Sunflowers and bees are part of the ecosystem at Fox Tail Farm.
The 14th annual Mariposa Farm and Ranch Tour is all set for this year.
It is sponsored by Mariposa Agri-Nature Association and partnering with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension.
The tour is set for Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at five locations: Foxtail Farm, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Folktale Country Homestead, Betty Massey’s Water Catchment and Aurum Vineyard.
The tour features agriculture events, nature workshops, personal tours and tastings, children’s activities, history comes alive talk, artists and more. It will be a day full of learning about agriculture and nature preservation to safeguard rural communities.
Tickets are $10 per adult and $20 per carload. Lunch will be available to purchase at two locations (to be determined).
The evening before the tour, Oct. 9, people are invited to a Harvest Farm to Fork Dinner. Casto Oaks Winery is hosting.
The dinner will be showcasing the produce produced in Mariposa County. Tickets are $80 and on sale at the Mariposa Farms and Ranches website (Mariposafarmsandranches.com) or at Casto Oaks Tasting Room.
Shown are the hoop gardens featured at Foxtail Farm.
The Farm to Fork Dinner is being held as a fundraiser for the Agri-Nature Association and Mariposa Regenerative Agriculture Program.
Foxtail Farm, at 1911 Harris Road, is one of the featured locations this year. Cheryl and Peter Berg share their thoughts and stories about their gardening methods.
“Our farm journey began in San Diego, where we transformed our small backyard into an edible forest filled with fruit trees, vegetables, and pollinator-friendly plants,” they said.
“While we loved what we created, we quickly realized we had outgrown our postage-stamp-sized yard and dreamed of having more space to grow. We have always been drawn to the beauty of Yosemite National Park, so finding our current home nestled in the National Forest felt like the perfect opportunity.”
They said “although our nearly 100-acre property isn’t considered traditional farmland,” they have embraced the challenge by working with the landscape instead of against it.
“Respecting the land, conserving natural resources and minimizing our environmental impact guide every decision we make. We built hügekultur beds for our orchard and vineyard to improve soil health while reducing water use. We also compost as much as possible using both traditional and Bokashi composting methods to recycle nutrients back into the soil.”
The animals each play an important role in caring for the farm. Guardian dogs help protect the livestock from bears and mountain lions, while free-ranging chickens naturally control weeds and insects in the orchard.
“Our pigs happily clear fallen acorns and unwanted vegetation, and our newest additions — the goats — help manage brush and poison oak,” they said. “We hope that when you visit Foxtail Farm, you’ll experience the same sense of wonder and magic that inspires us every day.”
Tour organizers are still looking for vendors related to agriculture or nature products, artists in action, and nature preservation talks. There is more information online at MariposaFarmsandranches.com and social media.
For more information, call Kris Casto at (209) 810-7154 or Sara Rosenberg at srosenberg@ucanr.edu.
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