ABOUT ST. JOHNS OAKS
Dan and Barbara Doran own and operate St. Johns Oaks, a diversified farm in Putnam County. The Doran’s produce grapes, cut tree fern, cut magnolia, blueberries, blackberries & datil peppers.
It was important to Doran when he started this family farm to do the right thing and know up front exactly how much water and fertilizer he would be using to grow each crop. By enrolling in Best Management Practices, he has effectively accomplished his goals of reducing overall use of both in order to protect the natural resources found throughout his property.
Some of the most effective BMPs implemented include a 90% automatic irrigation system with low volume and low pressure that pinpoints when and where water is needed by each plant. Doran irrigates at night to prevent evaporation & high winds. The four acres of tree fern are irrigated on a separate system utilizing a surface water pond, which uses all recycled water. Majority of fertilizer used is dry so that he can monitor the amount used and ensure it is used up by the plant and doesn’t leach into nearby waterways off the property.
When he isn’t managing his BMP program, Doran and his family host farm tours for public school groups from the Tri- County area, which includes Putnam, Flagler, and St. Johns counties. Doran loves it when his sons help out during harvest season and his daughters and wife during each tour.
He is also active in his community serving as the past President of Crescent City Rotary & a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also instrumental in starting a local Little League program & coached in it for many years. Doran is also a long time member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Crescent City. In recent years, he has been a member of the Florida Grape Growers Association & served as Vice President. Doran has also served on the Advisory Committee for UF/ IFAS in the Tri- County area.
Florida Farm Bureau is honored to present Dan and Barbara Doran with a 2019 CARES designation and sign for their continued efforts to protect our precious natural resources.
