Since time immemorial, the Kumeyaay thrived in the San Diego region relying largely on hunting, fishing, gathering and cultivating important plants such as mesquite, elderberry and other medicinal plants close to their villages. The Kumeyaay have a deep connection and relationship with their environment and move with the seasons to areas where there are ripe and abundant plants or animals to harvest and hunt. For example, in the fall they move to higher elevations where they harvest pine nuts, acorns and other seeds. These seasonal harvesting patterns allow the Kumeyaay to secure a supply of food throughout the year.
The Kumeyaay have extensive plant knowledge which allows them to identify plants for medicinal needs, tools, construction materials and a healthy diet
The Kumeyaay sustainably manage their lands through water management and cultural (controlled) burning, which has many benefits:Preventing future uncontrolled wildfires.
Protecting important plants (such as coast live oak trees) by eliminating parasites.
Clearing chaparral, allowing the Kumeyaay to hunt rabbits and other animals more easily.
Ash from the burning purifies and removes toxins from the soil allowing for new growth.
TRADITIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
A traditional Kumeyaay method of water management is to create rock drops in intermittent creek and stream beds. These small structures slow the water flow down and allow for more soil percolation and absorption after rain events. This practice can elevate the water table which creates greater moisture for plant growth and habitat. Traditional rock drops can establish multiple benefits in enhancing localized ecosystems and opportunities for hunting and gathering.
Post contact, significant land areas were adversely affected by cattle grazing. Through these traditional water management practices, the Kumeyaay were able to restore many natural landscapes and encourage the replenishment of water tables.
On the left, a depiction of Kumeyaay engaging in a controlled burn. On the right, historic (early 1900s) post cards of Mission Valley. Courtesy of the San Diego Public Library.
HISTORY OF FAMILY FARMS AT THIS SITE
Before WWII and a subsequent boom in urban development, the Mission Valley landscape was predominantly occupied by farmland. Farmers represented many cultural backgrounds and this site has a rich history of family-run farming businesses.
The first dairy was built in Mission Valley in the 1880s. By the 1950s, dairy goods were the thirdlargest agricultural product in San Diego County. At one point, there were 20 dairy farms in the area. The Guglielmetti Dairy Farm, the last dairy farm in Mission Valley, was located on this site. Owned by the Swiss-Italian Guglielmetti family, the farm was successfully operated until around 1969.
Mission Valley’s agricultural heritage also includes several Japanese American families, many of whom operated vegetable farms. They seasonally harvested celery, corn, tomatoes, lettuce and other vegetables to sell at farm stands as well as local markets near the present-day Gaslamp District. The Segawa Family leased farmland here from the Old Mission Ranch in 1947 and were the last commercial vegetable farmers at this site before the land was sold to the City of San Diego in 1966.
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