A Tale of Two Farms
Nye Ranch and Burns Blossom Farm
by Holly Madrigal
The misty image of a luscious dahlia in bloom within a stone’s throw of the sea, or weathered tattooed hands grasping a deep purple cabbage above rich dark soil—these photos became the hallmark of Nye Ranch when they first began operation in 2015. Those who use Instagram in the local food space of Mendocino County could swoon over these images and then taste the real thing after picking up produce at the farm stand on Highway 1 or in person at the Fort Bragg Farmers Market.
Kyle and Mel Burns stewarded this former horse ranch toward its current farming bounty, enduring challenges that come from being so close to the great Pacific Ocean. The wind and rain that first winter drenched the crops until they built the greenhouse. Being exposed to the elements was tough, but the young couple was dedicated.
Mel and Kyle are both gifted visual artists as well, and would stroll through the farm first thing in the morning taking photos of whatever caught their fancy. Sharing these images helped grow their customer base in Fort Bragg and beyond. Mel’s artistic eye helped her select the most striking flowers and plants for arrangements, and her creations were coveted at the market. Kyle took on the produce production, coaxing the best, most flavorful, and unique varieties of tomatoes, garlic, broccoli, and more from their coastal plot. The couple lived in the historic barn on site and became deeply woven into the farming community on the coast. They welcomed their daughter, Rosemary, to the family in June of 2020.
It was the height of the pandemic, an isolating time, when the couple received an offer that they could not refuse—the opportunity to move to the Chico area and start a new farm near Mel and Kyle’s families. As anyone with children knows, family connections can be such a gift, especially when babies are small. The couple made the hard decision to relocate, but they did not want to let go of the investment in both soil and community that they had built. The Nye Ranch property has been a family holding from the beginning, with a small cottage providing a retreat from the hot inland home of Kyle’s parents and serving as an occasional vacation rental when they are not there. It speaks to the strength of their family ties that Kyle’s brother, Shea, stepped up to take on management of the farm.
Shea Burns has a twinkle in his eye and a shy grin. This is his third growing season at Nye Ranch. He tends the 3/4 acre farm for the market and for the farmstand. He jokes that, even all these years later, many people stop by the market table to ask how Kyle and Mel are doing. With the assistance of his girlfriend Blair and new recruit Veronica, they plant, weed, water, harvest, and then do it all again. This past winter was brutal—planting was delayed due to saturated soil caused by the six atmospheric rivers in as many weeks—but they keep rolling with the punches.
Summer beckons with a promise of more sun. “I’m personally looking forward to trying out some new crops and diversifying a bit. I’m going to try growing some hot peppers in the experimental tunnel this season,” Shea shares. “We might try some potatoes and perhaps some more melons. Can’t wait to see what we can get away with.” Nye Ranch is within view of the sea, so the fact that they are regularly some of the first to market with ripe tomatoes is a type of miracle. (I’m pretty sure it involved a magic greenhouse.) Their vegetables are sought after for the menus of local restaurants as far away as Izakaya Gama in Point Arena.
As for Kyle and Mel, they are now in their second season inland. Burns Blossom Farm is located in Chico, where they grow many of the gorgeous crops that they honed here on the coast—but without the 70 mile per hour salty winds off the ocean. Instead they have other obstacles like oppressive heat. This year, the Chico area received almost double their usual rainfall, leaving the fields flooded and unable to take starts as early as they planned.
The family remains creative and hosted their first plant sale at the farm in the spring, offering delicious tomato, vegetable, flower, herb, and strawberry starts in order to get through the weather-related lean times. Kyle invested in a small citrus orchard which, once mature, will provide both seasonal diversity and scrumptious orange fruit. They just began construction of a new steel barn on their farm, and Rosemary celebrates her third birthday in June.
Families like the Burns have been such a gift to the Mendocino coast, applying their passion for tending the soil and contributing to our local food system. Now they oversee two thriving farms, feeding our bodies and souls through inspired photography and nourishing fresh food.
Nye Ranch Farm Stand
23300 N Hwy 1, Fort Bragg | NyeRanch.com | IG: @BurnsBlossomFarm
Fort Bragg Farmers Market, Wednesdays 3:00-5:00pm
Burns Blossom Farm
435 W. 16th Street, Chico | BurnsBlossomFarm.com
Chico Farmers Market
Holly Madrigal is a Mendocino County maven who loves to share the delights of our region. She’s fortunate to enjoy her meaningful work as the director of the Leadership Mendocino program and takes great joy in publishing this magazine.