High Ground Organics
Our Home Farm
In 2000, Steve Pedersen and Jeanne Byrne bought the old Cardoza Ranch from the Open Space Alliance, who had acquired the property the year before in order to protect it from development and erosion. The 40-acre farm sits atop a hill bordering Harkins Slough. While far from pristine, the ranch provides habitat for many birds, including several types of raptors, waterfowl, songbirds, owls, and swallows. Several endangered or threatened species of plants also live here.
The Open Space Alliance wanted to preserve both the native habitat
and the rapidly diminishing Pajaro Valley farmland. They did this with
two easements they placed on the deed of the property. Half of
the acreage is preserved forever for organic agriculture
under one easement, and another easement maintains the rest
for wildlife and native plant restoration.
We are currently working with the Resource Conservation District
on plans to eradicate invasive weeds and plant willows and other
native plants on the nonfarmed portion.
Our big winter project for 2002 was restoring the old milking parlor and converting it to an efficient packing and storage area. We put up a cooler then, and put another one up in 2005, so that Mariquita Farm could store their produce here straight from their farm. Now all the produce is here and ready to be packed at 7:00 AM on CSA days.
In 2003 we converted a little room in the packing shed to an office for the CSA administrator. Just this year we have moved the CSA office to a scenic trailer at Mariquita Farm's home ranch.
In 2004 we hired a demolition company to come break up and haul away many tons of concrete-- the foundation for the old barn, plus two or three other foundations for old dairy buildings. It was a big job, but it was great to finally have the place cleaned up!
This year, 2006, begins our foray into animal husbandry, with our first two young calves. They are Dexter breed, which is a small dairy breed, but these are males, and their primary purpose is to graze down a native grass on the conservation land that thrives on grazing. On the other end, we will be getting goats as well to eat the invasive weeds, like hemlock and thistles. Chickens are in the offing as well, but will probably have to wait until next winter, as we've gotten busy with the 2006 spring season.
We look forward to showing you our farm at one or more of our Farm Days this year!
| Home Page | Community Supported Agriculture | Upcoming Farm Events | Seasonal Produce | Subscribe Now | Organic Flowers | Farmers' Markets |
|---|