Sustainable and low impact demonstration Ranch.
This small ranch consists of a ranch house, a creamery, indoor and outdoor kitchens, a protected dining room and a roof terrace, from which you can overview the bay of La Ventana, Cerralvo Island, the rugged Sierra Cacachilas, the sunrises and starry skies at night.
Our goats, cows, chickens and some of our mules and workhorses live on the property. Here is one of our first water collection project location, as well as a seed planting orchard, which we use for our organic and permaculture orchards.
Mickey and Yeni are the resident caregivers who live in the ranch house. Mickey takes care of animals, hand milking and orchards, while Yeni makes cheeses and other products. Yesenia is responsible for seed conservation and helps Yeni with artisan cheeses and meal preparation for our ranch activities. Jessica and Cameron, our permaculturists and cheese makers, oversee cheese and orchard activities on all of our ranches.
Rancho Dos Hermanos has more than 600 square meters of seed collection orchards and some organic crops that emphasize the use of sustainable energies and resources. Examples include low-cost rainwater and greywater collection systems, and the integration of horticulture and livestock to use beneficial symbiotic relationships. We constantly test and research crops and methods to find best practices for growing healthy vegetables and fruits in this climate and region.
Our herd of hens not only plays an important role in our horticulture practices, converting compost and keeping the insect population under control, but also producing an abundant supply of organic eggs for the kitchens of our ranches.
— The above three photographs are courtesy of photographer Chris Smith —
