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| Planter Bed w Decorations |
This place has buried treasure. There have been plenty of rusty hand tools like trowels and small spades, metal children's farm play toys, shovel tops and long tree spikes that are decorating the planting beds. There are bird bits and snake skins and squirrel bones. We haven't heard the mourning call of the coyotes echo across the valley yet, in large part because they are being picked off by a neighbor for getting after their animals. That's how it works here, but a little knot still forms in my belly.
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| Pomegranate |
Living relationships are solid and we are learning how it is. Take for instance the other day at a neighbor's house, we saw some movement in the big tree, and up scampered little things ... one two three four five six! ... raccoon babies. It was the most delightful moment watching them turn in unison and press their faces together and look down at us. They continued up the tree, turned, worked up farther, turned. Nothing could be cuter than that.
Needs, not wants: three cameras ~ 1 for the house, 1 for the truck, 1 for the car.
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| Baby |
Astonishingly, it turns out that gangly tree at the edge of the lawn with beautiful bright orange flowers began bearing fruit the other day. I know what these are: Pomegranates! There is another smaller one in back. The best part of any day is discovering what is hidden in plain sight.
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| Mission Fig |
The drip system is a blessing after the soaring 112 temps two weeks ago. The heat killed off the gnats, too. Gotta love it. The bug zapper is working OT on mosquitos and the birds have already learned to stop by in the morning for a free, nutritious breakfast.
The self sufficiency of nature continues to amaze, and discovering bits of what remains from one hundred eleven years of planting and living with purpose is our link to the future.
- Enough big trees to entice big birds to roost and they in turn keep down rodents and snakes.
- Enough shade for the house to help protect against wind and sun.
- Enough seasonal fruit - almonds and figs and olives and pomegranates that remain, but many more I can imagine were here - along with a big healthy garden for a bountiful table.
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| Hawk |
Our very first harvest
ever is table ready. The olives, in brine from November to May, then were placed in a 5 day water bath before being grouped into five different marinades and 12 different combinations of herbs and spices. They empower us to do more. Next up is learning how to preserve, dehydrate and can.
