California | Backyard Roots

Last month I was lucky enough to get a job to photograph Forbidden Fruit Orchards in Santa Barbara. Started by Sandy Newman in 2002; she dreamed of owning a farm ever since she majored in plant science back in college. Having a real farm is a fantasy of many urban farmers, so it was interesting to talk to Sandy, who had her dreams come true.

Sandy originally wanted to plant a vineyard on her 100 acre spread that she found on the internet. But after talking to a local farm agent, she learned that vineyards required having enough money to go eight years without turning a profit! He advised her to start with blueberries so that’s what she did. Her high quality, organic blueberries have become very popular and profitable, and a first step towards her vineyard dream. In the cool coastal climate she’s able to grow and harvest from September to July and she says the sandy soil is not a problem. She has nets to keep the birds out and wells for irrigation. She mulches to keep evaporation to a minimum. I asked her what was the hardest part about growing organically and she said it’s not insects it’s weeds. She currently sells to nine farmers markets all over Southern California and has expanded her farm to other specialty crops such as currants, mulberries, tea leaves, and products such as honey, jam, syrup, sorbet and others. She did start her vineyards in 2007 and is now selling her Cebada Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Sandy’s words of caution: farming is tons of work. It used to be that her farm was her escape, but now “my vacation is to leave.”

Check out her new website (and my photos) http://www.forbiddenfruitorchards.com/ Designed by Jamie Leighton at RevolutionCreatives.com having a great website is another step to a successful modern farm.

Currants on the right and left, mulberries in the center

Sandy’s vineyard has taken off; her Cebada Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are now available.

Ever thought of getting sheep? Mali McGee has loved sheep ever since she helped care for them when she was a kid volunteering at Oakland’s Fairyland. When a doctor advised her to start eating more nutrient dense foods she got a goat and a lamb and has never looked back. Mali keeps two dairy sheep along with three goats in her Alameda backyard and that includes the ram above named Krampus. Her dairy sheep are a cross between East Friesian and Dall and she says they are calmer and easier to keep than goats. Sheep milk is highly nutritious and has more vitamins A, B, and E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium than cow’s milk. It’s also a much richer, sweeter milk that’s easier to digest and makes great cheese. She got the ram to breed because his mother was outgoing and friendly which is a trait she’d like to continue. Mali also shears her sheep and spins the wool and boils the unusable wool for lanolin oil which is great on dry, chapped skin. She says the lambs are very efficient converters of vegetable matter to protein. She’s grateful to have to lamb that she will eventually slaughter.

I met Mali when I got and assignment to photo her for the East Bay Express. After hanging out with her and then going back to take more photos of her and Krampus I was smitten too. Despite his natural urge to butt, Krampus has a sweet side too and in many of the photos I have to say he looked positively “sheepish”. Check out Mali’s blog: Milk Mama Goat Farm.