July’s farm visit brought over 20 Art & Ag artists to a third-generation farm, Martinez Orchard, situated on the edge of Winters. Artists were welcomed by warm summer weather, clear blue skies, stunning vistas of the Northern Coast Range mountains, alongside picturesque rows of vineyards and walnut trees.
On top of all that, the property was bursting with creative opportunities like slough access, rolling hills with 360 degrees of views, along with views of the Coble’s historic homestead farmhouse from the 1920’s.
The property was originally purchased in 2000 by the Putah Creek Land Co., co-owned by Martinez and Santiago Moreno. At that time the land was pastureland for sheep but shortly after purchase, they changed to irrigated lands so he could grow walnuts for a processor out of Vina and wine grapes, primarily Petite Sirah, for his family’s own Berryessa Gap Winery. The farming partners work together for Martinez Orchards which is owned by Martinez’s mother, Joan Martinez.
In October 2014, Yolo Land Trust partnered with Dan to place a conservation easement on his farmland. It is Conservation Easement #60 for the land trust (out of 78 total farms conserved). This property was significant to conserve to create a green space buffer due to its proximity to the urban border of the City of Winters. Additionally, this parcel is adjacent to another conserved farm; these two parcels create a contiguous 85-acre block of conserved farmland, which is essential for maintaining ecological balance, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring the long-term health and resilience of agricultural practices.
John Currey, Executive Director of YLT, emphasizes the high conservation value of Martinez Orchard. “The open, rural character of the property, with its productive farmland, provides scenic views from the county roads northwest of Winters,” explains Currey. “The property serves to protect the character of the small community of Winters by preventing expansion of development to the northwest and provides connectivity with other adjacent and nearby parcels that have been designated as open space. The 44-acre parcel, combined with adjacent and nearby open space lands, also supports birds and other wildlife that utilize farmland habitat.”
Photos courtesy of Charles McDonald, YoloArts, and Yolo Land Trust.
Watercolor by Abel Wayne.