Douglas’ Iris on our ranch Many years ago, Donald had a tenant who lived in the house where Ramon and his family now live who told him a story about the Douglas’ Iris that come up this time of year. The tenant told him they were planted by one of the first pioneers—a little like a… Read more »
Lavender is still in its wintering mounds, just beginning to send up growth. Yesterday a friend said, “It’s only eight weeks until your Open House!” Yikes! I thought. This time of year I always go through the same anxiety: will the lavender be in bloom for the Open House? Right now it is just beginning… Read more »
Anna and the compost pile (which is in process of being spread) This short YouTube film shows the importance of soil building in sequestering carbon (in carbon dioxide) and slowing and/or stopping global warming. Inspiring in its four minute message, it also lacks detail, like what would it mean to increase organic matter by 1.6%?… Read more »
When Owl’s Clover shows up, usually in disturbed areas along the driveway, I know we are in mid spring. (Once a consultant told us that those plants growing in disturbed land are building soil.) They are members of the Figwort family, a goat delicacy, and a welcome part of our natural biodiversity. View Our Lavender… Read more »
Although the wildflowers are late and fewer in number this year, it is a very good year for wild strawberries. For whatever reasons, they have spread. This week when we spray the BC prep on a fruit day, we will include the wild strawberry patches! One of the flowering patches, easy to find with their… Read more »
We planted the 130 new lavender plants we had propagated by Morning Sun Herb Farm from our own plant material. We chose a moon sign flower day in which the moon was also descending, ideal for transplanting lavender. Given that our plants last 10-15 years, we want them to have the best start possible, which… Read more »
I am always moved by the life force which goes on, regardless. This madrone may well be in its last season, infected by the same fungus that kills the coastal oaks: sudden oak death. Yet it pushes new blossoms. Will our biodynamic preps support this life to overcome the fungus, or are madrone simply moving… Read more »
Golden Flower Earth Day Week: Gift to Our Earth: An Important Way to Begin the Healing There are many compelling reasons to use Biodynamic preparations on your land, but one of the more important reasons involves the impact of Barrel Compost, or “BC Prep”. Maria Thun, a German farmer who has done a… Read more »
Using Thun calendar to schedule sprays on our work calendar. In March and April, I schedule our biodynamic sprays for the season using Maria Thun’s Sowing and Planting Calendar. In the spring we spray the aromatics with horned quartz (“501”) three times on moon sign flower days, once each in Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The… Read more »
On Easter afternoon we hike past the wild honeybee trees. The bees are busy, in and out, and our grandson Wesley is in awe! Hole in oak that leads to wild honey bee hive. Then, as we pass the spot where the road enters the forest (where the mission bells are just finishing bloom), we… Read more »
© 2024 Patricia Damery.
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