Recent transplants, Rain and Malachi bring delicious microgreens to your door

FARM FRESH Flower Dandy Sprouts

When you grow up in Orange County, it’s difficult to imagine a world exists outside your own, full of greenery and plantlife. This wasn’t the case for Rain Prondzinski. Living in the concrete jungle, she spent her days dreaming about someday becoming a farmer. “Ever since I was small, I fantasized about having my own farm.” Rain remembered, “I wanted cows, pigs, and the space to grow my own vegetables. People thought I was insane. When they asked kids what they wanted to be, they’d respond with the usual firefighter or princess, but I’d always say I wanted to be a farmer.”

Rain took every opportunity she could to jumpstart her dream of farming. She started by spending her free time playing farming video games, joined every available community garden, and became a fixture at friends’ homes who had gardens of their own. When she finally moved to Washington, in search of greener pastures, she began growing food inside the house, bogarting every windowsill she possibly could, and harnessing every ray of sunlight to raise an indoor garden throughout her duplex. Rain said, “I was so excited to watch all the stuff grow, but it was always short lived as Washington isn’t known for their surplus of sunlight.”

Rain eventually moved to Oroville with her husband Malachi, finding all the sunlight they could possibly need and the opportunity to start making her childhood dream a reality. They decided to start the journey by growing an indoor vertical farm with microgreens as their staple crop. “Vertical farming is just incredible!” Rain said, “You can stack things on top of each other, water them, and they come to life. I fell in love with microgreens at farmers markets and found that they were not only one of the healthiest foods, but growing them provided a very quick return on my emotional investment. I could plant some, and two weeks later, they were ready to eat. I wanted to share it with the world, so we turned it into a business.” With that, Flower Dandy Sprouts was born, and the two set out to bring healthy microgreens to residents around the Northstate.

Though Rain and Malachi’s microgreens are now available at local farmers markets, the real benefit is having them delivered directly to your doorstep—a service they provide in Oroville, Chico, Paradise, Marysville, and Yuba City. “The best time to consume microgreens is right after they’ve been cut.” Rain instructed, “Delivering the plant live to people’s homes allows them to get the most out of their purchase.” To add to their distribution, Rain and Malachi have recently joined Oroville’s new CSA, Co-Op-a-Box, and will also be available at the Oroville Hospital Farmers Market, making their microgreens even more accessible.

For more information on Flower Dandy Sprouts, their benefits, and to purchase a subscription, visit them online at www.FDsprouts.com

TABLE MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE

Tucked away in West Oroville, sits one of Butte County’s most friendly greens. Designed by Louis Bertolone, Table Mountain Golf Course was originally opened as a 9-hole course in 1956, but quickly grew to find its true potential, at a full 18 holes, through the volunteer efforts of a number of Oroville residents over the years that followed. The course was run by Oroville’s Feather River Recreation and Park District until 1983 when it was leased to its current operators, and is now managed by Oroville native, and Director of Golf, Todd Moran.

“Table Mountain Golf Course truly is beautiful,” Todd said, “It’s more open than most courses you’ll find in our area, and its beauty is really in its simplicity. The course was built on very flat land which makes it incredibly easy to walk, and the speed of play is fairly quick. Where most courses can take an average of 5-to-6 hours to play, you can complete a round of golf here in about 4, making it an easy stop for a quick round of golf after work or even during the weekend when you’re trying to fit in a round amongst other plans.”

Indeed, Todd would know, as he is a PGA Pro who has played many different golf courses. Originally from Oroville, he began working at Table Mountain Golf Course when he turned 20, picking up range balls and cleaning carts. Over the years, he worked his way up through various positions, learning everything he could about the game, until he eventually earned the course’s highest position as Director of Golf. He has now been in the position for two-and-one-half years.

"We’re lucky to have a course that was wellsuited to just about all levels of play, and we have golfers of all calibers—great players, average players, and beginners." Todd said, "Typically, most golfers average around an 18-20 handicap on the course. We have a fairly large men’s club with one tournament per month and 80+ players per tournament. We also have a wonderful ladies' club that plays once a week, with 20-28 ladies each Thursday. We are a semi-private golf course, we welcome the public, and have some of the most competitive membership packages in the NorthsState. To become a member, you can inquire with any of the staff in the pro shop or go to our website, tablemountaingolf.com."

Though the pandemic shuttered many of the course's facilities for a period of time, Table Mountain Golf Course is back in full swing, with all services and amenities functioning once again. “Our pro shop has just about everything you could need.” Todd enthused, “We carry Callaway, Titleist, Footjoy, and TaylorMade, just to name a few. Our restaurant serves delicious food and drinks, while our banquet facility is perfect for fundraisers, baby showers, birthday parties, and even weddings!” Their fully-covered driving range is also unique in that there aren’t many of them around. To add to the course’s features, you can also find practice bunkers and greens alike, along with both group and private golf lessons.

Not only does Table Mountain Golf Course provide a scenic getaway for golfers, but it gives back to the community as well, providing a no-cost facility for both Oroville and Las Plumas High Schools to practice with free range balls and play during the week. They also host many fundraising tournaments that benefit businesses as well as local high schools. The club hosts up to three junior golf camps per year during the months of June, July and August, for kids ages 7 to 17. “We need to get the kids out here enjoying this game. This is a game you can play for a lifetime,” Todd said. The camps are 4 days of instruction with a hot dog meal on the last day for only $50.

Stop by Table Mountain Golf Course at 2700 Oro Dam Blvd West in Oroville and play this beautiful course yourself! You can also reach the pro shop for more information at (530) 533-3922.

"This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0094-02-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy."

Oroville: The adventurer's dream

Nestled in the foothills of Plumas National Forest, and between Lake Oroville and the Feather River, Oroville is an outdoor recreation haven, perfect for exploring yearround. But come summer, with those tripledigit temperatures, you’ll want to dive into all the lakes, rivers, and creeks that Oroville has to offer.

Lake Oroville and its larger State Recreation Area, managed by California State Parks, is at the heart of the city’s water-based adventures. The second largest reservoir in California, created by the tallest dam in the country, is a popular spot for power boating, sailing, water- and jet-skiing, fishing, swimming, and more.

Boat owners who want a more rugged stay will love the boat-in campgrounds, which are nestled in the scenic oak woodlands that surround Lake Oroville to help create that feeling of getting away. Or for something truly unique, check out the only floating campsites in the state, where you can picnic, barbecue, and pitch your tent right on the lake! The lake’s 10 floating campsites feature room for up to 15 visitors and make the perfect home base in between your other adventures on Lake Oroville—just make sure to reserve early, as these are extremely popular, and the summer months fill up fast.

If you’re looking to add to your lakeside excursions, a walk across the Oroville Dam (managed by the CA Department of Water Resources) offers a different perspective off the lake’s scale, while a visit to the State Parks’ Lake Oroville Visitor Center offers a deeper dive into its history and importance to the State Water Project. While technically outside of Oroville, thrill seekers can discover some of the best year-round whitewater rafting conditions in the state on the North Fork of the Feather River, which feeds into Lake Oroville. Enjoy a scenic drive on Highway 70E to get to Rock Creek Reach, an 8.3-mile portion of the North Fork, where you can raft Class III, IV, and V rapids four weekends a year, in June, July, August, and September, when water flows from Lake Almanor are increased.

For mellower adventures, stay in Oroville

proper and head to the Thermalito Forebay, which features 300 acres of cool, clear water from Lake Oroville. Reserved exclusively for sailboats, canoes, and other non-power-driven boats, it’s the perfect place for spending a day picnicking and splashing around on the sandy shore with the whole family. Make it even better by renting a kayak, pedal boat, stand-up paddle board and more from the Forebay Aquatic Center. Open for weekend rentals May through September with special events throughout the year, the Forebay Aquatic Center offers all the equipment (and training, if you want) you’ll need for a fun day on calm waters.

The nearby Riverbend Park right on the Feather River has you covered for closerto-land water fun. Managed by the Feather River Recreation & Park District (FRRPD), the park not only features a kids-favorite sandy beach, but also play structures, fields, fishing pond, disc golf course, and more. Its boat dock also makes it a popular spot to end a leisurely kayak trip for those embarking from the Feather River Fish Hatchery just upstream. And if you prefer to simply be close to water without actually getting wet, you can stroll the three-mile Feather River Trail from the park all the way to the hatchery. (Enjoy this and other wateradjacent trails throughout Oroville with the #HikeButteCA Pass, downloadable at ExploreButteCounty.com/hike)

If that’s entirely too much nature for you, then FRRPD’s Nelson Pool is the perfect option for summertime water recreation. While it’s closed this summer for renovations, its summer 2022 reopening will reveal a new splash pad, decking, and shade structures. Until then, FRRPD invites you to dive in at the Palermo Swimming Pool, open early-June through mid-August, for public and family swim sessions, a small wading pool, and private rentals.

Whatever type of water recreation you’re looking for—whether spending a few nights right on the water, just dipping your toes in, or simply enjoying the shores from afar—you’ll find it in Oroville this, and every, summer.

Learn more about Butte County outdoor recreation at ExploreButteCounty.com. However you recreate, make sure to #RecreateResponsibly; learn more at RecreateResponsibly.org.