Tag Archives: agriculture

California Farm Towns

barn pozo

California Farming Areas:
agriculture, farm stands, food crops, livestock, orchards, vineyards

Adin
Angwin
Arroyo Grande
Bakersfield
Berry Creek
Bishop
Blythe
Brawley
Bolinas
Boonville
Brentwood
Calexico
Calistoga
Camarillo
Castroville
Cedarville
Cloverdale
Coalinga
Colusa
Covelo
El Centro
Etna
Fall River Mills
Fallbrook
Ferndale
Fillmore
Forestville
Fort Jones
Fremont
Fresno
Geyserville
Gilroy
Gridley
Guadalupe
Hanford
Healdsburg
Hopland
Independence
Ione
Isleton
Kelseyville
King City
Kingsburg
Knights Ferry
Indio
La Qunita
Laytonville
Lemon Cove
Lindsay
Little River
Live Oak
Livermore
Lodi
Loleta
Lompoc
Los Olivos
Los Osos
Manteca
Maricopa
Marysville
Mecca
Merced
Modesto
Montague
Mount Shasta
Napa
Needles
New Cuyama
Nipomo
Oakdale
Oceano
Ojai
Orland
Oroville
Oxnard
Paso Robles
Pescadero
Petaluma
Petrolia
Philo
Porterville
Rainbow
Red Bluff
Reedley
Rio Vista
Sacramento
Saint Helena
Salinas
San Gregorio
San Juan Bautista
San Luis Obispo
Santa Maria
Santa Paula
Santa Rosa
Santa Ynez
Scotia
Sonoma
Stockton
Tehachapi
Temecula
Tulelake
Ukiah
Upper Lake
Valley Center
Valley Springs
Ventucopa
Ventura
Visalia
Watsonville
Weed
Williams
Willits
Willows
Windsor
Winters
Woodland
Yuba City

no chickens
Central Coast Calif: Arroyo Grande’s  public parking lot has free range chickens and roosters running around loose, so watch your speed.


California Ranching Areas:
cattle grazing, livestock, ranches

Alturas
Atascadero
Big Pine
Bishop
Caliente
Campo
Cayucos
Descanso
Dulzura
Elk Creek
Gorman
Hollister
Independence
Julian
Kennedy Meadows
Kernville
King City
Lebec
Los Alamos
Mill Creek
Morro Bay
Paynes Creek
Ramona
San Luis Obispo
San Simeon
Santa Margarita
Springville
Susanville
Taylorsville
Templeton

bycounty
see also –
List of Rural Counties in California
Central Valley Reservoirs

 

List of Rural Counties in California

Rural California
forests, mountains, rivers, canyons, orchards, farms, wilderness 

The states with the largest amount of land classified as rural are:
1. Alaska, 2. Texas, 3. California, 4. Montana

The state of California has the highest population in the nation, but residents are highly concentrated and unevenly distributed.

California’s population has declined for the first time in its history.  Population increased from 1800 up until 2017, but most recently has seen a decline, referred to as ‘CalExodus’

NOTE: Half the population resides in just 4 counties:
Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino

chickens

58 counties in California

In California the majority of the population live in urban (city) areas, while just a small percentage live in rural areas. California’s rural population is not highly concentrated, but distributed throughout many of the 58 counties.

Rural Relocation inside of California

bycounty

Rural Northern California

California counties defined as rural:

California counties considered mostly rural:

horseback

The California counties listed below may have growing populations, yet most still have available land for small farms, orchards and livestock. Home prices will be higher in areas in close proximity to cities. When planning to relocate outside of a city, abundant water should be a top priority. Wells can dry up during drought years, so check this 2015 map for prior affected regions.

More California  Counties w/ Rural Residential Areas:

centralfarmland

checkRural areas can still be found in Southern California, in places like East County San Diego and maybe Riverside County, but the cost of real estate is high in many parts of the state and not easily affordable.

Anything near the coast is way more expensive than sunny, hot inland locations, with desert lands being the least expensive. Food grows well in sunshine and heat, just make sure you have lots of water. Be prepared to build shade structures.

Total Escape is here to show you the rest of the state.

rural california

purples are rural
oranges semi-rural

RELOCATING TO RURAL COUNTRY

Many older homes may be in dire need of complete renovation, so be ready to work, or hire out to have it done. Moldy foundations, collapsing basements, leaky roofs, retaining walls. Home inspection should be learned (in advance) of home ownership.

Rural ranches and mountain homes may be located on dirt roads. Snow and rain make unpaved access messy or impossible, so vehicle choice (4×4) could be an issue when relocating to wilder lands.

Larger properties could be totally undeveloped. Land excavation is quite expensive, so you might need to consider buying your own earth moving machine.

Looking for a rural property with a well and/or a creek will ensure a good water source for years to come, but only if you maintain the system. Upgrades may be needed and water filters are always a reoccurring cost. Water testing is recommended for your home. Well tests are usually offered by local well companies. To drill a new well on raw land, expect to pay thousands of dollars. Especially if no road or drive way exists.

CA population density 2020

 

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WILD FIRES in California 

wildfire aftermath
Aftermath of Wildfire 2020

Wildfire is a common threat in rural areas, due to the amount of vegetation and the remote location. Preparation (years in advance), can go a long way to saving your structures from catching fire.

Harden your home to stand alone, without any expectations of firefighters coming to fight the fire or save your house.

Be physically fit, disciplined and capable of ‘brush clearance’ on your own land, every year. What used to be a 30 foot perimeter clearance around structures, has turned into a 100 foot requirement.

But with recent erratic fire seasons, more aggressive and  lasting longer – authorities are now considering a 300 foot clearance mandatory, allowing for tree removal well into neighboring properties.

Be prepared to pay for tree removal and brush clearance, if you cannot do it yourself. Your life and property LITERALLY rely on proper brush clearance around your home.

TREE REMOVAL + BRUSH CLEARING

Since many wildland fires are spread with the dramatic wind events, originating from the east, special consideration should be paid to the east side of buildings.

Geography plays a big part on this. Sometimes winds come from the northeast. Know the unique landscape, hazard potentials and the pattern of weather for the region you reside in.

California Population Growth Rate by County
California Population Growth Rate by County

 

snow

WEATHER

California has it’s own share of weather related crises’ – from seasonal flooding to landslides, rock slides to avalanches, heatwaves to snow storms, winds events (up to 70 mph) and of course, dry lightning strikes with abundant wild land fires.

Too cold, too hot, too much snow. Research historical weather records for any place you plan to live, and expect those normals to change (maybe drastically) with future predictions.

Over the decades, Total Escape has found the NWS, which is the National Weather Service, forecasts to be more accurate than most of the other weather related web sites. Be ready for any type of weather, from serious downpours to droughts.

pinetree

ELEVATION

California has extreme elevation, with below-sea-level desert basins to the tallest granite, mountain peaks. It is much easier to grow food crops at lower elevations in California, than in the mountains or foothills. Livestock and apple & citrus orchards prefer the sunny mountain foothills, while rice and grains will typically grow only in the low lands. Know what terrain is best for the type of farm or homestead you want to create. Snow is possible, but not very common, down to 1000′ elevation. Snow depth can be an issue for any type of year-round growing above 4000′ elevation.

DOWN THE HILL

Shopping and groceries could be many miles away, so you’ll need to see how far you are willing to drive (and how often) for food staples. Hardware stores, big box stores and most conveniences of city life are now hours away.

rural_living

As Americans, our ancestors come from the natives, the rebels, the adventurers – and the dreamers, many of who migrated westward to create a better life. 

snow

Now is a time that we could re-create ourselves, as a nation – and individually.

During the Great Depression of 1930’s – nearly half the US population worked in agriculture – and most households had a backyard vegetable garden. That lifestyle continued through the 1950’s, but then commercialism and pesticides took over our food; and we became less interested in food production over the decades.

grow a food garden

DISTRACTED

Today, farm workers have decreased to less than 10% of our population. Now we rely on corporations to feed us. If you yearn for a new life – outdoors, out in the country, with less city, less noise and more nature – this site can help you find a new rural location to explore, even in Crowded California.

ruralhuasna

Total Escape has been focusing on rural California since 1996

AtoZsmalltowns

California towns & cities by Elevation

California towns listed by Population

California towns & cities by Zip Code

California Regional Map

 

oaktree

recreate

ideas

forestmaps

 

dogJess Valley

canoe

colusalevee

growingonions

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Salinas River

salinasriver

Coastal California

Foothills & Farmland

US Highway 101 cuts thru Salinas Valley & is home to the Salinas River. This area is rich in farming, and industry w/ some residential

Rolling hills with oak trees; cattle in every open field, fresh air and wide open vistas. River has no big campgrounds or city campgrounds, except for the seaside area, where the river hits the ocean @ Marina, CA

Central Coast California Wine Country

Paso Robles, Northern San Luis Obispo County –  is where the Salinas River begins & flows northbound along mountains and  highway – until it meets the Monterey Bay near Castroville, California.

  • dirt bike trailsdirtbikes
  • camping
  • farm stands
  • hiking trails
  • horseback trails
  • pinyon pine
  • oak foothills
  • mission
  • wilderness
Los Padres Monterey Map
Los Padres Monterey Map

This is a big valley river which drains agricultural land, so boating/kayaking is okay, but fishing/swimming – maybe not so great. This region grows huge amounts of produce, due to the inland coastal foothills near perfect climate. Pesticide runoffs can hardly be controlled. It’s in the well water, it’s in the irrigation channels, it’s everywhere – even inside your gut.

Anyhoo, there are several tourist sites, such as historical California missions & wineries in this region, along with Hollister Hills OHV Park. Be warned summer months can get very hot here.

Best time to visit SALINAS RIVER  is NOV-MAY, and in between winter storms, and June Gloom. NOTE: Flooding does occur in these lowlands.

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Parks near Salinas River:hiker

 

Campgrounds near Salinas River:

coastal Monterey Bay –

inland @ King Citycamp

upstream Reservoirs –

    • Redondo Vista Campground (Lake San Antonio)
    • Harris Creek Campground (Lake San Antonio)
    • Lake Nacimiento Resort

This California Central Coast, mountains foothills river region is within Monterey County.

OAKS / CATTLE / FARMS / FREEWAY

Private property, ranch lands, farmland, and public land in the hills – National Forest, BLM, State Park, National Monuments, State Vehicular Recreation Area

Wildfires burn outta control in California, so campfire permits are only available during the wettest of years. Check with local ranger station in Kings City, CA

campfire

San Antonio River
Green Bridge @ Nacimiento Rd, the back way into Big Sur. San Antonio River

Lakes near Salinas River:

fish

Towns along Salinas River:

Attractions near Salinas River:

Downtown Salinas, CA
Downtown Salinas, California [circa 2002]

boatramp dog     picnic  canoeRV

Saline Valley Hot Springs
Maybe you were searching for a remote desert hot springs, called SALINE Valley? Halfway across the world? Nope, across California and the Sierra Nevada mountains.