The Transfarmation has begun!

The field has had its first breakup - a week ago, Jerry pushed over the deerbrush and chisel-plowed the acre or two we'll be farming. He, Nini, and Tong also moved a bunch of irrigation pipe in. On Monday, Surprise Valley Electric came and turned the power to the pump - and the meter immediately started running. The theory is that there is a short into the ground somewhere (the wire to the pump is just buried, no conduit or anything). Hopefully Derk will be able to take a look at it soon and fix us up. On Wednesday it snowed, and yesterday it was close to 80 degrees. The poor apples really needed to be planted, so they were: to the south of the house the Hauer Pippin (from the Santa Cruz Mountains) and Ashmead's Kernel; to the north a Spitzenberg (Jefferson's favorite); in the turnaround a Cherry Cox; and at the edge of the field, welcoming those who walk down what will be the steps to the farm, Benjamin Franklin's favorite, the Newtown Pippin. All are certified organic grafts on M-7A rootstock. Thank you, Pinney, for the gift of the apple trees! The soil was so beautiful - dark, rich and loose like coffee grounds. I woke a few worms up, but I don't think I cut any in half with my shovel. I felt like there should be some ritual to accompany the planting of the trees -- it seems like such a tangible statement of faith in the future. I didn't have a ritual handy, so I just welcomed them all to the ranch and wished them luck in their new homes. I also planted 2 red and one golden raspberry - those are going to be delicious, but the occasion, while a positive one, did not feel as solemn and auspicious as the tree planting. After the heat wave of the weekend the weather service is calling for snow today and tomorrow. Hopefully this will not kill the trees, which have already started to bud. Then again, maybe it will kill some of the mosquitoes, which are out in force. Ah yes, nothing like a skeeter bite on top of a sunburn.

We're getting some interesting people contacting us about WWOOFing, which is great. Their visit should be an adventure for one and all. I wonder which of them will actually make it to the farm?