Tag Sonoma

Here Comes the Rainy Season …

Last week we got rain, not much about a quarter of an inch, but every little bit helps. With our current drought we have had so few rain storms, I admit I kinda forgot what they were like.  Thursday morning as…

Slowing Down

The growing season at Quarter Acre Farm is starting to come to a close.   Last week I harvested the end of the dried beans and this week I finished collecting all the winter squash and pumpkins from the field. The…

Living Life

The growing season is starting to slow down.  The tomatoes are taking longer to ripen.  The pumpkin vines are dying off and the dried bean rows are empty.  There is still work  to be done in the field but it…

Feelings of Fall

The mornings are chilly, the sun sets sooner, and the vineyards are changing color; it is fall.  With fall comes the harvest of fall crops: pumpkins, winter squash, and gourds. But even with these feelings of fall, tomatoes have not…

Living Seed Catalog

Last week I spent some time at the National Heirloom Expo.  Each year they have large, detailed displays of  squash, tomatoes, peppers, and melons.  All organized by varieties, its like a living seed catalog. As a farmer you spend a lot…

Win Tickets to the Heirloom Expo

We are giving away a pair of 3-day passes to The 2014 National Heirloom Exposition. You have two chances to win via Facebook or Instagram. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on Sept. 5th on my weekly radio show, Sustainable Growing, 2pm to 3pm (PST) To enter on Facebook:…

The Changing Light

Thursday morning while I was getting seedlings ready for market and harvesting tomatoes. I couldn’t help but notice shadows that weren’t there a few weeks ago. The sun’s position has changed, it’s no longer directly over head, its starting to lean towards the…

Harvest For Now and Later

During this time of year the main task on the farm is harvesting.  The tomatoes are ripening so fast that almost everyday some row of plants need to be harvested. Just week, I harvested over 70 pounds of cherry tomatoes. I’m…

It is Dry Out There

Last week in the afternoon I was busy weeding the tomatoes.  With my head down focused on pulling weeds I smelled what I thought was an early dinner of barbecue.  I continued weeding but soon the barbecue smell was too…