Diversified Fruit Orchards at Free Spirit Farm
- The California Agroforestry Network
- May 21
- 1 min read
In this video we visit Free Spirit Farm in Winters, California, to learn about the ins and outs of their diversified fruit orchard. Farmer Toby Hastings discusses how crop diversity can strengthen farm resilience and ecological function.
Free Spirit Farm is an independent farm on Sierra Orchards’ land that has been leased by Toby Hastings for 19 years. Over time, it evolved from a row crop and vegetable operation into a diversified 10-acre mixed fruit orchard producing a wide range of crops including stone fruit, berries, and specialty fruits like stone fruit, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and more. Located on leased land, the farm focuses on growing as many regionally suitable crops as possible to support multiple market channels, including wholesalers, CSAs, grocery stores, and restaurants. Crop diversity allows the farm to meet buyer demand for multiple products in a single order while spreading labor needs across the growing season. It also serves as a risk management strategy, helping buffer the operation from losses due to weather, pests, or disease that may impact any single crop.
Watch the full virtual case study at www.calagroforestry.org
1:12- Where do you sell Produce?
1:45- Benefits of Diversification
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number G239-24-WA512 through the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under project number SPOY246745. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.