Our Team
Laura
CHIEF FLOWER & ALMOND GROWER
When Laura is not teaching biology she is managing the abundant organic matter in the orchard and around the ranch. In her spare time, she hangs out with her guardian crew Sammy and Frodo.
Kevin
CHEAP UNPAID LABOR
Kevin is currently leading the workshop build. This will allow for farm equipment storage, almond processing, flower design space for Laura and a woodworking shop for Kevin.
The Pups
Frodo
DIRECTOR of SECURITY
Frodo is our larger pup weighing 112 lbs! He is a purebred Great Pyrenees and loves to guard our property. Frodo is a gentle giant, with a wonderful temperment.
Sammy
DIRECTOR of HUMAN RESOURCES
Sammy Sam is Frodo’s littermate. So she is also a purebred Great Pyrenees. Our “pocket Pyr” weighs around 80 lbs. even though she has an excellent appetite. She adores our visitors and loves getting belly rubs from them.
Orchard Pest Control
Red-shouldered Hawk
CHEIF of SMALL RODENT POPULATION MANAGEMENT
We have affectionately named this bird of prey Marcona. His consistent presence in our orchard, along with his mate who joins him when not on the nest, keeps our small rodent population, including voles, under control.
American Kestrel
Chief of GRASSHOPPER POPULATION MANAGEMENT
During the summer of 2024 the orchard was overrun with grasshoppers who were stripping the leaves and bark from the branches. There was a time when we assumed we had lost upwards of 90% of our trees. We held strong to our belief that we could successfully farm in partnership with nature. On a mid-July morning when Laura had given up hope, she turned around to see not one, but a family of three, American Kestrels. A small but fierce member of the the birds of prey who feasts on grasshoppers.
Pollinator Habitat
At Middle Mountain Ranch we strive to work in partnership with the natural world recognizing that balance is critical for the success of our orchard. As a result, we farm without the use of any non-organic chemicals looking out for the health of the natural world we depend on.
During the Spring of 2025 our trees will be entering into their 3rd leaf and we anticipate our first substantial blossom. Almond trees rely on pollinators, traditionally honey bees. While we appreciate honey bees for the work they can do, we would prefer if our trees could be pollinated by wild and native pollinators. We have allowed the naturally occurring vetch to flourish in our orchard attracting Yellow-faced bumble bees (Bombus vosnesenskii). Additionally, the state flower of our great state, the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), grows abundantly spreading each season in the orchard. This. native flower also draws native bees. This spring we are looking forward to carefully observing the almond blossoms to see if the native pollinators are in fact moving pollen from flower to flower.
