The Calm After The Storms

1 week and 10 inches of rain later, the Mendocino Coast shakes off the bluster and reveals the heart-stopping beauty of the North Coast.

Choosing This Year's Heirloom Tomato Varieties

This year, we've decided to plant only heirloom tomatoes in the inn's Anderson Valley Heritage Garden. We traveled down to the Seed Bank in Petaluma to select our seeds.

This store, part of the Baker Seed Company out of Missouri, is a nirvana for gardeners.

This is one of the 30+ varieties we chose.

The Annual Chestnut Harvest

Last Saturday was the annual Permaculture Festival and Potluck at the Zeni Ranch. Located 15 miles down Fish Rock Road and high up on a ridgetop between Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, the Zenis have been working this land for well over 100 years. One of the great things about this continuity is that a discussion with any Zeni about sustainable farming and perennial agricultural systems is usually bolstered by stories of moonshining and revenuers.

But the true stars of this day are the dry-farmed chestnut trees brought to this country from Italy over 100 years ago. Tall and majestic, their branches stretch across 100 feet and more. The chestnuts themselves actually grow inside of prickly seed pods, so it is important to wear boots (to squash them out of the pods) and gloves to avoid getting stuck. Along with three friends that went with me, we were able to harvest almost 20 pounds!

Friends Come To Vist

A couple of friends from San Diego, Marshall and Lois, came up to visit this past weekend. I had a great time showing them around Mendocino and the Anderson Valley because they are both very visual people. Lois is in graphic design and Marshall is a photographer. I saw things I would normally never notice when I looked at things through their eyes.

What's The Best Thing On Our Menu?

That has to be the BAAT!

What's a BAAT you ask? It is bacon, avocado, arugula and grilled BGI Heritage Garden heirloom tomato over a thick slice of fresh sourdough bread. The combination of sweet and peppery Millionaire's Bacon, with the flavor of a garden-fresh heirloom tomato can't be beat. Of course, I may be a little partial since we grew those tomatoes from seed, so I guess you will just have to come and try for yourself.

Fall in the Anderson Valley

Fall is a beautiful time of the year in the Anderson Valley. Trees changing colors and the vineyards turning a flaming red. The last of the grapes waiting to be picked are syrah.

Meadowview Suite Back In Service

After being out of service for more than 2 years, Brewery Gulch Inn's 2-room Meadowview Suite is now back in service. And it's first guest was a gentleman who was part of the ensemble cast of a long-running, ground-breaking television show.

The only rooms at the inn to overlook the meadow that hosts many of the deer, turkeys and other wildlife that visit Brewery Gulch, Meadowview is equipped with a mini-refrigerator, a microwave, a Keurig coffemaker, two televisions (one a large flat panel tuned to the DISH Network) and a stereo system. In the main room, a couch, two leather club chairs and a fireplace make for a comfortable area to watch television, or visit with family and friends. A queen feather bed rounds out this room.

In the bedroom, a splittable king featherbed, leather club chair and a large flat panel television make this a quiet and restful room for sleeping.