Swanton Pacific Ranch

Due to the recent wildfires, we cannot open our usual apple U-pick. Instead, we will be offering our organic apples as variety bags that reflect which apples are in season. Variety bags will be available in 5 and 10-pound sizes and can be preordered for pickup at our office. To order a bag for yourself you can message the Swanton Pacific Ranch Facebook account or email [email protected] with your name, order, and pick up time and we will have your apples ready for pick up.... Pickup location: 125 Swanton Rd. Davenport CA 95017 Make sure you turn in at the greenhouse with the sign that says, CASA VERDE. Pickup times are Tuesday 3:00pm-4:30pm and Thursday 4:30pm-6:00pm Prices are $12.50 for a 5-pound bag and $25.00 for a 10-pound bag. The current bag includes: Jonagold Newton Pippin Red delicious Sali Red Delicious Royal Gala Hauer Pippin Cinnamon Spice

We are happy to announce that our new Pasture Raised Chicken is now available for purchase on our website! These Freedom Ranger Chickens were raised between the rows of the Swanton Pacific ranch organic apple orchard using specially designed chicken tractors. These little guys add nutrients to the soil, eat insect pests, and reduce weeds in the orchard, all while producing a delicious product. You can also order our fantastic Grass-fed Beef Variety Box, packed with an assort...ment of steaks, roast, and ground beef. Once you place your order you can pick up your meat during the scheduled times listed below. Pickup times beginning October 20th will be: - Tuesdays 3:00pm-4:30pm - Thursdays 4:00pm-6:00pm Chicken Order Form: https://spranch.calpoly.edu/Chicken_Order_Form Beef Order Form: https://spranch.calpoly.edu/grass-fed-beef

Quite striking how hot the fire was. Here is a landscape view from above the Staub House looking NNW.

We would like to thank everyone who has reached out to help Swanton Pacific Ranch during this difficult time. The outpouring of support from the Cal Poly and local community has been a bright spot in this otherwise dark time. For those that may be unaware, Swanton Pacific Ranch was significantly impacted by the CZU lightning complex fires. Large portions of the ranch have been burned and numerous structures and homes have been leveled to the ground. This photo shows the hist...oric and beloved Al Smith house before and after the fires. Although Swanton may never be the same, the staff at the ranch are optimistic about rebuilding SPR so we can continue to serve Cal Poly faculty and students by providing a living laboratory to learn by doing. If you would like to support Swanton Pacific Ranch at this time you can do so by following the link below. https://crowdfund.calpoly.edu/project/22001

All the staff and critters of Swanton Pacific Ranch are accounted for and safely evacuated. We know we lost a lot of infrastructure as did our Swanton community. We will update you as we know more.

Today’s staff highlight features: Grace Elizabeth Barber Grace is a senior in Forestry and Natural Resources & Environmental Management and Protection. This summer she has been working as a forestry technician at SPR as well as a teachers assistant in our NR 475 class. When asked what she loves about Swanton Grace replied, One thing I love about Swanton is the community among the ranch. Some of Grace’s hobbies include knitting and anything artistic. ... Thanks for all you do for the ranch Grace!!! #swantonpacificranch#forestry #calpolyslo#ranch#staffhighlight

Only two more days to register! Do not miss out on this presentation on the flora at Swanton and in Santa Cruz County. See the link in our bio or go to our website for more information. . . Our final event on GPS tracking is also live, see the link for more information!

To kick off our new series of staff highlights, we will be featuring: Justin Lack Justin is a rising 3rd year studying Environmental Earth and Soil Science and is a watershed/forestry technician here at Swanton. Some of Justin’s favorite activities include running and exploring the many trails on the ranch. When asked what his favorite thing about Swanton is, Justin replied, The thing I love most about Swanton is being ...able to work alongside my new friends and building community. Everyone is very hard working and supportive and each day at work is a blast! #swantonpacificranch#calpolyslo #forestry#watershed#ranch

Only two more days to register! Do not miss out on this presentation on mountain lions in the Santa Cruz area. See the link in our bio or go to our website for more information. . . Our other two events are also live on our website, see the link for more information!

This Wednesday Swanton Pacific Ranch 'Virtual' Research Symposium: Session 1 eDNA is the latest in environmental monitoring science. Jim Birch with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute has been doing this cutting-edge technique right in Scott Creek. ... Check out our website for more information on the series, every Wednesday 3-4 pm this August. https://spranch.calpoly.edu/2020-scott-creek-watershed-rese

Our apple orchard looks even more peaceful on foggy afternoons.

Announcing the 2020 Virtual Swanton Pacific Ranch Research Symposium. Check it out! First one on August 5. Registration is free. Weekly through August. https://spranch.calpoly.edu/2020-scott-creek-watershed-rese

BEEF IS BACK!! We have beef back in stock and open for beef pick ups at our main office. Our pick up hours are Tuesday & Thursday from 2 pm to 4:30 pm. We currently only have variety boxes for sale, which include: 10 lbs of ground beef, 7 lbs of assorted steaks, and 3 lbs of assorted roasts. Go to our website (https://spranch.calpoly.edu/grass-fed-beef) to order online!

NR 474 Forest Stewardship Practices at Swanton Pacific Ranch is underway for 2020! While the course is being delivered virtually this Summer, the students are still working with 40+ natural resource professionals throughout the State of California to develop a Timber Harvest Plan (THP) and Vegetation Treatment Plan (CalVTP). These CEQA-equivalent documents involve environmental impact assessments related to botany, hydrology, wildlife, geology, fire ecology, and more!