The land we own had been a ranch for generations, part of a much larger spread, and was still a small sheep ranch when we bought it in 2004. In 2011 we bought the neighboring property to preserve our view shed and water source. The two properties used to be one. We now own around 375 acres of steeply benched open grassland cut in vertical swaths by more than seven seasonal creeks that debouch through large culverts beneath Highway 128 into Rancheria Creek which drains into the Pacific. A few miles downriver, the Rancheria runs into the Navarro, a protected watershed. Surrounding the creeks are dense woodlands of many kinds of oak, pepperwood (bay laurel), madrone, incense cedar, toyon, and a few Douglas fir.
The soils in our area are mostly a mix of clays and rock. In places there is a substratum of Yorkville clay that has the same greenish cast as, and is, a precursor to serpentine rock. In some areas there are good topsoils brought downhill by erosion and weather. All areas are prone to slipping and sliding when the top layer becomes so water saturated that it glides over the underlayment of clay. The benefits of clay are that it is very rich in minerals and nutrients. Of course the downside is that the plants have to access them, and mixing in the compost to make it possible takes lots of hard work. Removing rock is also a never ending task.
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In our first year here, we had a 3 acre foot (1 million gallons) pond put in uphill and a 1/4 mile away from the buildings. It is filled solely by runoff and is now home to largemouth bass and sunfish which we stocked. In summer, it shrinks significantly but with good winter rains, it stays full and healthy. It is an important source of water for wildlife. We also had a smaller pond constructed on the bench below it which is spring fed and is the water source for our yaks. The new property came with a spring and stream fed pond which we have been stocking with fish from our original pond.
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In 2008 we bought a refurbished Aeromotor 24' tall windmill which we put together and installed ourselves. It works beautifully pumping water from an "Indian well" (a 10' deep upended culvert set into water running over clay) uphill to a water tank that then feeds some of our garden plants.
After tying our existing 2 wells together and connecting them to a water tank above the house and gardens for gravity feed, the second most important improvement we made in preparation for planting was to put up a 5 acre fence surrounding the area we considered most useful for farming. It was clear that this was necessary when large herds of pigs rototilled the wet soil where we intended to plant and gangs of deer ate everything we grew! Within the fence perimeter, we now have nearly an acre of land that we have worked to good fertility. Beyond the fencing we have left the country to wild land for hiking and hunting, and the grazing of cattle at certain times of the year.
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<p>Last year we added another water tank to both our house and windmill water. Since the new property wells are better than our farm's, this year, to ensure enough water at the end of the summer season, we connected them to our farm water tanks which are directly 1,000' below.</p>
The original property came with two smaller barns, a larger barn/garage and a small concrete block 2 bedroom house. We have improved all of the buildings and continue to do so. The new property has a ranch house, guest house, two large barns and a straw bale house on it within a 2 acre perimeter fence.
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<p>Late in 2011 we finished construction of and passed all inspections for our commercial kitchen building on the farm. We are in full production of value added foods made from our produce and they are selling well.</p>
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In 2006, (the year of the animals!) we purchased our first chickens and waaay over-built a coop. We presently have nearly 100 chickens and five coops. We have become adept at building them and have, after many trials and much error, designed our nearly perfect coop for 20 chickens. The next coop will be constructed on the bed of a decrepit Chevy pickup we found on the new property and moved to the farm. Each coop has a large area of fenced grassland surrounding it for the chickens to roam in at will.
Also in 2006 we took in 3 "loaner" yaks from a couple who didn't have enough grazing land for them. When we returned them after 6 months, we had fallen in love with yaks and had determined to purchase a starter herd. In 2007 we drove to Colorado and returned with 3 baby yaks, a boy and 2 girls, pulled in an 8'x8' U-Haul trailer. For several months we supplemented their grazing with bottle feeding until they were tame enough to halter and lead. Then we constructed a nine acre fenced area abutting our 5 acre compound in which they graze at will. We added several acres to their grazing land in 2010. One of Kayak's children, Sisa, grazes in a field close to the house.
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<p>We have had a succession of farm help over the years, none of whom has stayed for long but from whom we have learned much. This past year we did all our own planning and planting with the help of a local nursery who did our starts. We are in the 3rd year of our SF CSA and interest in it continues to grow steadily.</p>
<p>In spring of 2011 we planted an orchard from 45 apple and pear varieties we grafted on the farm. This year we will put in a new hoop house to expand our growing capabilities in the winter.</p>
And how and why do we do it?! We love all aspects of creating the farm... the learning, designing, eating, observing, breathing, smelling, laboring, listening, connecting, prioritizing... but mainly the creativity of it. We sometimes jump out of bed eager to go to work and other times are so tired we have to kick ourselves out. Either way we love what we're doing and your responses to it. We hope you'll visit us.
