Duckies & Kitties

Ducks @ 17 weeks

Opal @ ~5 months

Jasper @ ~5 months

Heirloom Tomatoes

Here is a sampling of heirlooms from today's harvest. I grew these tomatoes from seed, starting on April 4, 2009. That's 6 months of work for these beauties! Heirloom varieties include: Dr. Wyche's Yellow; Brandywine Sudduth's; Silvery Fir Tree; German Pink; and Cherokee Purple. We also have (not pictured) Crimson Carmello (an experiment--grown in a soil-less medium) and the Super Sweet 100 Hybrid (a delicious cherry tomato).

I recently attended a "Tomato Masters" workshop at Love Apple Farm in Ben Lomond lead by Cynthia Sandberg. I learned many techniques for successful heirloom growing and maximizing yields. She has over 125 heirloom varieties, and I plan to take her "Grow your Own Tomato Transplants from Seed" workshop next winter.

Black Manuka Table Grapes

Almost exactly two years since we planted these grapes,
we've harvested our first crop.

Estelle was eager to help...

And she gladly accepted grapes as compensation for her efforts.