About Us
The Ranch
River Junction Ranch sits at an elevation of 5600 feet (1700 meters) in eastern Idaho just 10miles west of the Yellowstone National Park border.The property borders the Warm River to the south and east, the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River to the west and the Targhee National Forest to the north. The site is part of an ancient volcano called the Huckleberry Ridge Caldera, which was the first of three volcanic cycles that formed the area now known as Yellowstone Park.
The ranch is located in the city of Warm River, Idaho, which has the distinction of being the smallest city in Idaho. However, it wasn’t always that way!In 1907theOregon short line railroad went right through Warm River and brought life to the area along the river. It was not long until canyon was home to a motel, a restaurant, a school, a post office and even a dance hall! The old railway bed is now a wonderful trail for hiking and biking in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter
Our Planting
-
Organic
At River Junction Ranch we are committed to being good custodians of our environment.That includes our approach to growing our crops, which is 100% natural. Our garlic, which has been propagated over many years, came originally from certified organic bulbs of four varieties. Every year they are planted by hand, fertilized with organic fertilizer, and harvested by hand. No pesticides or weedkillers of any sort are used on the ranch.
-
Process
The planting process begins with drying the bulbs and selecting the largest cloves for planting. Our raised beds–which provide the correct drainage for the garlic–are tilled, fertilized and loosened in preparation for planting. The cloves are then hand-planted, usually in mid-October, just prior to the first snow, and covered with a light mulch. Nothing further is done until after the Spring melt, when the first shoots appear. Organic fertilizer and hand-weeding is done every two-three weeks during this period to maximize plant health and bulb growth. In June, the scapes appear and are harvested once they begin to curl but while they are still soft. The scapes have an extremely short shelf life (a week or two at the most) but are a real delicacy so sign up for the 2025 crop in advance! It is a once-only per year culinary experience. (We also grind the scapes into a scape-olive oil mixture and a scape pesto that you can find on our website). In addition to being delicious, cutting the scapes ensures the energy of the plant continues to go into bulb growth.When the bulbs are ready for harvest, which for us is usually early or mid August, they are pulled by hand, tied in bunches, and hung in our drying shed for 2-3 weeks until they are completely dry. They are then cleaned and trimmed by hand–and are ready to ship to you!
-
Order in Advance
Due to our manual processes, our volumes are small and items sell out quickly. Please feel free to contact us in advance to reserve a quantity you would like to have once they are available to ship!
