Flying Disc Ranch

People

Robert Lower, Pedro and Carolina Medina, Eric and Ian Lower, Adolfo Ramirez, and Christina Kelso

Farmland

11 acres in Thermal, about 525 miles to San Francisco

About

Robert bought his property in 1979 from Ben and Patricia Laflin, of Laflin Date Gardens, one of the original date producers in California. Robert cleared the land, installed irrigation, and planted over 500 palms. The ranch has become a tropical fruit forest interplanted with citrus, aloe vera, figs, guava, and mango. Robert farms using “observation, adaptation, and accident.” He and Christina earned their Certified Permaculture Design certificates in 2010. People who visit Flying Disc Ranch appreciate Ben Laflin, Jr.’s quote: “A well-kept date garden is a majestic sight.”