Winters Tutors

About Winters

Winters, California, is a rural town located west of Sacramento. Winters is an unassuming city, full of orchards and large tracts of land to support California’s agricultural strength and economy. Many backs have bent to plant the acres of trees over the hundred-plus years of the city’s history, and many arms have stretched to reap the rewards of their labor. With such an emphasis on agriculture, innovation has been a necessary element to Winters’ success as a city. One of the many agricultural innovators that is a resident of the city is Robert Craig McNamara, founder and owner of Sierra Orchards.

Established in 1980, Sierra Orchards is a 450 acre stretch of land that produces organic walnuts and olive oil. McNamara (incidentally, the son of the current Secretary of Defense in Washington, DC) has pioneered efforts to farm sustainably and responsibly. He is a champion of organic production, including responsible fertilizer use for the Sierra Orchards’ many trees. Half of the fertilizer comes from cover crops—vetches, clovers, magnus peas. The remaining half is comprised of green compost. Sierra Orchards does not till soil, which maximizes the potential for water and nutrient penetration in the growing process. McNamara is an outspoken proponent for these sorts of practices, and is also an advocate for educational programs on farming.

McNamara works with the FARMS Program, which encourages thousands of students to participate in the growing organic agricultural industry. He recognizes that younger people will be the future farmers in the state of California, and they should be equipped with the latest and most innovative practices for growing operations. Conservation, alternative energy, and farm-to-table practices are currently improving the state of Sierra Orchards’ crops and speak to a level of ethics the company espouses.

Sierra Orchards runs within city limits in Winters, and McNamara is a notable figure in the city. His education at UC Davis and various awards bring a sense of pride to Winters. These awards include Agriculturalist of the Year, the James Irving Leadership Award, the Leopold Conservation Award, California Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, and the UC Davis Award of Distinction and the Outstanding Alumnus Award. His passion for ethical agricultural practices and passion for his business make Winters a bright spot on the California map.

Tutors in Winters occasionally must demonstrate innovation and creativity when working with their clients. Teaching and tutoring is not one-size-fits-all, just as agricultural methods need constant tweaking and rethinking to improve. The care demonstrated by McNamara to olive and walnut growth is also reflected in the care and attention given by tutors for Grade Potential, and just as the crops are coaxed to grow year by year in Winters, students are coaxed to improve little by little as they continue receiving help from their tutors.