In the heat of mid-July, when we first walked the rows of Oak Valley Farm with Jessica Mihalenko, we were greeted by thriving melons, buzzing bees, and the surrounding orchards of Seely Orchard, where walnuts have been cultivated for generations. Nestled in Upper Lake, California, these two family-run operations trace their roots to Jessica’s great-grandparents, who purchased the land in the late 1950s. Over the decades, the farms have adapted to shifting crops, methods, and market demands. This summer and fall were no exception, with both challenges and triumphs defining the 2024 season.
Jessica credits much of the farms’ success to her family. “Jordon [her husband] is the reason the walnuts are successful,” she said. “He works countless hours to make sure everything that is in his power runs smoothly. From frost to irrigation to harvest, he is the man for the job.” Jessica’s mother, Colleen, also plays a pivotal role. “My mom has been farming my whole life, which is where I found my passion for it. I have learned a lot from her, and we continue to work together and learn from each other.” Jessica and Colleen manage the garden operations, but she is thankful to have her father, Norman, and Jordon to lean on if they need an extra hand.
The summer sun bore down as Jessica pointed out the historic walnut trees at Seely Orchard, some planted over half a century ago, standing alongside the newer Chandler varieties. Walnuts have long been a cornerstone of the family’s farming legacy, handled through Seely Orchard. Meanwhile, Oak Valley Farm focuses on diversified crops, including melons and squash. Both operations faced distinct obstacles this year, from pests and unpredictable weather to the complexities of fluctuating markets. A second conversation with Jessica at the close of the season in November revealed just how much the farm had overcome since those midsummer days.
Seely Orchard’s walnut orchards carry a legacy of resilience and transformation. While pears once dominated the landscape, the family transitioned much of the land to walnuts decades ago. Jessica recalls the pears being torn out in several stages between the ages of 10 and 15, before her immediate family took over the farm. A split of family properties eventually solidified Seely Orchard’s focus on walnuts, with the newer Chandler variety becoming a staple due to market demand. “We tore out 7 acres of heritage variety trees to diversify our operation to another crop; alfalfa.” Jessica explained. Still, commitment to the walnut crop endures, despite pest management challenges, shifting market demands, and changing climate conditions.
On the Oak Valley side, this year’s melon crop faced hurdles of its own. The fields, lush with pollinator activity from wild bees in midsummer, struggled with pests and inconsistent yields as the season wore on. Melons, planted in staggered phases to extend the harvest, faltered in the second planting, leaving the family with fewer fruits than anticipated. “We don’t know if it was timing or just one of those things,” Jessica reflected during our November follow-up. While some melons thrived at her parents’ property in Kelseyville, where raccoon predation is less severe, the second planting at Oak Valley struggled. “Raccoons can be incredibly destructive,” she said, noting the challenges of managing wildlife alongside farming. Still, she looks ahead with cautious optimism. “We’ve opened up more ground and hope to extend our season next year,” Jessica said, reflecting Oak Valley’s spirit of ambition tempered by experience.
Managing pests across both farms remains a constant test of ingenuity. Raccoons and gophers add layers of complexity at Oak Valley. “The gophers just go right under the plastic mulch, making it hard to deal with them,” Jessica said, highlighting how one solution for weeds and moisture retention inadvertently complicates pest control.
Sustainability is a daily challenge, particularly at Oak Valley, where plastic mulch has become a necessary but imperfect tool. The material minimizes weeds and conserves water, but its environmental toll and lack of reusability weigh heavily on Jessica. “I’d love to move away from plastic mulch,” she admitted. “Many years ago, when my mom was running things by herself, the plastic was a lot thicker. She could reuse it for multiple seasons,” Jessica explained, “Now, it’s so thin and cheap, it’s basically just trash by the time we’re done with it. There’s no way to reuse it.” Despite its drawbacks, the plastic mulch has undeniable benefits. It reduces labor needs by minimizing weeding and conserves water by retaining moisture under the surface, a crucial factor given the farm’s reliance on solar-timed irrigation. However, the thin material necessitates precise soil preparation with a rototiller to ensure effective use. While Jessica dreams of adopting a more sustainable solution, current realities like labor shortages and financial constraints make it a difficult shift. “Finding something that doesn’t produce so much waste and still works for us is a long-term goal,” she said, encapsulating the balancing act small farms like Oak Valley face between immediate efficiency and environmental responsibility.
The walnut harvest at Seely Orchard concluded successfully this year, though not without its challenges. “We wrapped up just last week,” Jessica said, visibly relieved. The harvest, beginning in late September, faced disruptions like a broken harvester belt that delayed the final days. Yet the farm persevered, delivering every walnut to the drying and processing stages. “We were fortunate with the weather—just enough rain to knock down dust,” Jessica said. Despite the market uncertainties lingering from pandemic-era disruptions, there is cautious optimism as the Walnut Board works to secure new trade opportunities.
With the walnuts off the trees and the garden beds prepared for cover crops, both Seely Orchard and Oak Valley are shifting to the quiet season—though “quiet” is always relative on a working farm. Winter squash sits ready in bins for sale, awaiting eager local buyers. Pruning and frost protection for the orchards loom on the horizon, tasks that require careful planning to ensure the trees emerge strong and healthy for the next growing season. “We give the walnuts a little time to rest before pruning,” Jessica explained, underscoring the importance of pacing in their year-round cycle. As winter sets in, family meetings become a central part of farm life, with decisions made now shaping everything from crop rotations to sustainability efforts in the coming year. “Every decision impacts not just the next year, but the next generation,” Jessica said, a reminder of the long-term stakes and deep roots driving their work.
As the farms wrap up another season, they remain, above all, a testament to resilience, dedication, and community spirit. From its roots in the 1950s as a small family operation to its evolution into thriving walnut and melon farms, Seely Orchard and Oak Valley have faced countless challenges, weathering each with grit and grace. Jessica and her family exemplify what it means to be stewards of the land—adapting, innovating, and nurturing not just crops but a legacy of farming deeply connected to the community. As they look to the future, one thing is clear: the farm’s strength lies not just in its soil or trees, but in the people who cultivate it with hope, determination, and a vision for what’s possible. Oak Valley’s journey continues, rooted in tradition and ever-reaching toward a more sustainable and abundant tomorrow.
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