Field Preparation

This field has never been farmed, let alone hosted an orchard. It is sandy clay loam (class 1 soil) but quite compacted from the decades of horse and cattle traffic. The field is prepared for an orchard by deep ripping the soil using 4 foot shanks attached to a bulldozer. Loosening up the compacted soil allows the almond tree roots to spread far and wide.

Next, organic compost is mixed into the soil and rows are created.

Loosened and amended, the soil is now ready to be planted with young almond trees!