The Farm Beat: Farming Uphill

I got my start as an ag reporter at the Sonora paper in the mid-80's. That meant writing about cattle ranching and logging, with an occasional story about the few turkey and apple producers. Tuolumne County has nowhere near the diversity of crops as the San Joaquin Valley. Part of it is the soil and slopes. Part of it is that, although vast amounts of water originate in the mountain snowpack, most of it is claimed by valley and Bay Area users.

So I was delighted to hear about what's happening Aug. 1. That's the date of the second annual Tuolumne County Farm and Ranch Tour. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., participants can drive to a winery, a llama ranch, an apple farm, a Christmas tree farm and a place that grows produce and eggs. It's still small-scale, but it does show that the county can have at least some diversity.

These are dedicated farmers who are putting in a lot of work - and they get to do it amid the beautiful grasslands and forests that produce the traditional cattle and timber.

The tour is $10 for adults, free for children and teens. More information is at 533-5695 or www.farmsoftuolumnecounty.org