ABOUT The Village by the River

In 2023, Nelson and Esther Mmbando chose to live out their dreams of owning a farm. Inspired by the communal spirit of a Tanzanian upbringing — where entire villages collaborate to achieve great things ...

ABOUT US

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The Mmbando Crew 🇹🇿 & Our Village (@thevillage_sacramento) • Instagram photos and videos

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The Village by the River is available for reservations!Contact us to learn more.

ABOUT The Team

Nelson Mmbando, the visionary behind our farm, is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture.Born and raised in Tanzania, Nelson's early experiences raising fish and chickens ignited his lifelong love for farming. This passion led him to pursue an Environmental Science degree from Sacramento State University, where he honed his expertise in sustainable practices and innovative farming techniques. Nelson is a pioneer in the field of aquaponics, having designed and built several cutting-edge systems that integrate fish farming and plant cultivation in a symbiotic environment. His dedication to sustainable farming is not just a career choice, but a deeply rooted commitment to creating a healthier planet for future generations

Mark Cabrera, brings 25 years of experience in the craft brew industry to hop farming. His successful career includes sales management of innovative top quality breweries such as Anderson Valley and Firestone Walker.Seven years ago, he began growing hops at multiple sites throughout Oakland. This has now become a great passion for Mark. It led to the planting of three acres of hops in the Capay Valley three years ago. Six years ago Mark took over a 5 acre hop farm on the Sacramento River. This is now the Victory Lee Hop Farm. Hops from these sites have been used in beers for both Bison Organic Beers, King Cong Brewing Co, Triple Voodoo Brewery, and more. Mark has a tremendous list of friends and colleagues throughout the industry.

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