LMR Rutherford Gardens

A visitor to the Napa Valley will not want to miss the opportunity to enjoy the produce from LMR Rutherford Gardens.

On Friday's from 7:30 AM to Noon in season (beginning May 4, 2012) visit us at the St. Helena Farmers' Market at Crane Park in St. Helena.  Here you can purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, grass-fed beef, and flowers, as well as our wines, olive oils, vinegar, and honey.

We have just completed our 20th season at the St. Helena Farmers Market!

On Friday's from 9 AM to 1 PM in the off-season (through April 27, 2012) visit us at Long Meadow Ranch Winery & Farmstead at 738 Main Street in St. Helena.  In addition to fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, grass-fed beef, and flowers, as well as our wines, olive oils, vinegar, and honey, you can sample our wines and olive oil in the tasting room, enjoy a walk through our beautiful demonstration gardens, and visit Farmstead restaurant.

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Located in the heart of the world-famous Rutherford grape appellation, LMR Rutherford Gardens features a rich collection of vegetables - in addition to its focus on heirloom tomatoes. Developed by Chris Hall and now expertly managed by Courtney Delello, the gardens have been planted to provide a full array of fresh produce over the course of the growing season , including (among others) basil, beets, beans, chard, cucumber, eggplant, melons, strawberries, and potatoes. 

The historic 5.8-acre property, acquired in 2002, is renowned among Napa Valley old timers for the nearly one-hundred year-old black mission fig trees that produce luscious black fruit. - and especially for its melons. The property has been in vegetable production since at least the 1930s and has never been planted in wine grapes. Not surprisingly, the gardens provide produce to many of the Napa Valley's finest restaurants, including our own Farmstead restaurant, La Toque, Auberge du Soleil, Martini House, Terra, Cindy's Backstreet Cafe, and even Taylor's Refresher. In 2004, our farming activities were certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers.

An open air pavilion allows for lectures and other special events where we help visitors learn how quality food is grown.  Part-time help is provided by students from the St. Helena FFA program. Looking to the future, educational programs for school age children are planned. Our team of Haflinger draft horses graze on the pasture at the back of the LMR Rutherford Gardens property during the late spring and summer.  We are now farming our gardens with our team, Bill and Bob.  Watch for special demonstration events.
		LMR Rutherford Gardens Pavilion

 A flock of egg-laying poultry - featuring the beautiful Australorp breed - can be seen enjoying a diet of leftover organic fruits and vegetables. A picnic table is hidden in the sprawling historic black mission fig tree where a visitor can get out of the sun and sample the bounty from the gardens.

In addition to offering occasional tours of the demonstration gardens and visits to the chickens and draft horses, LMR Rutherford Gardens serves as the main starting point for farm adventures to Long Meadow Ranch. The private excursions (by appointment) feature a ride in our own Swiss Army transport vehicle, called a "Pinzgauer", which enables visitors to enjoy the ranch in a unique way - without creating car traffic.