OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Back to Their Roots
Amador County ’ s Upcountry Farms finds success through trial and error
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Steve Martarano
Tori and Dan Crawford of Amador County ’ s Upcountry Farms inspect organically grown kale from their latest crop . The couple started the venture in 2017 , the year they were married .
A mador County ’ s Dan and Tori Crawford may have felt they were in over their heads when they started their Jackson Valley organic vegetable farm . The young couple , who had little farming experience , planted their first crops in 2017 , the same year they were married .
Despite early setbacks — they initially avoided pesticides and were being overrun by insects — Upcountry Farms has persevered , becoming one of the Amador region ’ s most popular small farms . Their crops include 40 seasonal vegetables grown on just under two acres off Buena Vista Road in Ione . They serve a loyal local fan base and have become a familiar fixture at the Amador Farmers Market .
“ That first year , we were very naive ,” Tori Crawford , who grew up in Pioneer , says during a warm October afternoon while Dan works nearby finishing the fall harvest . “ We Googled , read books and
24 comstocksmag . com | December 2021