Hartman previously (legally) grew cannabis on the ranch. However, when the market became oversaturated, it was no longer profitable to be a small cannabis producer in the Santa Ynez Valley, he said.
Hartman loves crops and her mother mentioned protea, an ancient type of flowering plant found in South Africa and Australia. Proteas are drought tolerant and adapt well to California's Mediterranean climate, he said. In summer, the staff only has to provide a gallon of water to the plants.
Hartman said his family took a “big gamble” and selected 16 of the best cultivars that they thought would grow well, planting them in 2020. They found that South African varieties, such as Safari Sunset and Goldstrike, perform best.
“These protein plants date back to the fossil record about 300 million years ago,” Hartman said. “They are some of the oldest flowers on the planet.”
Hartman said he plans to open a nursery, hopefully later this year, so people can buy potted proteas and plant them around their homes, given how drought-tolerant they are.
The tour of the ranch's 8 acres of proteas includes a U-pick option where guests can take cut flowers home.
