Yesterday in the early evening, I drove down to my farm to unload some flats of tomatoes and lavender I bought from the nursery. I normally wouldn’t drive all the way down to the farm to just unload a couple flats, but it was the tail end of a shit-tastic week and driving south tends to help my mood, in the event I’m feeling less than great. I slowed my truck on the driveway, which made that fabulous crunching sound, which for some reason reminds me of Fall no matter what time of year it actually is. I pulled the flat of Lavender out of the back of my truck, and placed it at the end of the newly mowed planting strip. The field had been cover cropped in early Fall, and now was a bona fide meadow, just under knee high with favas, mustard, thistle and little wisps of grass leaves. I walked through the field and surveyed how everything was doing; herbs like lavender, thyme, sage and rosemary were thriving in their little mulched beds. The ground was hissing with a beautiful cacophony of bugs moving from mowed section to meadow, probably somewhat displaced but happy to be soaking in the last bit of sun for the day. I walked back down the driveway, and thought about getting in my truck to drive home. Instead, I thought it best to nap on the driveway, next to the field. The flat of thyme I forgot to plant the day before made a wonderful pillow for the next hour.
Bug Cacophony
Thursday, March 24th, 2011Serpent Found
Wednesday, September 15th, 2010We worked at the farm yesterday, moving soil and other debris with the tractor, and all around having as fabulous of a time you can have when working in dirt. Dustin must have moved something and found this little guy:
I’m guessing from this website he’s a Pacific Ring-necked Snake. Mildly venomous and delightfully colorful, we all instantly stopped what we were doing to poke and coo over our new little mascot. Once we were done scaring each other with him we put him safely in a wood pile where he acted dead, coiled into himself in self defense. Once we went away I’m guessing he slowly eased up and slithered in between the rough branches of the pile, finding himself a cool and protected place to rest from the days events. Hopefully he isn’t scared away for good and will show himself from time to time..
Fiddlehead Fern @ SF Ferry Building
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010Ummmm, LOVES IT!
How fabulous is this!?
The other weekend I was at the Ferry Building in SF, doing my normal troll of all things fabulous. Really, if you haven’t been there – go! It’s pretty much like Mecca for those of us whose God is food. Yes, you will have to go early to avoid the dreaded mom’s with their entourage of strollers – or those coffee lunatics who create a line with as much depth and length comparable to the great wall of China – but beyond that, it’s fabulous.
Once I got my peas from Louie, some flowers from Cypress Farms, and all the cheese I can get my hands on from Cowgirl Creamery, I drifted over to my fav part of the market. You see, vegetables are great and everything but chocolates are better, and they are located inside. But it was the mushroom stand that had these fiddlehead ferns for sale. They are commonly used for cooking, but I’d love them just to keep in a bowl in my kitchen. Gorgeous.
Help Protect our Organic Food
Monday, March 1st, 2010Those assholes trying to ruin the environment and our health at the same time Monsanto has been trying to pass genetically modified alfalfa to the USDA. This has incredibly horrendous effects on our organic food industry as a whole.
Please take (literally) 10 seconds to sign the petition and help stop this pending approval.
Go to Food Democracy Now to sign. Thanks!
New Year's Resolution
Friday, January 15th, 2010
The Organic Consumers Association (not to be confused with OC ASS) has some great in site for New Year’s Resolution. If the standard dieting, not drinking or no more trips to Tijuana New Year’s Resolutions are getting boring, try this one out this year:
2010 New Year’s Resolution: Boycott Chemical & GMO Foods, Eat Organically
Organic foods, especially raw or non-processed, contain higher levels of beta carotene, vitamins C, D and E, health-promoting polyphenols, cancer-fighting antioxidants, flavonoids that help ward off heart disease, essential fatty acids, and essential minerals.
“On the average, organic food is 25% more nutritious in terms of vitamins and minerals than products derived from industrial agriculture. Since on the average, organic food’s shelf price is only 20% higher than chemical food, this makes it actually cheaper, gram for gram, than chemical food, even ignoring the astronomical hidden costs (damage to health, climate, environment, and government subsidies) of industrial food production. Levels of antioxidants in milk from organic cattle are between 50% and 80% higher than normal milk. Organic wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce have between 20% and 40% more nutrients than non-organic foods.”
For more info and to jump start your resolution, check out www.organicconsumers.org
Stay Organic
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
Help preserve organic integrity…
A couple of clicks makes a huge difference. Come on! Dooo it!
Along the same vein as the post below about greenwashing… every one’s trying to get their dirty hands on organic labels. The organic symbol is supposed to show us good from evil – but with ever varying definitions of organic, it’s been convoluted to say the least. Click above to do your part on keeping organic labeling Organic!
August Vegetable Planting
Thursday, August 13th, 2009In an effort not to have to send out seventeen million emails to the friends and family asking me what vegetables to plant right now – here’s a post. Go get dirrty!
Leafy Greens -
Lettuce
Chard
Kale
Cabbage
Arugula
Spinach
These can all be planted now and in successions until November. You may not get your last crop due to the weather, but if you do you’ll be happy you planted it. Sow seeds or plant plugs every two – three weeks.
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