Goin'
up the country
Ag Adventures offer a summer vacation destination without gas prices
and airport lines
BY BRANDI STANSBURY
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER GARDNER
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SHOULD'VE BEEN A COWBOY Kelly Work of the Work Ranch makes visitors feel right at home while leading ranch trail rides. |
Thinking about taking a vacation? Stop researching online flights - the perfect retreat for you could be right here in SLO County.
With the insane price of gas, just getting to the airport is going to be a financial chore and a road trip is totally out of the question. Consider a SLO County Ag Adventure for your next vacation. An Ag Adventure is an idea new to the tourism world. Not only will you save money on gas, you'll avoid airport drama, hotel hassles, and expensive dinners that are no better than a chain restaurant meal. Ag Adventures are all about no neighbors, quiet country nights, fresh fruit, the finest meats, and country hospitality.
Two years ago, the Central Coast Agritourism Council put together a map with a plethora of Ag Adventures for tourists and locals alike to head into the country and experience rural pleasures. There are 62 locations around the county for people to choose from, and the map is a standard SLO County area map with all of the locations numbered. Though many of the spots are in the North County, there are definitely places in Morro Bay, Cambria, Santa Maria, SLO, and even Carissa Plains. There is a short description and contact information for each locale.
Former Ag Council President Mary Vasconcellos explains the origins of the map:
"It was started by a group of farmers and ranchers who wanted to direct-market their operations to the public. It was for the purpose of educating the public about what goes on as far as farming and ranching, locally. Also, the idea was to produce another revenue for their operations so they could stay in business. This county has quite a few farm and ranch operations. Those are very susceptible to the global market, environmental challenges, costs, and regulations. They are very vulnerable. Our goal was to create another way for them to bring in money so they could stay in business."
Ag Adventures and farm stays are, Vasconcellos added, an up-and-coming vacation trend. A farm stay is typically a vacation on a working farm or ranch that includes hands-on activities related to the farm's individual functions.
"We know [farm stays] are very popular on the East Coast, Europe, and Australia, and we know that it's going to become more popular here in California."
Thanks to a grant from the USDA, the Ag Council will be updating its map and web site by next spring. Along with being very common in Sweden, the U.K., and Australia, farm stays and general Ag Adventures are growing in Sonoma, El Dorado, San Diego, and Monterey counties.
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JUST PEACHY |
Ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Here are just a few examples of what SLO County agriculture has to offer. Let's go!
Work Ranch life
The 12,000-acre Work Family Ranch east of San Miguel in the Cholame Hills was the first legal farm stay facility in California and exudes tons of old world charm. Owner George Work, who was actually born on the property, is a rancher at the forefront of environmentally minded ranching, and received the 2004 National Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
The ranch is a fifth-generation operation that offers a farm stay program as well as a girls' horse camp and a "Ladies' Weekend." George Work's daughter-in-law, Paso Robles native Kelly Work, oversees the operations of the guest programs. Kelly prides herself in the authenticity of the ranch and farm stay experience.
"We are not a normal dude ranch," she explained. "We do not put on a show for you. It is just our family. We have no employees. We work this place hard."
With over 500 head of cattle, the Works are busy, but enjoy the company of travelers interested in participating in the ranch experience.
"People want the real experience. They want to really get the whole feeling of what is going on. We like to share meals with our guests. We like to barbecue and hang out with them, get to know them. That's what makes it fun."
Kelly stressed that Work Ranch farm stays are as educational as they are pleasurable.
"We want them to see that this is how you get beef on your table. We want them to make that connection," she said. "These cattle have the best life. We aren't overgrazing the land, we're monitoring each paddock, and we are rotating. We can show people how to tell when a cow looks good. We do low-stress cattle handling. We sock it to them with the education because most people have no clue where their meat comes from."
A typical farm stay on the Work Family Ranch includes trail rides, goat milking, wildlife watching, and overall ranch enjoyment.
One of the more innovative Ag Adventures activities is The Work Family Ranch's "Ladies' Weekend." The weekend is open to women of all ages and equestrian levels and begins on Friday evening with a trail ride followed by a home-cooked country meal (spareribs, steak, or chicken), complete with delectable sides and down-home desserts (cobblers, pies, etc.). After the meal, there's the hot tub to soak in. Saturday brings a full day of riding and a cattle roundup. Saturday night's dinner is another country feast and also includes a local band. Massages are offered all day for muscles sore from riding.
The Work Family Ranch was listed on "The Today Show" as one of the Top Five Places to go with your family in the U.S., and is as close to a "true country experience" as they come.
"We have people who want to sleep out in the hayfields," Kelly added. "Sometimes we feel like what we're doing is just so ancient, but there's no other way to do it."
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PICK YOUR BERRIES AND EAT 'EM! Alex Kimble of Murietta shows off his haul at the Avila Valley Barn. |
Close By Ranch
Those a little nervous about hopping on a horse for the first time may want to consider a lesson. Or maybe you've thought about owning a horse but aren't quite sure you want to make the commitment. The Close By Ranch in San Miguel is the realization of a lifelong family dream and is a local training and boarding facility run by CeCe Campbell (her grandfather's old ranch was also called Close By).
"If you've ever thought about riding or if you've always wanted to improve and never known where to go where people care about you, this is the place," Campbell said. "You can come here and practice before a big trail ride so you don't hurt yourself. Our goal is to share the beautiful facility with people that are interested in learning to ride and learning to better their horsemanship. Our goal is to share."
With a 14,000-square-foot covered arena, Close By Ranch also hosts clinics where horse owners can come and learn riding techniques with their horses.
Kim Jackson, a horse trainer and decorated equine show-woman who works with the Close By Ranch, stresses that most of riding is "thinking like a horse." She takes first-time riders through lessons with horses that include a very philosophical and psychological approach in understanding the behavior of the animals and basic handling. She also stresses that horses are athletes and though the idea of a horse sounds fun, they need to be ridden every day and become a part of your lifestyle.
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GIDDYAP |
The fruit of the earth
You may think that the fruit you're buying in the supermarket is pretty nice. Maybe you're even going to a farmer's market these days and buying farm-fresh fruit. Well, that's all nice and good, but how about harvesting what you desire right from the tree?
Avila Valley Barn is in its 18th season and is a day trip appropriate for the whole family. What started as a roadside stand by Dr. John DeVincenzo and his family has blossomed into a major tourist locale in South County. The farm has two gift shops, U-Pick orchards, an open-air market, hay rides, a bakery, and farm animals. A new building for homemade ice cream will be completed this summer as well.
It's always best to call Avila Valley Barn to see what's in season before you head out. With a variety of fruits and vegetables, each trip will yield different delights. Every month they have something new to pick.
In May and June they have ollalieberries, in July it's peaches, August and September the apples get ripe, and in October it's pumpkin time. They also grow apricots, nectarines, corn, onions, beans, summer squash, and tomatoes.
Debbie Smith, managing partner, explains the picking process.
"Everything is maintained. The berries are in long rows and tied up. We give you what you need to pick; baskets, etcetera. There are no thorns. It's very simple to pick. The ollalieberries are simple to pick. When they're ripe, they almost jump in your box."
The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and has picnic areas for those who want to relax on the grounds and enjoy a bite to eat.
Starr bright
For those with the desire to get a little bit more down-and-dirty with fruit or are looking for a relaxing, secluded farm stay, there is always Starr Ranch. Located 12 miles from Paso Robles in the historically rich Adelaida area, proprietor Judy Starr makes anyone feel right at home on her well-maintained, sprawling farm on the backside of the Santa Lucia Mountains. The views alone allow for timeless contemplation and her orchards are kept up well enough for you to wear flip-flops to pick fruit, even though that's probably not the best idea. Starr even nets the trees that are ripening to ward off greedy birds.
"We grow wine grapes, which people are more than welcome to find out about. We have a fruit orchard that is quite delectable. We have over 250 fruiting trees. About half of those are persimmons and the other half is everything from quince to figs, apples, pears, and table grapes. It's really an agricultural, close-to-the-earth experience," Starr said.
Her grapes are some of the most-sought-after fruits in the North County, and a cruise around the vineyard with her is a short course in viticulture and winemaking. Starr Ranch also has a tidy two-bedroom house on the property for farm stays.
Judy's hospitality is infectious, her iced tea amazing, and her love of the land inspiring. Don't forget to ask her about the edible nasturtium flowers in the garden.
Wine tasting has become a staple as far as Central Coast tourism is concerned, but Ag Adventures are entering into the mainstream faster than you can say "City Slickers." This area is rooted in ranching and farming and these experiences are not only a good time, but give locals and tourists an encounter with an America of times past.
Arts Editor Brandi Stansbury thinks she's living in a Willa Cather novel.
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