~Wolf Moon~

enamored with the night

moon fable

Tonight is the night of the "Wolf Moon", and the largest and brightest full moon of the year (January). Native Americans named it this after the howling wolf packs they heard during the winter. There are different moon-names for every month.

Unfortunately, it is raining tonight but I did get a picture last night as the moon made it's way across the night sky while we burned up fallen twigs from the Sycamore tree... It was beautiful. 

twig collection

even more fire photos

urban "camping"

winter warmth

All that glitters is not gold.

Last Friday we had a small bonfire gathering right in the center of our burgeoning mandala garden and were determined to christen this newly developed plot rain or shine! The wistful pile of cleared blackberry bushes and random debris left by the stormy weather was just calling out for a bonfire. After we got the last measurements marked out we were blessed with a break in the rain! Toasting marshmallows, watching children play, gazing up at the constellations, feeling the warmth of flames on a cool night, and chatting with friends who fearlessly braved the soggy conditions was so enchanting... I just wish I hadn't put down my camera when everyone started showing up! Here's a few pictures I managed to capture...

Brambles and flames.

Evening bonfire

Sparks!

Burn Day

Fixated on the fire...

Getting back to garden updates! It's been raining for what seems like an eternity and, while GREAT for the garden, there are many activities that have been put on hold until working conditions improve. Luckily, this just means that our recently drought stricken area will be quenched for the time being. We are really thankful to have all this rain as farming and living conditions will certainly improve for the entire state of CA. On top of that, all this liquid gold is perfect for a super top secret project that we've started working on. Stay tuned for pictures to come...

Mostly though, this has been a grand time for all crafting adventures and I think that I've fallen quite in love with feathers! Here's a peek at something I recently put together. This is the outer covering of a hanging folder in my office space at home. Why have boring walls when you can glue feathers on?

Feathery

Rain is Good...

...at least that's what I keep telling myself while so many projects are screaming for attention... Still, without the rain, nothing would be possible and our plants would all dry up and we'd starve (in theory anyway unless the government has a huge stockpile of "soylent green"). 

So not much to do on these super rainy days but keep dry and plan for when it stops. Not that I mind, there's so much else to do indoors as well! hopefully though, we get a break sometime this week to burn some of the brush we've accumulated from clearing blackberries in the vineyard. Depending on the weather and imposed burn day status, we plan to have a simple gathering and celebrate the progression of our circular mandala-shaped garden at the vineyard. The wood ashes left by burning the brush will, in turn, enrich the soil by providing crucial minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium which aid in neutralizing acidic soil. Finger's crossed for Friday!

The vines have yet to be pruned but that will have to wait until the rain stops too. One of the lovely things about Permaculture is the simple beauty of it's systems. In order to get the most output for what we put into making our wine we have to be smart about how we work. Since we don't hire extra help in the vineyard and do the work ourselves, this is an important strategy for us to keep in mind. For instance, working through the rain may work for some farmers but our vines will stay dormant until about March so there are still plenty of time to wait for a more pleasant day to prune, and let me tell you, pruning hundreds of grapevines is not something you can do on a spare weekend unless there's help!

Daily tasks around our urban micro-farm still need tending to on a daily basis; feeding and caring for chickens, keeping up with the planting, chores around the house, small DIY projects, upkeep of the homestead, and running our family businesses. On top of that, we each have our own personal lives to lead. Steadily though, things are getting done and growing more efficient with ever new lesson learned and measure taken. Slowly, step by step...

Winter is the best time of year to make future plans in the garden, compost leaves, repair things, do research, gaze-at-the-sky-through-naked-tree-limbs-because-its-pretty and this is exactly what we're up to now. Back to checking things off the "to do" list! :)

Here's what our day's have been looking like recently:

Peeking out the window

Our Tree

Canon Rebel!

Hooray, I finally got a camera! For me, this is really exciting news as I've been dreaming of upgrading to something I can really use for while now. It's digital and perfect for uploading photos to the computer/internet and making all kinds of artsy things. So after the long wait, I am finally ready to head outside and take some pictures (although I'm sure they will not compare to Justin's fabulosity in this area but I am still learning :)

Science!

Optics 101

Yesterday, while out and about making a wine delivery and having lunch with Pops, we had a wild discussion about the evolution of photo technology and I got an amazing lesson on how things have changed over the years. This is my Dad, Charles, showing me how optics worked "back in the day" before digital cameras. 

It is always impressive the way he can describe anything and it makes sense. People often call him when they need help with one thing or another, especially when it is about winemaking. Some have already asked that he start doing workshops on a variety of subjects. Given his talent and passion for making wine and growing grapes in the foothills, we think that may be a great future project, so, we'll see! 

Photography Lesson

Charlie Green

Thanks Dad! <3

2010 Blue Moon Eclipse: Beginnings

eclipse

As some may know, we were welcomed into the year 2010 by the majesty of a Blue Lunar Eclipse and so far so good! Today while working on the outline for the Mandala Project at our vineyard in the hills just a few miles from where I live we heard a great commotion in the valley below us. It was the sound of thousands of birds chirping in nearby trees! Lately, Auburn has been shrouded in dense fog that crept out from the American River Canyon so needless to say it was quite amazing to hear the sound but not see a single bird. This is sure to be a year of mysteries and exciting new destinations!

We spent a few hours working on the design of the Mandala Permaculture Garden and, after consulting with Mom (our Feng Shui expert), have the basic outline and position established. Our star will point up (North) and most everything else will revolve around this key pattern. Next week we will begin filling out the circular beds or "guilds" and the pathways. A little soil amending and mulching will have everything in working order for spring!

On the Urban Garden Front:

Tonight I am busy as a bee sewing seeds and making the next set of adjustments in our winter garden adventure. There are new plants such as Lovage, Kailaan, Itallian Kale, Purple Cosmic Carrots, and Sorrel to try. Other plants from last year that didn't do as well we will be trying again: brussels sprouts, turnips, onions... we have a lot to learn yet!

Another venture that we've been tossing around is the possibility of adding goats and ducks to our backyard menagerie! The idea still on the back burner but I get pretty worked up over the thought of any cute fluffy addition to the family so we'll see. The main concern is our limited space. Being as we are living on only 1/5 acre with 6 people, long-term planning, research, and a balance of resources has to be taken into consideration. One major benefit that might come of owning our own fiber producing goats is the potential for producing our own angora or cashmere yarn. We have talented knitters, seamstresses and artists among us who could put the outcome to good use! 

Along with the baking and preserving, I have decided to add fermenting to the list of things I should share with all our readers (by the way, thank you all again for all the kind and encouraging comments!). Doing lots of reading on the subject lately so there should be many exciting adventures to write about on that end. Ah, so many fun projects!

A refugee from our former garden 

A scarecrow that was found in a dumpster by my Brother, Geo. We are huge fans of recycling and reusing, and especially fond of liberating items that might otherwise have been thrown away. Waste not want not! This distinguished gentleman may find a future home yet! Just needs a good washing and a new outfit. ;)

There's a thousand birds out there, somewhere...

OK! Take care dear hearts and may the year 2010 be a blissful one :)

Trees in the mist

A few pictures from today...

Drive to the Vineyard

Familiar countryside

Dormant Grape Vines

New garden beginnings..

The Mandala

In tune with the stars.

We call it Home.

-AND-

Lovely holiday gifts from our Neighbor Tom and family! 

*thank you!*

A fresh start!

And it really doesn't get fresher than this...

Rainbow Carrots and Beets!

But it wouldn't happen if it weren't for this...

One of our compost bins. 

Recently, we dug up our smallest compost container and were rewarded with enough fresh amazing "black gold" to completely fill up our newest garden bed and top off the rest with a layer of rich fertilizer! In 2009, after building the first raised beds in the garden, we didn't have much to go on and did our best by making do with what little earth we had, using the layer/no till method of gardening, and buying "culled" pallets of soil that had been hugely discounted at a nearby home and garden center. Now that our composting has really begun to pay off, the cycle is complete! The soil (hard red clay) that feeds us and the animals, in turn, is being nurtured. 

It just needed a little love. 

You can see the charred wood of the pallets we used for the sides. Here's a tip, don't throw your wood ashes in the compost until you're SURE there are no embers! Hot coals can smolder over night and stay live for hours (which is what happened to us). Finding smoke coming from the pile definitely alerted us and prompted calming cups of tea and sighs of relief afterwards!

Spring Tulips and Roses to be...

Seedlings ready to be planted!

Waiting to germinate.

Close-up

We use deer netting to cover our freshly planted garden beds to keep the kitties from thinking this is their litter box. Wish their were one small enough to keep out the bad bugs!

A little patio revamping :) -Rosemary-

We love cabbage!

The difference between a whim and a passion...

Growing our own food has been a much needed miracle. Nothing less.

The difference is in the taste, the smell and the feel of it. This type of thing is often hard to explain. You know when it's right. For us, "it" is the excitement when we find warm eggs in the nest box and the surprise of pulling up a particularly huge beet or carrot from living earth you've worked with your own two hands. Nothing can compare to the relationship that grows between person and animal and nature when living in perfect harmony and when there is a certain ring and pride in calling yourself a farmer. Gardening, we have found, suits us. For some unexplainable reason growing food a few feet from our front door, only steps away from where we lay our heads at night, just feels real and true. 

Tomorrow we are getting a strong start to the new year and have SO much planned! I am so glad to be able to share this with all of you!