Showing posts with label agriculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agriculture. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2016

I Spy . . . an Old Coke Machine


I spy with my little eye a once-upon-a-time Coca Cola machine at the Ivancovich's cherry stand on Buena Vista Road. It's where you can wash any cherries that you just purchased and want to eat immediately. Who doesn't want to do that?

The cherry stand is open every day, from around 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until the cherry season ends. The season doesn't last long, so get your fresh cherries soon. Yummm!


Wednesday, May 11, 2016

The 2016 Downtown Hollister Farmers' Market


Hollister has its own certified farmers' market. Yes, indeed. The 2016 season opened last Wednesday. Did you make it?

Every Wednesday, until September 28, 2016, the Downtown Hollister Farmers' Market will be from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. on San Benito Street. The main street will be closed between Fourth and Seventh Streets from noon to 8:30 p.m.


The market's layout is different this year.  You'll find the produce booths in the middle part of the market. The food booths are on the south end, near the Veterans Memorial Building. There are tables at both the south and north end of the market for you to sit and eat, rest, and/or people watch.

I saw a variety of new food vendors last Wednesday, selling such items as Puerto Rican sandwiches, Hawaiian shaved ice,  artisan tamales, hot dogs, and fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Yummmm.  To see photos of some of the food booths, check out the "Food Court at the Hollister Farmers' Market" album at Facebook. You don't need to register or sign in at the site to view it.

See you at the farmers' market!




Sunday, March 20, 2016

Spring!

Apple orchard on Duncan Road
Once upon a time, the back roads of San Juan Valley zigged and zagged among apple orchards. Imagine how the valley looked when the trees were full of blossoms.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Artichokes of Hollister


Artichokes grow in Hollister?

I always thought artichokes grew in foggy, sandy areas, so it still surprises me whenever I see the artichoke fields around here. Workers were harvesting the artichokes in the fields along Union Road this morning. One of them mentioned that Bertuccio's Market on Airline Highway (aka Highway 25), near Union Road, will be selling some of the artichokes.  Yaay! Beats driving all the way to Castroville for fresh artichokes.


Saturday, December 19, 2015

Cows, Mist, and Green.


This morning I went searching for a picture of water in the San Benito River. Couldn't find one. But, I did find this sweet scene off of Southside Road. Moooo.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Another Lovely Day


It was another gorgeous morning along Highway 25. This is near the corner of Enterprise Road and the highway.

See you tomorrow!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Sparkle, Sparkle in San Juan Valley


At first glance, it looked like a lake. After all we did have a good rain the previously day, but, it was merely the sun's reflection on plastic tarps.

See you tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Going Around the Bend


I like this bend on Union Road, the one by Riverside Road. It reminds me that we do indeed live in a rural area, no matter how developed we get. Even, if one day, the orchards and vegetable fields along this bend are gone. Hopefully, that doesn't ever happen. Knock on wood. 


Monday, December 14, 2015

The Last of the Apples


Still a bit more fruit left in the organic apple orchard in San Juan Valley. No doubt they're crisp and yummy, with the natural refrigeration.

See you tomorrow. 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Plowing and Thinning in Cold Temps


The temperature was about 37 degrees around 8 a.m. this morning. A few degrees colder an hour earlier. Brrrrr. 




Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Day In, Day Out

San Juan Valley

Lots of very hard work go into farming and ranching every day. It doesn't matter whether temperatures are over 100 degrees or in the low 40s, nor whether it's windy, foggy, or raining.

Many thanks to the men and women who do the backbreaking work of growing, nurturing, and harvesting food for everyone!

San Juan Valley


Saturday, October 10, 2015

Irrigation Sprinklers


Irrigation sprinklers make a field happy on Cienega Road. Chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck, chuck. That's how they—the sprinklers—sound to me.

Enjoy your Saturday! See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

See You Next Year!


Last Wednesday was the last day of the Downtown Hollister Farmers Market. Until next year, at least two places to find local, fresh fruits and vegetables are Bertuccio's–The Farm at the corner of Highway 25 and Union Road and the Pinnacles Farmstand in San Juan Valley on Saturday mornings.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

A Tractor in Waiting


Dear John Deere, you are a handsome machine. One day, I'd like to drive one of your older, smaller versions.

This tractor sits on display at the San Benito County Fair, which is happening today and tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

The 2015 San Benito County Fair


Cowboy Boots and Local Roots! 

That's the theme of the 2015 San Benito County Fair, which is a four day affair this year. It starts this Thursday, October 1, and ends on Sunday, October 4. Thursday through Saturday, the fair's hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7.p.m. The carnival opens at noon on all four days. 


10 Things I Look Forward to at this Year's County Fair

1. Viewing the beautiful crafted and creative quilts.
2. Visiting the goats, baaaaa, and chickens, bwak, bwak, bwak.
3. Looking at the art entries by students from the various elementary schools.
4. Checking out the agricultural displays. 


5. Listening to Mr. O's Jazz Band in the patio.
6. Riding the free shuttle bus to the fair.
7. Guessing how much the rock weighs at Graniterock's booth.
8. Eating!


9. Cheering on the All-Alaskan racing pigs. 
10. Wandering around the fair with the Husband, simply enjoying ourselves.


Admission to the Fair

Daily gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, 6 to 12, and $7 for seniors (60 and older). Children who are five or younger get in for free.  On Thursday, gate entry for children, ages 12 and younger, is free. On Friday, admission for Seniors is $6. And, on Saturday, admission for all active and military people is free with military I.D. 

Parking is $5 per car.  San Benito County Express offers a free shuttle on all four days of the fair. The shuttle drops off passengers at the fair is front of the Pavilion. The shuttle begins running at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. on Saturday, and 12 noon on Sunday. Click here to see the schedule and bus stops. 




I'm hooking up with Our World Tuesday today. To check out what's going on in other parts of the world, click here.

See you tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Pietra Santa


This is tasting room for the Pietra Santa Winery in the Cienega Valley above Hollister. I always forget how beautiful and magical it is up by the winery.

Pietra Santa is Italian for Sacred Stone. The sacred stone in this case is the amazing soil from which grape vines and olive trees grow to produce crops for award winning wines and olive oils. To learn more about Pietra Santa, check out its website or Facebook page.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Time to Go Home


As I was riding my bicycle yesterday, I noticed the goats on Enterprise Road. Of course, I had to stop and photos. I watched a black and white goat for a while. It was apart from the others, gazing up at the barn. It took a few steps up the hill, stopped, walked a few more steps, stopped. Then, slowly it made its way up the hill as if drawn by some alluring music.

When I looked at this photo hours later, I noticed goats hanging out in the shade of the barn and in the fenced area to the side. Maybe the black and white goat was missing its partner. One can imagine.

Until tomorrow.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Rain?


The other day, the Husband and I pedaled our bicycles by the tomato cannery. I felt very tiny droplets fall on me. I looked up. Ah! Tomato mist. The droplets even tasted a bit tomato-y.


Sunday, July 26, 2015

Walnuts of San Benito County


Walnuts have been produced in San Benito County for many, many years. Although there are fewer acreage of walnut orchards, walnuts ranked third in the fruit and nut crops category in 2014 in terms of their value. Last year, the walnut crop was worth over $5.5 million, according to the San Benito County 2014 Annual Crop Report.



Saturday, July 18, 2015

Wine grapes

Wine grapes at Leal Vineyards, off of Fairview Road

In 2013, wine grapes made the top 10 crops grown in San Benito County, according to the annual crop report. The local vineyards produced 15,733 tons of wine grapes on 3,885 acres. The combined gross value of their wine grape production was $21,771,500.

Vineyards are growing all over the county, on widespread acreage as well as on small estates. Click here for a list of local vineyards—and wineries.

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