The results are impressive. As you wander the 10-acre property, the diversity is evident. “We have over 100 different varieties of fruits, nuts, and berries — 950 [trees] in total,” Jahangard says. “We have a small livestock operation. We have vegetables. We’re letting the cover crops and weeds grow and then inviting the sheep to graze on it,” he adds, noting that focusing on boosting soil health is an important part of his role on the farm. The second person Augunas called was Neil Harrison. Another creative with an interest in agriculture who is now a partner at Zuma Canyon Orchids, Harrison has a decades-long career in apparel design ranging from his start at Quiksilver to the first 15 years of Volcom, and once owned an avocado farm when he became disenchanted by the clothing industry. During my visit to Zuma Canyon Orchids, Harrison turns down the frenetic Charles Mingus jazz riffs emanating from the stereo to share stories of how he and Augunas became fast friends. After Harrison created the logo for Fairfax Recordings, the two bonded
on surf trips to Costa Rica, and stayed in touch, waiting for the right opportunity to work together again. Years later, that opportunity turned out to be Zuma Canyon Orchids. For now, as the regenerative compound continues to evolve, it operates under the auspices of a sharing community. Both Jahangard and Augunas are eager to point out the long list of their friends who have visited the farm to contribute their knowledge as the team continues to build Zuma’s legacy at their own pace. Their
collective connections have opened the doors for various artists to contribute to the surroundings in a natural way that seamlessly integrates with the environment. For example, famed sculptor Stan Bitters made inviting bulbous ceramic birdhouses that are placed around the property. Artist Ido Yoshimoto, who trained
Clockwise from top left: A granite orchard table sits among the avocado groves. Gina bundles freshly foraged herbs and flowers in the apothecary
for the “Things for Burning” collection. Soaps made by Hutchinson in the apothecary.
manager at Zuma Canyon Orchids — got into farming after a life-altering experience when he was bitten by a kinkajou while working as an animal trainer in his early 20s. A lifetime of consuming inflammation- inducing high-carbohydrate and sugary foods didn’t mix well with
of dedicating one’s life to all the nuances of regenerative farming, fueled by a personal passion for the canon of experts in the field. “I was going home and watching YouTube learning from Joel Salatin and Gabe Brown in that world, and Christine Jones and Nicole Masters and John Kempf. The list goes on and builds off of [William] Albrecht and all these older names,” Jahangard says. After working at Apricot Lane Farms for seven-and-a-half years, he left to start his own consulting business focused on regenerative agriculture. That switch in 2021 led Jahangard to meet Augunas, who needed boots on the ground to reimagine the avocado orchards next to the famed greenhouses on the land. “I helped plant the plants and made sure the livestock were run correctly and holistically managed,” Jahangard explains. Now, he adds, “I’m looking at the ecosystem restoration and planting companion plants to make sure we have diversity and soil health.”
Clockwise from left: Augunas harvests one of the more than 100 varieties of fruit and nuts. Jahangard appreciates the spring bounty. The property’s original 1963 post-and-beam guest house.
the medications he was taking to heal the wounds on his hands and fingers, and it wasn’t until he saw an Eastern medicine doctor that he ditched carbs from his diet and started feeling better. “It opened my mind to what healthy food actually is. I was always into animals and sustainable environmental practices, so that experience is what led me on the path to farming,” he tells me, speaking about how he learned to use food as medicine. Jahangard’s time at Apricot Lane Farms was a master class in understanding the potential
42
43
ISSUE 01
THE GREEN ALBUM
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online