Sweetly Blooming
Mary Gonzalez of Sweet Mountaintop Farm sources flowers from her approximately two-acre plot atop Rincon Mountain.
Go grow it on the mountain
Written by Joan Tapper | Photography by Sara Prince
The top of Rincon Mountain between Carpinteria and Ojai has its own microclimate, explains Mary Gonzalez, who runs SWEET MOUNTAINTOP FARM with her partner, Rob Peed. Their roughly two-acre plot has ocean breezes, hot summer sun, chilly winters, and rocky clay soil, and it’s perfect for growing flowers and herbs, from which they create teas and tinctures, an herbal skin-care line, decorative garlic braids, mixed bouquets, and colorful wreaths.
Gonzalez, a Carpinteria native, started farming vegetables and melons in 2017 on her father’s avocado ranch, but after the Thomas Fire she became interested in herbal medicine and shifted her crops. Peed, who’s from Orange County, had been producing mead and cider for another Santa Barbara company. He joined Gonzalez in 2019, bringing new products into the business, and now distills their plants for hydrosols and essential oils. The couple sell their wares at farmers’ markets and have a robust online presence. “I like that we have multiple uses for the flowers,” says Gonzalez, who hosts workshops throughout the year next to their flower field. Spring planting begins soon, and their one-year-old son helps keep things lively. “We live where we work. That’s a blessing and a curse,” says Gonzalez, laughing. sweetmountaintop.com
