share our vision of stewardship
Our family became the stewards of "our corner" of Washoe Valley, Nevada starting in 2000. Our vision is one of a diversified farm and ranch operation that is sustainable environmentally and financially, where many types of people teach each other whatever should be taught or learned to help small farms thrive again in this country. Our hope is that your experience of our farm and ranch through what we can grow for you, do for you, or teach you will feed your body well, and feed your soul also.
The McCleary Ranch grows premium grass hay; produces vegetables, fruits and berries for our CSA programs; offers pasture leases and stall boarding to livestock and horses; and hosts small groups of guests in the lovely historic Wellesley House, which was built in 1935.
In keeping with our Quaker history as a family, we operate our small farm according to Quaker principles. These include the following:
- Personal and financial integrity
- Sustainability in an environmental sense as well as a broad definition of responsibility
- Nonviolence and peace
- Community
- Simplicity
To us, our work is a daily and longterm contribution to what Gandhi referred to as "the constructive program." This means building personal, economic and societal structures that are in full alignment with our most deeply held values.
Our farm and ranch endeavors are in symbiotic relationship to each other and to the land that hosts us. We have been deeply inspired by other farmers with similar goals of improving the land rather than depleting it. We strive to cohabit the eastern Sierra Nevada in ways which strengthen and stabilize the wild residents' habitat, rather than contribute to its destruction. We installed several solar arrays to provide almost all the electricity we use. Over time, we are using permaculture methods to make maximum use of the limited water resources of our alpine desert climate.
We invite you to come and share our vision:
- Intern here as resident or commuter.
- Join our CSA programs.
- Reside in one of our cottages.
- Board your horses or other animals here.
- Buy our grass hay, organically-grown produce, firewood or wood chips.
- Bring your group to work or play in our beautiful, historic Wellesley House.