Mesa Farms is private property owned and managed by North Park Properties LLC, with rental housing, organic farming areas and a fruit tree orchard now in development, miles of trails, and 100's of acres of adjacent open space. Our land comprises over 40 acres, the majority of which is San Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub protected open space habitat, and borders San Diego's beautiful Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP). We are located in the Southwest corner of Santee on Mesa Road. One block to the South is the Mesa Trailhead, with a waterfall and entrance to Mesa Trail, leading to the top of Cowles Mountain (MTRP Trails & Terrain Map). Mesa Road has been in use since the mid-1800's.
Our land consists of a relatively flat 5-acre area fronting Mesa Road and 35 acres of open space to the East consisting of a valley and two mountain ridges, rising from 420 feet elevation to over 760 feet at the mesa top in the Southeast corner of the property. The Eastern 35 acres are within a Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) habitat preservation area. A seasonal stream runs through the valley in Winter months, making its way under Mesa Road, down through Big Rock park and to the San Diego River less than a mile away to the North.
About / Contact Mesa Farms Site Map Pictures Mesa Farms on Facebook
Overview Map
Click to view in google maps
Miles of hiking trails through the property and adjoining open space offer beautiful unobstructed views for 25+ miles and a wide range of trees, shrubs, vegetation and wildlife (aerial view from the Southwest). Two blocks to the North is Big Rock Park, a 5-acre public park with tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, picnic tables, BBQs & more. Half a mile to the South is the Grossmont Community College 135-acre campus.
One of the most beautiful landscapes within a major US city, Mission Trails Regional Park is the only mountainous park within central San Diego. Five mountain peaks rise up to 1592 feet with Mission Gorge and the San Diego River below at 200 feet elevation.
About Us
Our goals are to set up sustainable organic permaculture farming and agriculture, while also preserving and restoring native habitat. In 2019 we set up a 20,000 square foot (~¼-acre) planting area, enclosed by an 8' tall 200' × 100' fence, with irrigation, fruit trees, grape vines, shade trees, and a chicken coop. Options are available for local community members to set up organic gardening plots from 200 – 2,000+ square feet including shared use of the planting area.
Fruit Tree Orchard & Grape Vineyard
In 2020-21 we planted fruit trees including Mulberry, Pear, Persimmon, Loquat, Pomelo, Oro Blanco Grapefruit, Asian Pear, and Fuji Apple. In 2021 local horticulturalist Scott Jones (Plants Comprehensive) set up a grape vineyard with a pergola structure, drip irrigation and over 20 varieties of rare / heirloom / California-native grape vines including: Aleatico 1, Alicante Bouschet 4, Bo-Kay 2, Cabernet Sauvignon 1, Calmeria 2, Cardinal 4, Concord 1, Dabouki 4, Dattier St. Vallier 2, Emperor 4, Ferdinand de Lesseps 1, Goethe 1, Isabella 4, Marechal Foch 1, Moschofilero 1, Muscat Hamburg 2, Muscat Ottonel 1, Muscat st. Vallier 2, Niagara 1, NY Muscat 2, Ontario 1, Orange Muscat 2, Pierce's Isabella 4, St. Croix 1, Steuben 1, Traminette 2, Verdelet 1. Scott will also be adding aromatic groundcovers and using permaculture concepts to enhance soil quality and water efficiency.
Native Habitat Preservation & Restoration
In addition to 35-acres of undisturbed native habitat on the property, we maintain a habitat restoration area along the road frontage of Mesa Road and Ramhaven Lane approximately 700' × 25' in size, where since 2016 we've planted over 100 native trees and shrubs including Coast Live Oak, Manzanita, Toyon, Laurel Sumac, Lemonade Berry, Catalina Cherry, Comarostaphylis, Arbutus Marina, Cuyamaca Cypress, Tecate Cypress, Foothill Pine, Catalina Ironwood, Valley Oak, Scrub Oak, various sage and other natives as well as a smaller number of non-native shade trees including California Pepper, Evergreen Elm, Brisbane Box, Golden Wattle, Silver Dollar Gum, Eldarica Pine, Canary Island Pine, and Aleppo Pine. We provide minimal irrigation in this area which has resulted in the more common natives filling in very well including Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Brush), Eriogonum fasciculatum (California Buckwheat) and Artemisia californica (California Sagebrush).
Contact
For more information please email david(at)northpark.us.
View from the North showing from right to left, Mission Trails Regional Park, our ¼-acre Planting Area,
the 2 houses on the property, the South Ridge, and the East Mesa (Aug. 2019)
Mesa Farms Site Map
Overview Map. Click for higher resolution (43MP)
Map of the front ~6 acres of the property
Topographic Map with 10' elevation contours and hill slope shading. Click for higher resolution (5MP)
Pictures
Northwest corner of the property, at the intersection of Mesa Road and Ramhaven Lane
View from the Northwest of the Community Organic Garden & Planting Area (Aug. 2019)
The seasonal stream flows in winter months in years with significant rainfall, originating in the valleys
to the East, flowing 40' North of the houses and winding through the 200' length of the Planting Area
The seasonal stream flowing under the bridge in the Planting Area
View from the Northeast of the Community Organic Garden & Planting Area (Aug. 2019)
Main Entrance. At right the South Ridge rises from 420 feet to 760 feet elevation
South Field and view of Cowles Mountain in the distance (Aug. 2019)
Plants & Trees along the West Fence (Oct. 2017)
North Ridge and Central Valley (March 2016)
View of Cowles Mountain from behind the South Ridge. Click for higher resolution
Streambed and clearing in the valley center. North Ridge in background
View in late Winter from the South Ridge looking towards the North Valley.
El Cajon Mountain is visible at top middle (13 miles away, 3,675 ft elevation)
View in early Fall from the South Ridge looking towards the North Ridge, North Trail and Valley Trail.
Note seasonal change in vegetation as compared to previous picture.
View from the driveway of the two rental houses on the property
Historic 1940's Front House (Rooftop Deck added in 2016)
Back House
Back House viewed from the East
Chicken Coop
View of the houses from Mesa Road
Front House and on left detached Workshop/Office and Patio
Storage Shed
Pergola
RV Office
Southwest corner of the property
South Trail
Early evening shade from the South Ridge over the South Trail and Valley
View of the North Ridge from the South Valley
View from the West. Mesa Road at front, Ramhaven Lane at left (May 2017)
East Mesa at Southeast corner of the property. A habitat conservation area borders to the East.
Mount Woodson (13 miles away, 2,894 ft elevation) and Iron Mountain (10 miles away, 2,696 ft elevation) visible at top right
Short audio clip of the sounds of the birds and wildlife on a Spring morning
Short audio clip of the sounds of the wildlife on a Summer night
Short video from the North Trail. First audio clip above is from this video. Turn up your audio volume
to experience the sounds and magnificent beauty of the birds, wildlife and nature. South Valley at left
North Trail on a Summer Morning
View from the North Trail near the top of the North Ridge looking Southwest
View from the North Trail of Rain Clouds moving in over Mission Trails
The South Ridge towers 300 feet above a clearing at the bottom of the valley
Coast Live Oak Trees in the South Valley. Underbrush cleared by Tree Culture San Diego,
enhancing shady areas under the trees while reducing fire fuel in key areas
South Valley viewed from the East Mesa
Back House, Valley and trails viewed from the East Mesa. North Trail meets The Valley Trail at right.
Distance from the back house to the Valley Trail is ¼ mile with a 120 foot elevation gain.
View in google maps
View from the East Mesa looking Northeast
View to the East of El Cajon Mountain, Cuyamaca Peak, Viejas Mountain and at lower right Rattlesnake Peak.
Fence running horizontally at middle is the East property line, bordering a habitat conservation area
Cowles Mountain in the distance from the East Mesa
Mesa Farms' 4x4 on the East Mesa
Santee Lakes viewed from the East Mesa
San Carlos viewed from the East Mesa
One of our volunteer Organic Farming Consultants
One of our numerous friends who hang out on the property munching on various plants
We have seen rattlesnakes on the property. Caution is advised. Do not put your feet or
hands anywhere you cannot see them. Pets and children should be carefully supervised.
Lush Springtime vegetation along the South Trail
A brilliant sky over San Diego viewed from the East Mesa
Looking Northeast from the East Mesa at dusk. Mount Woodson and Iron Mountain visible at left top, El Cajon Mountain
at right, and at far right the region's highest peak Cuyamaca Peak (25 miles away, 6,512 ft elevation)