Rancho Grande

08/18/2026

We have a beautiful redwood stump that we made into a table, and over time it has developed some cracks. We’ve been filling them with epoxy, which has worked very well, but the person who was helping us is no longer available.

We’re looking for someone experienced with epoxy and wood restoration who knows how to properly fill and finish cracks in a large redwood table. If you know someone, or if this is something you do, please let me know. We’d love to keep this beautiful piece in great shape.

08/18/2026

Our bear hasn’t left the area because we still have evidence of him and he’s still breaking into garbage cans, but there’s nothing in there that could possibly appeal to him. If this is any indication of what he’s eating, he’s not getting much of anything and he must be hungry or maybe these berries are nutritious. They’re abundant around our ponds. Maybe that’s what’s keeping him here.

08/17/2026

One of the things we’re especially proud of at Rancho Grande is trying to use every bit of fiber our animals give us. These beautiful, thick 2’ x 3’ rugs were made from the secondary alpaca and Babydoll sheep fiber that isn’t suitable for our finer products. Instead of letting it go to waste, we send it to a specialty mill where it is turned into these wonderfully textured, colorful rugs. The best part is knowing that every strand came from animals right here on our ranch in Ojai. From our animals, to the mill, and back home again. We just got these back and had to show them off.

08/17/2026

It’s true that this audio was originally made by a goat.

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

Animal smiles are the best. Albert loves meeting people at the ranch. He also knows special people when he sees them and gives them an extra smile telling them that he’s having a good time and he’s happy.

08/11/2026

Rancho Grande’s El Segundo baseball team (Beach City Baseball Academy) won the Cooperstown tournament tonight. Winning a 104 team competition isn’t easy but they did it again. Of course we had hoped to bring these teams up to Ojai to play but we never were able to get the coordination we needed with the authorities to get it done. But it all works out for the best and we’re very proud.