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May Farm Tour Photos / Farm Work Day Info

Sept 27, 2006

Windy Days - Thaddeus

Sept 20 , 2006There is fresh spinach in the box this week, but rest assured it came from our field which has not been fertilized with animal waste. Also know that our packing facilities are used to pack only produce from our farm - so another farm's contaminated products will not affect our products. In short I know this spinach is safe for your consumption - like all of our other products. Last week's farm news was dedicated to the E. coli 157 problem. Please visit the web site if you would like to read more about the issue.

We are painting the packing shed this week. I remember when it was built and I don't think it has been painted since. Time does play tricks on your memory. I do vividly remember when they put the first wall up in the packing shed; it was the northern most wall, which now is the wall of the cold room. This happened when I was five and the reason I remember the first wall so vividly is because they were working on the foundation for what seemed to be forever before the shape of the building began to take place. The foundation of a building is not much fun for a kid to watch being built. At the time I thought they were wasting time on the foundation and that the building would have been completed much more quickly if they went to work on the walls sooner. I was right in one regard but the building would most likely not be around for the second coat of paint.

Last week there was a very strong north wind. If I wasn't a farmer I think I would like the wind. It really is a powerful element of the earth that brings all still things to life. Because I am a farmer the wind scares me, I don't really need a powerful element of the earth coming to life and moving all the things around that I took great care to place. This last wind didn't hurt much on our farm. There are boxes blown all over the place but all the plants and trees appear to be okay. Our neighbor however was not so lucky. He has the rolling hills that define the edge of our valley bottom; on this land he has a herd of sheep. During this wind a fire started by the road and rapidly turned his golden hills black. The fire being fed by the strong north wind made such quick work of his land that they were not able to get the sheep out in time and many of them were killed by the fire or put down shortly after as a result of smoke fatigue. What a terrible reality of ranching.

Because our farm is irrigated it is very safe from the hazards of burning down due to a careless motorist using the highway as an ashtray on their way to the Casino. We do get our fair share of people stopping to help themselves to as many grapes and figs as they can pick before they are chased off or get their fill. The last time a couple was in the grapes picking as fast as they could I approached and asked what they were doing. The response was; “Relax, we have permission.” Entertaining myself I asked who gave them permission and the response was; “We met the owner at the Casino and he told us to help ourselves to whatever we wanted.” Maybe the time has come for a big gate.

Enjoy your boxes this week - Thaddeus

Special Date! Sunday October 29

Capay Organic, our store in the S.F. Ferry Building, will be hosting free pumpkin decorating for any
children (or adults too). Pumpkin decorating will start at 3pm and we will be serving hot apple cider. We will be giving a talk on
how pumpkins grow and will have recipe cards for great things to cook with pumpkins.
Event will be from 3pm - 5pm

Farm Tour Update
Fall 2006
Get ready! We'll be hosting a work party on the farm in the fall. We
hope to see new faces along with familiar folks getting their hands
mucky in Capay dirt. Stay tuned...

We look forward to seeing you!

Please contact: Georgette at Georgette@farmfreshtoyou.com or call 800.796.6009 to
reserve space for you, family and friends.

Plan on arriving at the farm early in the morning, as close to 8am as possible. There will be actvities and walks planned for the whole family.

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The Spring Rush

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The Science of Farming