The European life styles were very harsh and confusing.  Before the Europeans, Chumash were primarily hunters and gatherers.  Their skills and tools were unmatched.  As gatherers, they had good knowledge of propagating plants, but did not need to establish farms.  They did not over pick plants.  They honored the gifts plants offered.  They did have sectioned areas for sacred plants or medicinal herbs.

It was normal for the planted areas to have fences so the other peoples of this Earth (animals and wildlife) would not accidentally destroy the growing area.  The live stock roamed free.  The Europeans had the exact opposite ideals.  They fenced in all the live stock and had their agriculture open.  Thus, Chumash live stock would naturally wander into the European farms.  European reactions were very brutal.

After the Mexican Government had set them free, their home was gone.  The rancheros claimed all lands.  The missions had taught them European styles of farming, irrigation, and planting.  Chumash tried to start their own farms, but Rancheros would not allow success.

In 1834, a fur trader named Zenas Leonard came into the Yosemite Valley with the Joseph Reddeford Walker's Expedition.  Surprisingly, they found 700 Spanish speaking Chumash farming there.  It is believed they came to the valley after they fled from one of the 1824 mission rebellions.  Being left alone, success came very quickly to their community.  Their farm was quite fruitful.