Old McDonald's Farm

April 2, 2010

The SLI intern program includes field trips to local eco-friendly or sustainable projects to help further the educational curriculum. Our first adventure was to the Magruder Ranch in Potter Valley. We were going to have a brunch on site in the old family farmhouse and then take a tour to check out their operation. The Magruders raise grass-fed cattle and pigs on their beautiful 2400 acre ranch. At lunch they served samples of their beef and pork sausages. Everyone raved about how delicious they were. Amazing how much better the meat is when you don't feed the cattle anti-biotics and GMO grains. Go find some organic meat next time you are at the store!!

During lunch we learned the ranch has been in the family for four generations and the house was built in the 1920's. The kids have come home after college and are helping improve the Ranch. They are implementing agri-tourism which will feature retreats and workshops on sustainable living, organic farming, and art programs for their guests. They want to partner with the SLI and host several of our natural building workshops on site. Roby is going to help them devise a master plan for the project because they have tons of ideas and projects but no clear vision of what it will look like or how it all needs to come together.

How lucky they are to have this land in the family. They are surrounded by Preserves and Mountains. Running through the middle of their property is the Russian River and several of its tributaries. At one location the River has created the perfect swimming hole for summer enjoyment. A bonus is the hiking and mountain biking trails upland in the surrounding mountains. Ben said he would take Roby and me riding but we would have to take a gun along in case we ran into a bear or mountain lion.

We spent the entire day marveling at the natural landscape and giving ideas for new improvements. Roby kept saying, "man I wish my grandparents would have kept heading west before deciding to ranch in southeast New Mexico!!"