Big River Nurseries is on the site of the Historic China Gardens that provided produce and fruit to early loggers.

The site, on the south side of Big River, across from Mendocino Village, was first settled by Nate Smith after he sold his "claim" to lumbermen to the north side of Big River- the area that became known as the Mendocino Headlands and the redwood forests to the east. After Nate moved-on to hunt and fish providing meat for the loggers who flooded into the area, intense farming began. Chinese laborers, who mostly lived in the Village, established individual plots to provide produce and fruit that helped feed the loggers. A prolific spring, not commonly found near the coast, provided much needed water. The Chinese farmed adjacent to an orchard of pears and apples and a few of these trees remain today.

We started Big River Nurseries in 1985 on the site of the China Gardens. Initially, we began wholesale and retail sales of Calfornia Certified Organic starts of lettuces, cabbages, fruits, and herbs. As we expanded our beds we sold mature produce, herbs and fruit to local restaurants and groceries and today almost 100% of our crops go to the Ravens' Restaurant at the Stanford Inn by the Sea, both of which are also on the site of the China Gardens.

Using French intensive, biointensive, and organic methods, we raise a wide variety of lettuces, cabbages, spinach, radishes and gourmet vegetables such as radicchio, mizuna, arugula, and tah tsai. Some beds are used to provide cut flowers and others are rose beds. We are also experimenting with a wide variety of fruit trees, learning which will flourish on the coast.

Big River Nurseries is led by Master Gardener Dana Ecelberger who leads our educational programs in everything from composting to propagating; sustainable farming techniques to accessing and reducing our carbon footprint.

Big River Nurseries is open every day. Class schedule can be found on our website. Garden tours are available by prior appointment, however, the public is welcome to view the gardens. Big River Nurseries also offers retail sales of produce starts.

We are excited by our gardens - particularly in that we can present this approach of gardening/farming to you. It is productive and beautiful while remaining in balance with nature.