Tuesday, July 8, 2008

My weekend: a story with pictures

Mike and I have been a-farming all weekend! Last Thursday we drove out east (just outside Yosemite) to visit Katie and Larry on their new farm in Sonora. New farm, but actually on Katie's parents property. That combined with the fact that K & L are planning on getting preggers soon, and the Johnsons think they have died and gone to heaven.But back to the point: we farmed. They are growing most of the same things they grew in Humboldt and Gila: kale, chard, beets, carrots, onions, garlic, eggplant, cabbage, lots of summer squash, and herbs. Well, that's what was up already - they also have berries, stone fruit, corn, peppers, melons, and more coming in later in the summer.Aside from luxuriating in the bounty, we also got to work the farmer's market, which is one of my favorite things to do. People ooh and ahh over the produce, you get to chit chat, and then - the best part! - you get to weigh their purchase & ring it up. Mike was the summer squash king; he arranged them in beautiful piles and explained what a Zephyr was ("a cross between a zucchini and a crookneck; it has the nuttiness of the crookneck but holds up great for grilling like a zucchini") to a couple dozen people.Not only that, but Katie & Larry have a new puppy! His name is Samson, and he is going to be a very large boy; for now, though, he has long legs and a reasonably wee body. He is the ultimate farm dog - he eats raw veggies and dead gophers, rolls around in the dirt, and is a sweetie pie to the max.Even Larry the workaholic took off some time to hang out with us - we wandered the property of the house they are renting, ate tons of garlic, went swimming in the river, and taught Katie to play beer pong, which was epic. Mostly, though, sat around catching up on stuff (like the fact that they are going to get preggers!) and drinking margaritas.On the way out, they heaped us down with bunches of veggies and a dozen eggs from their chickens!Last night I made a Red Russian kale and beet greens salad with zucchini, potatoes, beets, and a vinaigrette. Let the produce eating begin!Needless to say, we plan on going back soon.

1 comment:

dethbakin said...

OMG so jealous!! It looks like their new farm is working out great! What gorgeous produce.