FARM NEWS
The canal is running as fast and full as it is able to. The rain water from last winter is sitting, flowing out of the reservoir, down the creek, into the canals, and ultimately to the thirsty farms that are filled with this season’s crops.
On our farm, that water is being used by tomatoes that are growing so fast you can always watch them get taller. Their green, slimy vines stretch toward the sky and from their vines grow beautiful small yellow flowers. The first flowers that were made by the tomatoes now have little green tomatoes dangling from them.
Next to the field of tomatoes are our mini red seedless watermelons. Until a week ago, the melon vines had not completely invaded the field. Driving by one, I could still see the rows running the entire length of the field. Today, there are no more visible rows. The dirt in the entire field is one huge maze of watermelon vines, soaking up the summer sun. Those too send out little yellow flowers and there is not a cuter piece of baby fruit on the farm than a tiny tiger-striped baby watermelon (they even have a little fuzz on them).
Not too far from the summer row crop fields, our heirloom apricot orchard is kicking off the summer stone fruit season. This should be our first large crop of these apricots. Early farmers in our area grew this exact variety, the Royal Blenheim, back in the day when railroads were used to connect products from California to New York. That very railroad used to run right through the middle of the farm on the north end of our orchard. It is fun to imagine this crop of apricots being loaded onto a trail that headed east, stopping in the Sierras for ice to keep the load cool for the rest of the journey. While it’s fun to imagine that, I am glad that we are delivering them to you in one-pound bags. DON’T FORGET TO CUSTOMIZE AND ADD THESE HEIRLOOM APRICOTS TO YOUR ORDER !!! There is only a tiny window that we have apricots this season, so adding them to your box next week may be the last chance you get until next year.
Enjoy your boxes this week and make sure to find us on Instagram (@farmfreshtoyou) and (@farmerthaddeus).
