CVG COLLECTIVE MEMBER PROFILE

Vitis & Otis

Cultivating sustainability and fostering community, one harvest at a time.

Multiple wooden boxes filled with red roselle hibiscus flowers, commonly used for making teas and other beverages.

SEE WHAT MAKES VITIS & OVIS SO SPECIAL

A place where curiosity, care, and a little bit of magic meet. This small, multi-generational family farm does things differently. Favoring winding swales over straight rows, diversity over monoculture, and deep connection over scale.

Hands holding several white eggs in a barn or farm setting.
Farm stand with a variety of fresh produce including duck eggs, strawberries, and pears, under a sign for Vitis & Ovis farm, with a dog lying on the gravel in front of the stand.

Here, fruit trees like pomegranates, persimmons, figs, olives, and stone fruits grow along water-harvesting swales that nourish the soil and build long-term resilience. A lively flock of 200 ducks waddles through the orchards, playing a vital role in pest control and soil health—and delighting visitors along the way (especially when cucumbers or watermelon are involved).

An adorable on-farm stand offers hard-to-find produce and thoughtfully crafted preserves, hot sauces, olive oil, and baked goods made with farm-grown fruit and duck eggs. On open farm days, treats like their duck egg brownies have earned near-legendary status. With a mud kitchen, sand pile, and plenty of space to explore, Vitis & Otis is as welcoming to children as it is inspiring to seasoned farmers and curious eaters.

Group of ducklings and a baby duck in a wire cage

Discover Vitis & Ovis

From the Farm

  • Duck eggs (available year-round)

  • Fresh Fruit (pomegranates, persimmons, figs, quince, stone fruits, citrus – seasonal)

  • Fresh Vegetables (specialty peppers, winter squash, cucumbers – seasonal)

  • Preserves & Jams

  • Hot Sauces (Aleppo & Berbere styles)

  • Elderberry Syrup

  • Dried Chili Powder

  • Estate-grown olive oil

  • Baked Goods (on farm open days)

Methods & Practices

  • Certified Organic

  • Real Organic Project Certified

  • Regenerative agriculture

  • Water-harvesting swales

  • Diverse polyculture plantings

  • Habitat support for beneficial wildlife (owl, bluebird, and native bee nesting boxes)

Experiences

Available during select events

  • Educational farm tours

  • Orchard walks and regenerative farming demonstrations

  • Meet-the-ducks experiences for visitors of all ages

Shop our Products

  • Farmers Market: Sundays in Sacramento (Broadway & X Street, 8am–12pm)

  • CSA: Duck egg subscriptions available online

  • Online Ordering: Pre-orders for farm or Davis pickup

  • Local Delivery: Available

PLAN YOUR VISIT TO CAPAY VALLEY

MORE ABOUT VITIS & OVIS

Located on a hillside just past the town of Capay.

Aerial view of a rural landscape with farmland, a winding road, and rolling hills with scattered trees.

Vitis & Otis Farm is an 11-acre certified organic, regenerative family farm run by Hans and Barbara Herren, their daughter Gisèle Herren, and her husband Henok Yimer.

The farm is intentionally designed to work with nature—using water-harvesting swales, diverse polyculture plantings, and a robust duck flock to support ecological balance. Their regenerative practices promote beneficial insects, healthy soils, and long-term productivity while producing exceptional fruit, vegetables, and eggs.

Beyond fresh harvests, the family transforms their crops into value-added goods like preserves, hot sauces, elderberry syrup, chili powders, and estate-grown olive oil—bringing unique flavors of the Capay Valley directly to their community.

VISIT THE VITIS & OVIS WEBSITE

More to Explore

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