Summary
Chaffin Family Orchards is a 2,000 acre five generation family farm located at the eastern edge of the Sacramento Valley in California. With some of the oldest orchards in the country that are still in production it’s a magical place. The farm grows multiple varieties of stonefruits including cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines as well as citrus including varieties of mandarins, oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. The farm also produces extra virgin olive oil, grassfed beef, lamb, and pasture raised chicken and eggs. The farm is centered on permaculture philosophies and there is a symbiotic integration between their livestock and orchards to accomplish various land management goals. Following the model of farmers like the Joel Salatin, the family has been farming this way for about a decade. Basically the sheep and cows do all of the mowing on the orchard floor, the goats can do light pruning, handle invasive weeks, clear irrigation canals, and cut firebreaks, and the chickens come in and debug and fertilize. Farming this way they now use about 85% less fuel.
The farm offers approximately 3.5 square miles of open rangeland, rolling hills, woodlands, old growth orchards, a large reservoir. The farm is backed up against and owns a portion of Table Mountain which is world famous for it’s amazing annual display of native spring wildflowers and waterfalls.
Right now the farm is only available for larger groups. A minimum of 10 people would be required to make a reservation.
The farm is actively working towards setting up cabins and other farmstay options. Keep on the lookout for those changes in the next year or two.
Here is a youtube video tour of Chaffin Orchards that was taken in August which is the hottest driest month on the farm Chaffin Orchards Farm Tour
Features
Food:
Self preparation
Amenities:
Camping - running water, Farm Store, Pond, Camping-Outhouse
Activities & Animals
Chickens, Sheep, Goats, Cows, Bees, Orchards, Swimming, Field Trips, Wildlife
Allowed
Children under 12, Weddings, Parties, Corporate Retreats, Family Reunions, Special Events