In mid-June, my family made a much needed get-away road trip to central California. We stayed at an RV park in Buelton CA for a week which was great! My personal highlight, I must say, was wine tasting. But for my kids and as a whole family, it was the visit to Hidden Canyon Valley in Lompoc CA.
Nestled in the rolling Santa Rita Hills, Hidden C
anyon Ranch is a farm that uses what the proprietor/chief wrangler Erin O’Brien called sustainable regenerative farming. In essence, this type of farming creates its own ecosystem where everything, including animals, soil, insect, even predators has a job. The regenerative agriculture uses a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity and enriches soils without the use of pesticides or commercial fertilizers. It is more than just organic farming. Animals living on this farm also benefited from this type of farming. They are obviously very happy living there because of the free space that is available for them to roam around. For obvious reason, this type of farming also creates more nutrient-dense food and healthier air, water, and soil for all of us to live on!
In a 90 minutes farm tour, my kids learned so much! They not only learned about regenerative agriculture, but they also developed an appreciation for food and its origin—something I preached to them all the time. And of course, they loved ALL the animals that live on this farm. I was so surprised that they remember all the names even the turtle! The team at Hidden Valley Ranch really creates a nurturing farm atmosphere, so idyllic that I can almost write a fairytale about these animals that live there.
I highly recommend anyone who is paying a trip to central California to make a reservation to visit Hidden Canyon Ranch (https://hiddencanyonranch.com). What makes this farm so special is not just how they farm, the way staff interacted with you, the picturesque setting, the animals, the log cabin, are all that make this place worth visiting. But don’t take my words for it. Here are the reviews my kids wrote.
Special Note: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 realities, all the wine tours and Hidden Canyon farm tours are by appointment only. They made us feel safe following good COVID-19 safety protocols.
Ryan Lo, Palos Verdes CA Age 12
Hidden Canyon Ranch and Farm is located in the gorgeous Santa Rita Hill in Central California. Established in 2010, the Farm’s mission is to leave the earth better then they found it. They grow fresh and organic food in chemical-free soil. Hidden Canyon Farm educates others through amazing and fun tours. As you tour around the farm you can see chickens busily eating the pests and bugs, while also leaving their fertilizer behind. This is a great way to clear and fertilize the land and soil. Inside the coop, you can see a homemade Chicken Trailer that is used to protect the chicken during the nights. Hidden Ranch also has an amazing grape vineyard, that is grown with regenerative principles. In addition, the farm also has a variety of good nature and friendly animals.
The animals in Hidden Canyon all have a specific purpose on the farm. As you walk past and through the pens and homes of these farm animals, you can tell that they are happy to be there. Animals such as Gina the African American tortoise live beside and with the chickens. If you wait and look carefully you can see various chicken, hopping, and riding the old tortoise. The ranch also has a variety of dogs. Dogs such as Toby, the Great Pyrenese, guard, and protect sheep and chickens from dangerous predators such as wolfs and coyotes. Hidden Canyon Ranch is an amazing and fun place to explore. As well as things mentioned in this writeup, the farm also includes horses, donkeys, and lamas. Go check Hidden Canyon Ranch for yourself which is located in, 5425 Campbell Road
Lompoc, California 93436.
Shawn Lo, Palos Verdes CA Age 13
Have you ever thought about where your food comes from? Have you ever consider the effort just to put food on the table? In the small town of Compoc, California is the Hidden Canyon Ranch, which produces one of the highest quality of food. In Canyon Ranch, owner Erin O’Brien and her ranch managers engage in farming healthy foods and raising happy animals. On Erin’s 44 acre farm, she raises various domestic animals from cows, chickens, horses, and bats! In addition to her family of animals are fields of the crops she grows with her own hands. Unlike many of the farms in the US which produce food through industrialization and pesticides, Erin’s farm produces crops more naturally. When you visit the Hidden Canyon Ranch, you will indeed have an unforgettable experience.
On the Hidden Canyon Ranch, Erin describes her farm as one big ecosystem. When she showed me around the farm, there were a variety of species of domestic animals. Regarding these animals, O’Brien emphasizes that each animal has a fundamental purpose and role. The cattle and chickens raised on the farm are harvested of their milk and eggs. However, all of the animals on the farm are not just for eating. According to Erin, the cattle, goats, chickens, horses, and even the turtle help compost soil with their droppings and supplement nutritional value to crops. The composition helps establish suitable farmland and Erin’s vineyard. The fertile soil is what makes the Hidden Canyon Ranch a good reputation with its food.
Regarding O’brien’s farm animals, not only they are efficient in making compost, and for food, these animals, help establish a balanced ecosystem on the Hidden Canyon Ranch. Like most difficulties farms usually face, there would be an overgrowth of weeds that occupy too much of the farm’s land. Erin’s sheep and livestock consume the weeds, which help make space for crops. In addition to Erin’s ecosystem are the many dogs that roam around the farm. Erin explains that the dogs help keep away unwanted animals, such as coyotes who crave to eat the farm’s chickens and sheep. The Hidden Canyon Ranch also has more unusual species of animals, such as bats who seek the insects that graze on the crops and eat them.
In addition to the farm are Erin’s fields and gardens of crops. According to Obrien, she plants a variation of all kinds of vegetables, from carrots to beets and even grapes. The grapes that are collected in Hidden Canyon Ranch famous vineyards. However, it is how Erin grows her crops that make her product of high quality. According to her, she practices regenerative farming, a system that enriches the soil with compost and not to use pesticides. Pesticides are applied to stop bugs from eating plants. However, the people who ingest these foods would likely consume harmful chemicals, which is why Erin sprays more natural substances to resist hungry insects.
When you visit the Hidden Canyon Ranch, you will truly have a fun and learning experience. Erin’s farm includes many different animals that you would get to meet. You can buy fresh vegetables and eggs from her farm. Furthermore, the Hidden Canyon Ranch is a must-visit.
Note: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 realities and in an effort to operate in a safe compliant manner, all the wine tours and definitely the farm tour were by appointment only and were all implementing sanitary requirement procedures.
