The 2015 Mariposa Farm & Ranch Tour, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, will include Sierra Cider (orchard and cider barn shown above); Epic Alpacas (below); and Butterfly Creek Winery and Vineyards (below). Raw Roots Farm and CostaLivos Mountain Gold Olive Oils are also featured on the tour.
Farms & Ranches of Mariposa County, a project of the Mariposa AgriNature Association, invites all county residents and visitors to experience some of this area’s rich agricultural traditions at the properties of several local growers on the Mariposa Farm & Ranch Tour 2015 on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Participating locations will include Raw Roots Farm and Epic Alpacas, both in Catheys Valley; the Costa Livos downtown shop, featuring products from its olive grove; the new Sierra Cider of Lushmeadows, and the nearby Butterfly Creek Winery.
Each site will feature workshops, local artists, and vendors of agricultural and natural-resource products. Representatives of local, thematically relevant nonprofits will also be on hand to display materials and provide information about their services.
Andrew and Lauren Glikin operate Raw Roots Farm, a three-acre sustainable, year-round, family vegetable farm in Catheys Valley. They produce a diversity of crops compatible with the seasonal climatic conditions in this area. Their primary motivation is to provide good, locally grown food that connects consumers with the producers and minimizes the energy required to deliver their products.
Besides local farmers’ markets, the Glikins sell their produce directly from the farm through a community-shared agriculture (CSA) program. The farm also serves as their venue to share and teach guests about sustainable living practices such as natural building, solar technology, gray water systems, and much more.They plan eventually to manage a naturally grown, no-till farm that will produce enough food to support at least 60 families in Mariposa County.
Steve and Casey Aitchison own and manage Epic Alpacas, the largest alpaca ranch in California with more than 200 Huacaya alpacas. Located in Catheys Valley in the Sierra foothills, the Aitchisons, who “fell in love” with alpacas when they had just two as pets—and no ranching experience—now specialize in breeding for gray-colored alpacas with elite fleeces used in garments and other fine fiber products. The ranch is open for tours by appointment, as are the visitor center and gift shop, where customers can purchase a variety of items made from alpaca fiber, from clothing to yarn to stuffed animals.
The weekend of September 26-27 is also National Alpaca Farm Days, and during the Farm and Ranch Tour, guests can enjoy the fun activities Epic Alpacas offers each year during the ranch’s "open house.” There will be much for the kids to do -- a petting zoo, face painting, photo ops, coloring, and more -- as well as guided tours to help visitors understand what raising alpacas is all about!
Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a carload. Kids under 12 are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce and Casto Oaks Wine downtown, or on the day of the event at any participating location. Contact Kris Casto, (209) 377-8203, or visit: mariposafarmsandranches.com for more details.
Article contributed by Len McKenzie