Raising Pecans, Prunes and Library Patrons with Darla Lawrence

Darla Lawrence can relate to children who feel like their environment is out of control. Raised with a tumultuous home-life, Darla didn’t start to find order and balance until she met her husband, Seth, at Willits High School.

“Seth gradually introduced me to Tehama County, his family farm and a more stable lifestyle and, with those elements combined, it all began to feel like ‘home.’” After 32 years together, Seth and Darla have built a legacy that extends beyond their own three sons.

Three generations of the Lawrence family work together to keep an historic Tehama County farm and orchard alive and profitable.

Community work provides stability

“To bring stability, something I didn’t have, to other kids has been such an honor,” Darla shared and then laughed, “I think at one time I was listed as the emergency contact for around 30 kids.” Darla says her first role was a stay-at-home mom, “But I also wore the hats of Cub Scout leader, Boy Scout leader, Little League and soccer coach—team mom for many teams—and as the Tehama County Child Abuse Prevention Council Coordinator for five years. Without having planned it out beforehand, it is as if my steps were mapped out for me and I just continued, one step at a time.”

Historic Tehama County property includes pecan and prune “farm to bakers” service

As Seth and Darla’s three boys, Trace, Colton and Gage, shot up into adulthood, Darla started cultivating a life for herself. The Lawrence family had already settled on the property adjacent to the family’s prune orchard where they would eventually establish 30 acres of pecans. Their “new” home, not far from the Jellys Ferry Bridge, is the oldest still-inhabitable home in Tehama County—what Darla calls the Jelly’s House. “There is a rumor that Kit Carson stayed here when the house was a stage stop. It also served as the post office for a time. We are still making discoveries here and, just recently, we uncovered a door jamb where the parents recorded their children’s heights in the 1800s.”

In 2019, Darla decided to put her own mark on things by starting Golden State Pecans. Direct sales were Darla’s dream to get the “tastiest, freshest pecans directly into the hands of bakers and confectioners.” Darla says, “Things have gone really well except for in 2022 when the temperature dropped to 24 degrees and we lost both our prune and pecan crops. But, as always, my steps were already mapped out for me. Nancy Veatch, who was the Bend Elementary School principal at the time, called and asked if I would like to help revamp the Bend School library.”

Darla shares her joy of reading with children at the Bend School through specially themed-literacy nights, after-school activities and clubs.

Bend school library provides calm environment where children can relax and self-regulate

This was the perfect fit for Darla who had been making the drive to the Bend School since 2006—all three boys had attended and graduated at “the Bend.” “This was very tricky when the Jellys Ferry Bridge was out,” Darla says. “The seven-minute drive turned into 30 minutes each way. And whenever we have flooding, we have to canoe across first.” Darla was happy to have a reason to keep making the drive to the Bend and to give back to children what had been given to her.

Wearing an astronaut themed jumpsuit, Darla Lawrence inspires students to reach new heights on her Learning is Out of This World themed literacy night. Photos by Kate Hiller.

“Libraries were my safe place growing up,” Darla says. “There were several librarians who were there for me as a child. I am neurodivergent and not everyone knew what to do with me growing up, so libraries offered a place for me to self-regulate my nervous system. This is the kind of environment that I like to offer to the kids at Bend Elementary. The library is a calm, non-threatening environment where children can come to regulate their thoughts and emotions. Not every kid wants to run wild during break time—some appreciate a quieter atmosphere.”

Darla serves in her role as librarian on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and she cultivates a quiet yet educational environment by having art supplies on hand and offering a comic book club, a science club and a chess club. Students can use the library on their breaks and during their designated class times.

Library ‘literacy nights’ can inspire children to pursue their dreams

“I am having the time of my life!” The joy in Darla’s voice is obvious as she says, “I put together two to three large literacy nights a year—recently we had a night with the theme ‘Learning is out of this world.’ The children presented what they had learned about the solar system, we viewed the stars through the telescope and had s’mores. Learning adventures like these stay with the children for a lifetime. Our current principal, Jessica Gantenbein, is so gracious to support these big events.”

“Seth has also been a big inspiration behind what I do at the school,” Darla says. “Even though he was farming and working full time as an engineer, he would write stories and design very elaborate, hands-on learning adventures for our sons. Just like a strong foundation in literacy inspired our sons to pursue their dreams in college, I hope the Bend School children will also feel confident to pursue theirs.”