When Nile Estep, owner of Hacienda Hay & Feed, set out to revitalize a recently acquired 3-acre plot of land, it quickly became apparent that encouraging biodiversity would be key. Together with Jon Wescott, Farm Manager, and Lainey Chatham of Rana Creek Nursery, they began incorporating habitat.  

Hacienda Hay & Feed is situated in the heart of the Carmel Valley in California, occupying land that was among California’s first certified organic properties stewarded by organic pioneer Russel Wolter from 1947-2000. Nile purchased the 3-acre plot of land two years ago and integrated it into his business under the name Rising Valley Farm to honor the historic importance of the land.   

Central to Rising Valley Farm’s mission is to serve as an educational farm for the community. The farm hosts events to teach other growers how to integrate regenerative farming techniques into their own operations. Nile, Jon and Lainey decided that installing hedgerows would enhance the operation’s natural enemy population to help with pest control and teach others about the important role native plants play on a farm.

Wild Farm Alliance provided support for the hedgerow at Rising Valley Farm by helping select and install plants that support natural enemies and pollinators that migrate through the region. For example, Deerweed (Acmispon glaber) supports a large variety of migrating butterflies, including the Acmon Blue Butterfly. Plants such as Coyote Brush and Coffeeberry were planted to provide habitat for parasitoid wasps and other natural enemies like lacewings.  

Creating an operation that benefits wildlife and provides natural enemy habitat will help serve their experiential mission and further expand their regenerative practices.

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Hedgerow Information

Funding from Endangered Species Coalition's Pollinator Protectors Program helped to support this conservation planting.