Our kittles are sweet but also are indispensable as a skilled mouse and gopher eradication team. It sounds cruel—but our cats must be ranch smart enough to be able to avoid the bob-cats and coyotes that roam the area. Violet is aloof and proud but comes round for food and the occasional nap with ...

The guinea hens announce the start of each day with the early morning cacophony of their calls, and spend the rest of their hours patrolling the property like a small army. There’s nary a snail in the garden, a tick on a sheep, or a fly in the corral, thanks to their intrepid ‘search out and eat’ demeanor. We’ve also been told that ...