Can I Talk Too Much About Flowers, Farming, Gardening and Decoraring??? Don't Think So

Morning from Sunny Northern California.  Today is September 5th and it is supposed to be 98 degrees today. Will the heat ever end?? Frank gave me a new sign as a surprise gift the other day.
The tomato canning class went so well, what great ladies come to these classes.  We canned 2 batches of halved tomatoes; and while they were cooking, we made 3 batches of tomato/basil/balsamic jam.  It is fabulous tasting over goat cheese, on crackers.

But I believe the shortage of water has taken a small toll on our yard.  Our oak tree out front of our house just went and died.  It was a smaller oak that was next to our huge oak. One day we were driving into our driveway and Frank said, I think that tree is dead. You know when you live someplace you don't really notice changes happening?  I put the water to it for about a week without any change.

I called a great company, Gold State Tree Company, who is based right here in Gridley.  They cut down a huge dead walnut tree for us when we first moved to this house.  I called in the morning, they came at 1:30 pm the same day. He came out to the house prior to cutting down the tree to inspect and advise me whether the tree was just stressed or dead. Gave me a very reasonable quote. Cleaned up all debris, raked and even took off the dead ivy crawling up the huge old oak next to this dead tree while they were up in the boom. 

Many of our crops are finished as we are getting to the end of our CSA farming season.  But the flowers just keep on blooming.

Right now we are drying any excess fruit we may have, even dry tomatoes.  I have a friend who has an orchard and he is going to give me all the apples that are bruised, worms or any that are not perfect for him to sell, but will be perfect for me to slice and dry.
Here are trays of the peaches and tomatoes drying.

I painted the front porch as it was looking fairly sad.  With that change, I needed to make new cushions and even changed the front door decoration. 

Even Bella and Annie were busy chasing ground squirrels up trees.

Growing Season Changing; Another Farmer's Market; Tomato Canning Class

Hello again from Windmill Farm:

After this past week, Frank and I can take a breath, it was a busy one.  But I think in general, it was busy for everyone as the season is changing, people getting last projects done, kids getting ready for school.

When I look at our fields, the shape and colors are different.  There are even some brown, dead spots where lush green foliage indicated where the cucumbers were growing. 

The big leaves on watermelon plants indicated to me that it was finally time that our watermelon was ripe.

After Celli, our daughter had her Back To School, Teacher's Appreciation Farmer's Market event, we were asked by another school to provide produce.  This time the Farmer's Market event was at a Roseville School and happened to be scheduled on the same day as our CSA deliveries. 

Thank goodness for Frank, he got up early with me that Wednesday, helped me deliver all the CSA baskets because we gave each member their basket, a large watermelon and a honey dew melon.  Sometimes that meant making 3-4 trips to one house if they also purchased flowers and eggs.  We finished around 2:30pm and we repacked the van and Frank drove to Roseville to unload the cases of fruits, vegetables, watermelon, flowers and basil for their event.

While Frank was gone, I had to put together all the flower arrangements that were going to the Gridley Fair Taste of Butte County event.  This is a very special event where all the local businesses that grow or produce items present them; each having a large table.   Our farm was asked to provide large flower arrangements for the center of each table along with smaller arrangements for a long sitting/tasting table.  I started the arrangements around 3:00pm and didn't finish them until 9:00pm.  In the cooler they went and were delivered to the fairgrounds the next morning.

It is hectic, but fun too.  just sorry we both aren't about 20 years younger to have started farming and doing what we absolutely love doing sooner.  What I always tell people if you love to grow things, love to garden, would love to get a small farm some day and do what we are doing.  Don't wait, do it now, it is truly a wonderful way of life.  And the people we meet because of our small farm, are perfect.

We have a tomato canning class scheduled for this coming Tuesday, August 26th, 6-8:30pm.  We will be canning whole or cut up fresh tomatoes from our farm; and while those are in the cooker;

we will be making some special jam I made last year with Sarah, Balsamic/tomato/basil jam that you put over goat or any type of cheese as a dip; or on crackers.  It is totally yummy!!! Give us a call if you think you can make it to the class.  Cost is $25 which includes all the produce needs; all the jars and canning supplies; hands on canning instruction; handouts; light refreshments; door prizes.

Hope you come back to our blog again.