SNOW?!

I doubt we will get snow this evening, but it is in the forecast for large parts of the bay area! Jason patched up parts of the greenhouse that were destroyed in the last bad weather, and he just covered the tender plants. Hopefully most will be hardy for the cold!
We have two new additions to Sutoria Farm, a pair of ducklings named Zorro and El Kabong. Thus far they've made their home on the side of the house (they like to be near the heat vent at night), and during the day they bask in the sunshine in and around the lavender bushes in the bee garden out front. They will be quite at home this summer, and will look very cozy in the lush garden!

January heat wave

It is scion season again for the California Rare Fruit Growers (crfg.org) and our second daughter was born right in the middle of the exchanges. J went to a couple alone, and last weekend we went to the Sebastapol exchange. We tried to go to a couple of interesting places while we were there (the Yerba Mate factory and a Seed Bank), but they were closed. We did however try out the Petaluma Pie Shop and it was pretty tasty.
The warm spell we've been having has been beautiful for us, but confusing for our plants. Some of the trees are beginning to bud already. Our garden in front is sprouting California poppies and other wild flowers.
J is starting some seeds and rooting indoors. It is the cusp of spring and we are anxiously waiting for it!

Winter Garden

Garlic is sprouting up, some leeks are hanging on (forgetting about them and then having them trampled may not help them), and snap peas are green! The chickens have some babies, and the chilacayote is going crazy. As I write, I am making some squash gratin for a pot luck. Just last week we used the finger limes for some marmalade.
As the rains come some of the natives are beginning to pop up again. We went to Annie's Annuals a couple weekends ago and picked up some longer term plants to incorporate into both the front and the back yards. The most interesting of which is probably the Puya, a variety of which that will take 8 or so years to bloom. We have some others to attract pollinators into the back, like a couple of new lavenders (a white and a pink), and a matilija poppy.
The rain and storm today were beautiful. Seeing ice (hail) in the garden was strange for California, but I loved it just the same.

Update on the pasta sauce.

Amazing! It was so fresh and was even a bit spicy. For everyone else's tastes, I think I would tone the pepper down a little, but otherwise it was REALLY, REALLY GOOD!!!

First tomato sauce of the season!

Harvest of today's fresh heirlooms and cherries.


Onions, garlic, golden thyme, basil, sage and a bay leaf from our garden.



Cut up and ready for the heat.


Mashed and "water" freed ready to heat.

Condensing and bubbling!

Ready to blend!!!

One jar ready to eat!

Interesting article and an update.

First of all I just read an interesting article about disappearing bumble bees. Thought I would share it here.

Secondly, here we are in Summer! Beautiful as it is, my spring plants have died and the garden in front is looking rather empty. The chickens loved it when I pulled the dead plants out. Snails and pincher bugs galore!
The back is looking beautiful. All of the many tomato plants are growing nicely (20 - 30ish). I harvested my first zucchini the other night as well! Two of my hens want to be mommies, and several of the trees are fruiting beautifully. The borage I planted (companion plant for tomatoes) is looking beautiful, and my incorporation of flowers into the back is coming along nicely. Soon I will plant a cinderella pumpkin in the back and some potatoes out front. Lots of gardening to come!

A few photos.

These photos are from earlier in February.



Various things to plant and Marmalade.



J trimming the Lemon Tree.



Buddha's Hand Citron from our tree. We used it in Orange, Lemon & Citron Marmalade.