Napa Valley Lamb – Profile at Oliveto Community

Napa Valley Lamb – Profile

February 8th, 2009 by Bob Klein

Established 1987

Owner

Don Watson

Raising lamb, although a passion was not profitable on its own. In 2003 Don was suffering financially and realized he could make a profit marketing his sheep as brursh-clearers, which ultimately saved the business.

Principles

Don feels a connection to the land. He believes he is performing a valuable service in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

Practices

Don is assisted by Peruvian sheepherders. Sheep are moved from lowland pastures in the spring to mountain pastures in the summer. This allows the lambs to grow up on an open range at their mothers’ side. Lambs are raised solely on the natural forage of the open range and mothers’ milk.

Although there are many goat herders, Don thinks in certain environments, such as open grassland, sheep do a better job of clearing grass and brush than goats.

He also believes that sheep herds could greatly help mitigate the fire danger of the California summers.

Future plans

Continued expansion

Length of relationship with Oliveto

Early 1990s

Location

Approximately 3,000 sheep graze between 5,000 – 10,000 acres a year across Napa, Sonoma, Marin, and Solano counties.

Main products

Lambs for consumption, and clearing land for wine vineyards

Distribution

Bay Area and Los Angeles restaurants

Limited retail markets

Tags: don watson, lamb, movie, profile.

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- -From the Field
- -From the Kitchen
- -Movies
- -This Just In
- ▶Events
  - ▶Fisheries Forum 2009
    - Fisheries Forum Films
    - Fisheries Forum Links
  - New Year's Eve
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    - -Tomato Watch 2009
    - 2009 Tomato Dinners Menu
  - ▶Truffle Dinners
    - Bob's Dispatches from Italy 2009
    - Truffles in the News
  - Whole Hog Dinners
  - Wine
- ▶Farmers
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  - Spring 2010
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