Walnut and Prune Orchards
The orchards of the monastery have a very long history. Fruit trees were introduced to the property in the 1840’s when Peter Lassen acquired the property as a Land Grant from Mexico. Each succeeding owner continued to cultivate various fruit orchard crops. When the monks arrived in 1955 several prune orchards were already under cultivation. In 1960 a decision was made to phase out the dairy herd to be replaced with more prune orchards in addition to walnut orchards. Since that time until the present prune and walnut orchards have been the chief source of income supporting the monastery. The acreage in orchards is divided equally between prunes and walnuts, 150 acres respectively, for a total of 300 acres in production.
The monks joined the Sunsweet Prune and Diamond Walnut Cooperatives in the early 1960’s and have continued to be members of the Sunsweet Cooperative to the present time. Walnuts are now sold to a local processor in Vina, Anderson Hulling.
Almost from the beginning of our transition into orchard crops the monastery has worked closely with the Agricultural School at the University of California, Davis. This school is noted for its innovation in agricultural technology, crop improvement, and addressing environmental issues such as pest control, chemical use, and the conservation of water. In the past 50 years the university has conducted numerous experiments using the monastery orchards as test plots for these experiments. The monks have been proud to participate in such experiments that have improved both the environment and crop quality. This is consonant with our Cistercian vocation, “to be concerned about conservation of the environment and to manage natural resources prudently”, Statute 27A of the Constitutions of the O.C.S.O.
The monks joined the Sunsweet Prune and Diamond Walnut Cooperatives in the early 1960’s and have continued to be members of the Sunsweet Cooperative to the present time. Walnuts are now sold to a local processor in Vina, Anderson Hulling.
Almost from the beginning of our transition into orchard crops the monastery has worked closely with the Agricultural School at the University of California, Davis. This school is noted for its innovation in agricultural technology, crop improvement, and addressing environmental issues such as pest control, chemical use, and the conservation of water. In the past 50 years the university has conducted numerous experiments using the monastery orchards as test plots for these experiments. The monks have been proud to participate in such experiments that have improved both the environment and crop quality. This is consonant with our Cistercian vocation, “to be concerned about conservation of the environment and to manage natural resources prudently”, Statute 27A of the Constitutions of the O.C.S.O.
