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May Farm Tour Photos / Farm Work Day Info

April 16, 2008

Spring Heat

The mornings have been cool enough for a light coat, but it already smells like summer. There is something about the smell of summer mornings on the farm that foreshadows the day's coming heat. I suppose it could be that each afternoon the baking sun brings smells from all the elements of the farm into the air where they mix and react with each other in a way that yields a unique morning scent.

I enjoy the cool mornings and secretly hope that this weather stays cool all day but I know that this wish coming true would put a huge dent in the production of our heat-loving summer crops. The tomatoes are the first of these crops that will have a chance to exponentially increase their size with the warm days. In the morning I walk through the tomato field looking for many things. The first of which is new growth, which appears neon green in contrast to the leaves that have fully developed to their dark green tomato color. All of the tomatoes have this new growth which indicates they have gotten over their "transplant shock" and are set to turn each day’s heat units into developing themselves as tomato plants.

The tomatoes are about six inches tall now. Their roots probably go into the soil a little deeper than that by now. The soil is clear of weeds from the last cultivation and hoeing job. The top layer of the soil is dry but it is easy to dig a hole into the loose soil with my hands – revealing the caché of water the soil is storing for the growing tomato plants. Everything appears good now but with the hot days the precious water will get used quickly. Ricardo and his crew are racing to get the drip irrigations system installed so that the hand move sprinklers can be relocated for use on other parts of the farm.

The 80-degree afternoons make me tired – I have never been much of a fan for the heat. I am humbled to realize that this is only a small taste of what the summer will bring. Every summer the farm yields at least one wave of 110-plus days and the thought of this happening makes me want to move to San Francisco. I am even more humbled to see the crew moving along with their jobs as if nothing has changed. Many of them have started wearing their hooded sweatshirts to work; which doesn’t make any sense to someone who has never worked full days in the fields behind the summer heat. The elements of the sun and heat are much more harsh on bare skin than garments and the crew prefers to let the long sleeves and hood of a sweatshirt be the first line of defense against the elements. Drinking water and sweating is what keeps you cool.

We harvested the first box of strawberries last week. The plants are packed with green berries and it will not be long until spring arrives in your box. Thaddeus

Watch for upcoming events !!

Our Next Farm Tour is May 3, 2008.

FFTY Events 2008

Open to all FFTY customers:

Saturday, May 3rd, 11:00 am FFTY Farm Event – Strawberry Harvest ⋅ Strawberry picking, farm walk, picnic
Saturday, August 23rd, 11:00 am FFTY Farm Event – Tomato Harvest ⋅ Tomato picking, recipe swap, farm walk, picnic
Saturday, October 11th, 11:00 am FFTY Farm Event – Picking Pumpkins ⋅ Selecting pumpkins for carving, farm walk, picnic
Saturday, December 6th, 11:00 am FFTY Farm Event – Grapevine Wreaths ⋅ Pruned grape vines will be used to make wreaths

Tickets Required (more information to come):

Saturday, July 26th, 4:00 pm Farm Fresh To You and Slow Food Yolo present an Heirloom Tomato Gala to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Kathleen Barsotti

Purchase tickets in advance; partnered with Slow Food Yolo
Tickets will be available in the beginning of April
Proceeds above expenses will go to the Kathleen Barsotti Non-Profit for Sustainable Agriculture. The specific purpose of the non-profit is to benefit the public by promoting sustainability in agriculture and life. The programs of the non-profit may include:
- Awarding scholarships to young women pursuing an education that focuses on integrating sustainable agriculture into our society
- Providing educational assistance to children of farm workers ⋅
- Educating the public about sustainable farming practices

Bring a picnic, family and friends to come out and see
the farm. Call or email the office with questions, and
we cannot wait to see you in Capay!

Farm News

April 16, 2008
Spring Heat

April 9, 2008
Farming Weeds

April 2, 2008
The Canal Season

March 26, 2008
Spring Overload

March 19, 2008
The Spring Rush

March 12, 2008
The Frog Hole

March 5, 2008
Light Brown Apple Moth

February 27, 2008
Herb Garden

February 20, 2008
Cental Valley Agriculture

February 13, 2008
Greenhouse Time