tuolumne county agritourism
Rancho Torales is situated on the canyon of the Toulumne River out Wards Ferry Road in Sonora. The soil is perfectly suited to the growing of Tuscan olive trees and French lavender.
When Joy & Sandy Severin bought the land, it seemed to whisper to them "plant olive trees and lavender"....and so they did. With very little background in working the soil, they received help from a number of experts, and the results have been quite rewarding.
Without adding any additives or chemical sprays, the ranch now produces an award-winning extra virgin olive oil and a wonderful aroma therapy lavender oil, along with other lavender products. All the olives used in the pressing of Sonora Gold Olive Oil are estate grown, and are first cold press, extra virgin.
For the past three years Sonora Gold Olive Oil has taken two bronze medals, and this year our first silver medal, at the International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, held yearly in Los Angeles, California. This competition includes oils from 47 different countries. The medal-winning oils are judged in June and are on display at the Los Angeles County Fair from September 1 to October 1.
Rancho Torales/ Sonora Gold olive oil remains a popular product, which is featured at Nature's Whole Foods Depot, Twain Harte Market, SaveMart Grocery in Sonora and Angel's Camp, Towle & Leavitt in Columbia State Historic Park, The Alchemy Market in Murphy's. In addition, our olive oil is the house oil at Talulah's Restaurant on Washington Street in downtown Sonora.
The lavender oils and sprays are acclaimed for their relaxation and healing properties. They are available at Schnoog's Cafe in Timberhills Shopping Center (east of Sonora) and Mountain Laurel Florist in downtown Sonora, Nature's Whole Foods Depot in Standard and Towle & Leavitt in Columbia. The uses of therapeutic lavender oils are becoming widespread. We are discovering new uses with tips from our clients weekly. Did you know that lavender oil will heal blisters, burns, mosquito bites, and headaches? One of our clients says he cannot sleep without spraying his pillow at night with our lavender spray...
All in all, growing our lavender and olive trees has been an amazing experience, and we hope you will try our products.
Joy & Sandy Severin
Rancho Torales / Sonora Gold
Editor's Note: While Rancho Torales/Sonora Gold has not yet been one of our destinations for our annual agritourism Farm Tour, it has been featured on the Sonora's AAUW Home Tour. In addition, this lovely ranch has been featured on the Sonora Art Trails Open Studio because Joy Severin is an amazing artist. We are blessed to have the vast contributions that the Severins make to our community!