Glancing at the previous post that it took a month to upload makes me realize that a lifetime goes by in a week or two around here. It being that I have had to waste copious amounts of time on the computer lately, it seems fitting to go just a little further and write something….at least I’ll enjoy that. I’ll say in advance that this is one big sour-grapes vent on corporate America, so, be warned….  Read more... (1359 words, estimated 5:26 mins reading time)

Occasionally it’s fun to write about things only tangential to farming, so this is one of those times. I’ve wanted to compose an essay for awhile on the topic of “How I came to be a SF Giants baseball nut after a lifetime of not giving a whoop about organized sports.” This actually has something to do with farming, so stay tuned.  Read more... (1435 words, estimated 5:44 mins reading time)

It’s a little after 6pm, and I’ve just come in from the end of something like 4 solid days of pruning trees and shrubs. There are a few little things left to do but mostly it’s done. What fascinated me about the job this year, aside from wondering what I was thinking to own over 70 fruit trees that need intensive pruning, was how I could have been doing this for all these years somewhat incorrectly.  Read more... (809 words, estimated 3:14 mins reading time)

I guess it’s high time to write something new this year! Life seems to move along in predictable rhythyms. Weeds need killing. Trees need pruning. The occasional client hasn’t paid up and needs prodding. I don’t like that last part, and I don’t think anyone in business does. So today, I write about something I have never seen discussed online in a well-rounded manner. Which isn’t to say it isn’t there, but…..you know.  Read more... (1625 words, estimated 6:30 mins reading time)

Lately I’ve been philosophically amazed at how much time one can spend? waste? preparing orders for growing supplies. This commentary is something of an offshoot to the “catalog campaign” that occurs every so often, in which I spend many hours reading descriptions of plants or whathaveyou in order to make a purchase decision. Not so long ago I was on the verge of placing an order for some hundreds of dollars worth of fruit trees with Peaceful Valley Farm Supply in Grass Valley. I like shopping there because I feel good about the idea of supporting a company that caters to organic growers, and I am able to make a two hour drive to pick up my items in person, which saves me shipping charges and gives me a chance to take a scenic drive through some beautiful country.  Read more... (1024 words, estimated 4:06 mins reading time)

My generation has been cheated, and I’ll tell you why.  Read more... (466 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

This blog will either fascinate, or be right up there with watching paint dry, because today we write about the seed and tree order. I don’t always spend much time discussing this annual event, but this year it deserves its own place just for having reached such grand proportions.  Read more... (830 words, estimated 3:19 mins reading time)

Yesterday, before the howling winds, I attempted a long day of work at my garden site in Dunnigan. Hoeing weeds, burning weeds, spraying weeds…all that fun stuff. But I also completed round two of my winter squash harvest, and brought in about 15-20 Marina di Chioggia.  Read more... (900 words, estimated 3:36 mins reading time)

I spent today doing my least favorite thing…..combing through
account records, double-checking for errors, and sending emails to
clients detailing the status of their respective accounts. Oh, joy.
Even though I haven’t been exactly running my own business for decades,
there are two things that I figured out early on. One, have a business
plan.  Read more... (820 words, estimated 3:17 mins reading time)