Line Up

Line Up Someone’s eating the grapes!  Who could it be? Line up of possible grape-eating culprits: Could it be the goats??? Oh, surely not Dasher! Or Mr. Coyote. Grape skins have been found in his scat.   She looks innocent, but any rose (or grape!) grower knows the truth!   Then there is  Leo who… Read more »

Certification Inspection

Certification Inspection The inspector for the certifier Demeter (Biodynamic®) and Stellar Certification Services (organic) arrived Friday to inspect our ranch and records. This is a time we always pull everything together: the scraps of paper that have notes that have not yet been incorporated into the records, the work area for the lavender processing straightened… Read more »

A Cool Drink for Hot Times!

Lavender partially harvested at goat barn. A Cool Drink for Hot Times! For the best limeade ever, try our recipe: Lavender Limeade Heat 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of dried lavender flowers and the zest of a lime until the sugar has dissolved. Cool and strain. Use to sweeten… Read more »

Equisetum Tea

Equisetum Tea Measuring the dried equisetum for tea. One of the reasons that we can decrease our use of sulfur in the vineyards is the use of equisetum tea. Never is the difference between conventional and Biodynamic farming more evidenced! In conventional farming fungicides and sulfur (not a chemical and thereby also acceptable in organic… Read more »

Two Blessings of 2010: Wesley and Dasher

  Two Blessings of 2010: Wesley and Dasher We start 2011 contemplating the blessings of 2010, including the birth of our grandson, Wesley, and four new goatlings.   Donald and I (Patricia) live on a small, Demeter certified Biodynamic® ranch on the lower flanks the western mountain range of the Napa Valley, California, raising grapes, lavender,… Read more »