California's deepening drought is increasingly taking a toll on farmers.
Now the dismal water supply is forcing some South Bay growers to pull up their plants and put in crops that use less water.
"We decided to make a change because there is a change in the marketplace," said Erin Gil, who owns Grass Farm Garden Accents in Morgan Hill. "People don't want to plant big lawns because of the water supply and that's appropriate."
Since 1969, Grass Farm Garden Accents has been growing sod for everyone from Stanford University to Pebble Beach Golf Course. But during a drought, when it comes to grass, brown is the new green.
Gil has ripped up 30 percent of the sod in his 110-acre farm and is about to plan bell peppers. Not only is there a more robust market for the peppers, but the crop requires less water than grass.
"Water use will be a little lower instead of three acre feet for grass we'll use two to two-and-a-half acre feet for the bell peppers," Gil said.
The Santa Clara Farm Bureau said farmers are also dealing with another drought challenge. There is a three-year wait for farms to get a permit to dig a new well.
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In addition, storage tanks are on back order throughout the state so South Bay farmers hoping to retain every drop have nowhere to put extra water.
Gil's bell peppers will rely on ground water. When Gil harvests in August he hopes the new water-saving crop will keep his farm afloat.
