Backyard Orchard News
Sano Farms will host a California farm demonstration network visit on June 24, 2016.
This Friday starting at 10:00 AM and going till about 11:45 AM, Alan Sano and Jesse Sanchez of Sano Farms will host visitors at 44935-B W. Shields Avenue. They will discuss and show what they've done to achieve their soil management goals in their processing tomato fields using reduced disturbance tillage, precision drip irrigation and cover crops. Visitors will also have an opportunity to learn more about the growing farm demonstration network and its work. The visit will start at 10 o'clock and wrap up at about 11:45 AM. Further information can be acquired by calling Jeff Mitchell, ANR Cooperative Extension Cropping Systems Specialist at Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, by calling his cell (559) 303-9689 or emailing him at jpmitchell@ucdavis.edu
From Fresno:
Take Hwy 180 west out of Fresno through Kerman, CA and to Mendota. In Mendota, take Belmont Avenue west out of town. At Fairfax Avenue, go north (right) about a mile. Turn left (west) onto Shields Avenue and continue about two miles to the farm on the left side of the road.
From I-5 north or south:
Take Shields Avenue exit. Go east on Shields. Continue about 5 miles to Sano Farms on right side of road. Follow signs to meeting place.
Customer Engagement: Garlic Braiding Party at Eatwell Farm
Nigel and Lorraine of Eatwell Farm in Dixon go an extra mile to share a taste of real farm experiences with their 500 CSA members and their friends and relations, partly for increased understanding about the farm by their customers and partly to build loyalty and attract new CSA members.
After arriving and getting settled, we all walked out to the garlic field, where we learned how to pull up the bulbs with the stem still attached. We got the hang of garlic harvesting quickly, as the soil had already been loosened around the bulbs, making pulling pretty easy. We picked and pulled and shook off the dirt and piled our findings into harvesting trays to bring back to the packing shed.
After we'd filled a dozen or so trays with our harvest, Connie and Eric, our hosts for the afternoon, let us loose in the next field over, the most beautiful abundant strawberry patch, with instructions to taste and pick what we wanted. No prices, no weighing, just picking and eating of the most delicious ripe and sweet berries. Smiles were everywhere.
Then it was time to learn how to braid. First a little instruction in cleaning off the outer layers of skins, then a short demo on how to braid, and we were ready. We all made a few braids, or tried to make braids. Although the farm sells garlic at their farmers' markets, Connie and Eric again let us know that we could take home as much as we wanted! We felt royally gifted with kindness.
Finally, dinner was ready. The main course was farm-raised chicken, prepared by Lorraine. Rounding out the delicious meal were potluck salads, sides and sweets brought by the visitors. Dinner was followed by a campfire, complete with marshmallows and all the makings for classic s'mores.
camping
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