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.

Pressing Apples In The Anderson Valley

Last Saturday, I went up to Sarah's family's vineyard to press the fall apples into juice. Norm, the vineyard manager, found a machine that grinds the apples into pulp and a hand-turned apple press to extract the juice from the pulp. We started with a lot of boxes of apples from their trees and those of neighboring farms. First we would grind them up:

Then we would take the pulp over to the press where we'd crank the mashed up apples down until all the juice came out:

It took most of the day, but we filled 40 half-gallon containers with the best apple juice I've ever had.

Paris Flea Market--2009

The annual Paris Flea Market at Sallie Mac in Mendocino started today. A truly unique shop with a wide variety of merchandise, Sallie Mac has been a touchstone in Mendocino for a decade. Recently featured in Oprah magazine, customers travel from across the state to Mendocino for Sallie's three-day event.