Although delicious, these grapes have at least a couple of weeks of ripening for winemaking. The grapes are within a couple of weeks from harvest now, and we have started checking the sugars every few days. Hot weather pushes them quickly; cool weather slows them down. There is so much not in our control! Cool nights… Read more »
Category: General
Seven Generations
My son Casey and his son Wesley picking Asian pears, first fruiting of this young tree. More than anything else we plant and tend on the ranch, planting the orchard reminds me of my seven generations. Planting a tree is a long term process. Fruition takes years, not weeks or months. Each tree is a… Read more »
Messages Left in the Dark
Driveway at sunrise. One of the (few!) benefits of the thick dust on our driveway is that it allows us to see who passed this way in the night. This morning it was the signature of a small snake; yesterday a much larger one left a hard, large, swirly track as if being pursued or… Read more »
The Fifth Season
Summer dormancy. Judith Larner speaks of this time as being the Fifth Season in the Mediterranean climate of California, a period of summer dormancy that I also write about in Farming Soul: A Tale of Initiation. On our ranch, it is a time of doing projects we normally do not have time for: building a… Read more »
Update: First Light Farm Stand
Chica Bloom Bouquets The Grand Opening was successful! This is a great place to get certified organic produce, and at very good prices! Consider including the stand on your errand route and pick up a week’s worth of seasonal produce fresh from the field, Wednesdays through Sundays. 4855 Bodega Ave., Petaluma, CA. Customers in the… Read more »
Checking Sugars!
The grapes are ripening and are sweet enough to eat! Our grandson Wesley can attest to that! Wesley likes to carry handfuls of grapes as wewalk through the vines. The dogs like to follow andclean up any “droppage”! Soon Ramon will be gathering small bags to test every few days. Harvest is perhaps three weeks… Read more »
Equisetum Tea
Preparing to steep the equisetum tea which we will then ferment for ten days before use. It will keep for some time. Although we no longer spray sulfur to protect against mildew as the grapes are in veraison, we do protect the vines by continuing to spray fermented equisetum tea, or Biodynamic prep 508, at… Read more »
Preparation for the Grand Opening (TODAY!)
Jesse and Nathan putting up the Grand Opening Sign.First Light Farm’s produce is a Certified Organic. Yesterday my grandson Wesley and I visited during the preparations for the Grand Opening of First Light Farm Farm Stand, 4588 Bodega Avenue, Petaluma, formerly Anderson’s Farm Stand. The stand will be open from 12 to 5 pm today… Read more »
First Light Farm Grand Opening of Farmstand!
Our son Jesse Pizzitola and his partner Nathan Boone of First Light Farm, Jesse’s wife Lisa Murgatroyd and partner Ariana Reguzzoni of Chica Bloom Flowers, are opening their farmstand for this season tomorrow! If you are in the area, go by, purchase incredible produce (including our lavender), a full and beautiful bouquet of Lisa and… Read more »
Marketing Lavender
Photo compliments of Kathleen Parks-Perry Marketing Lavender Alexandra is helping us promote our products to local markets, including Whole Foods, where we recently were accepted as a vendor. Look for our products in local markets, and if you do not see them, please ask them to stock our Harms Vineyards and Lavender Fields Biodynamic organic… Read more »
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