Capay, California
Vitis & Ovis
A multi-generational Swiss-American-Ethiopian family farm in Capay, California — regenerative agriculture, a flock of ducks, and drought-resistant heritage fruit.
At a glance
- Where
- Capay, California
- How we farm
- Regenerative
- From our fields
- Duck eggs & heritage fruit
- In the pantry
- Small-batch preserves
From the journal
Latest news from the farm
Our weekly letter from the fields — what's growing, what's happening, and who's making it happen.
The journal is quiet right now
New posts from the farm will appear here as they're published.
Our story
The Vitis & Ovis story
At our farm, we cultivate sustainability and foster community, one harvest at a time.
Vitis & Ovis is a family farm in Capay, California, tended by a multi-generational Swiss-American-Ethiopian family. We practice regenerative agriculture — building swales to hold water and prevent erosion, and keeping our soil covered to build fertility over time.
A flock of ducks does much of the work: natural pest control and fertilization for the fields. And we grow drought-resistant, heritage fruit trees — elderberries, jujubes, pomegranates, mulberries, figs, and quince — that thrive in the Capay Valley climate and become our syrups, jams, and dried fruit.
We cultivate sustainability and foster community, one harvest at a time.
The family
The people behind the farm
Gisèle & Henok
Farmers
Both hold PhDs in nematology; Henok studied horticulture in Ethiopia, and Gisèle brings a background in sustainable agriculture to the fields.
Hans Herren
“Papa”
Trained in agriculture with a PhD in entomology from ETH Zurich, he led biological pest-control programs across Africa.
Barbara Gemmill-Herren
“Bibi”
An ecologist with a PhD from UC Davis, she coordinated United Nations pollination initiatives.
