy – Data protection information
- Terms and Conditions – Service agreements