Local Corn Fields

That's the Gabilan Range in the distance. Where am I? Looking at the corn fields on Fallon Road.

Irrigation Pipes

I have a soft spot for irrigation pipes. Sounds weird, I know. But, they were a part of my childhood. The Daddy worked for various farmers in San Benito County as an irrigator. Between the ages of four and eight, he and the fields were my babysitter.

One of my memories is of playing next to the large irrigation pipes from which water rushed down vegetable rows from the small open gates in the pipes. I made sure to see where the Daddy was as he worked his way across the field to the other end. When the water reached the end of a row, Daddy held his shovel high above the row. My job then was to shut the water gate for that row. Looking back, it was one of the best jobs I've had.

By the way, this scene is on Union Road, near Ladd Elementary School.

Drying Apricots

Tray after tray of organic Blenheim apricots dry in the sun at The Farm/ Bertuccio's Market on Airline Highway (aka Highway 25).  The aroma of the drying apricots was delightful.

Along McCloskey Road

It's Nature Footstep's Digital Art Meme today. Click here to check out digital artwork by other participants. 

By the way, here's the original image:

A Field of Bell Peppers

I spotted another Ag in Classroom sign on McCloskey Road. This one is for the Filice Farms. To see more signs that honor our local farmers, check this link.

Today, I'm linking up at Monday Mural, hosted by Oakland Daily Photo. Click here to see what murals other bloggers around the world are sharing.

Hey!

Pun intended. He-he. Or, should I exclaim, "Hay!" 

It's Nature Footstep's Digital Art Meme today. Click here to check out digital artwork by other participants. 

And, should you be curious, here's the original image:

Mustard in June

I hadn't been down Enterprise Road for awhile so I was surprised to see so much yellow. I don't think of orchards carpeted with yellow mustard in June. That's more of a Spring thing after a good rain.

Here's the photo before I played around with it in Photoshop.

I'm participating in Nature Footstep's Digital Art Meme today. To check out other participants or to take part, please click here.

The Southside Road Orchard Nymph

Tell me that walnut tree doesn't look like a nymph. She gave my bicycle and me a bit shade while I took a sip of water.

San Juan Valley

This is a close up of farm tunnels in San Juan Valley. I took the photo from Mission San Juan Bautista. In the far distance are the Diablo Mountains.

Here's the original photo:

I'm participating in Nature Footstep's Digital Art Meme today. To check out other participants or to take part, please click here.

2015 Hollister Certified Farmers' Market

The farmers' market in Downtown Hollister is open every Wednesday from 3:00 to 7:30 p.m. until September 30. Whooo-hooo! 

The market is on San Benito Street, between Fourth and Seventh Streets. So, from around noon to 8 p.m or so, you'll need to find another way through Downtown Hollister. Truly no big deal for fresh vegetables, fruit, and meats; or for baked goods, prepared food, prepackaged foods, and food cooked on the spot; or for such other items as fresh flowers, plants, clothing, jewelry, and crafts. There are also information booths for products, businesses, and nonprofit groups.

The farmers market again features live music from local talents as well as culinary demonstrations. New this year is the First Wednesday Art Nights, hosted by the San Benito County Arts Council. In the works is wine tasting, also on the first Wednesday of the month. 

For more information about the Hollister Certified Farmers' Market, check out its webpage at the Downtown Hollister Association or the market's Facebook page.

Today is Our World Tuesday, and that's where I'm linking up. Click here to visit other participants from around the world. 

A Cute, Big Honey Bee

The San Benito Gold Honey Bee was holding court at last week's Downtown Hollister Certified Farmers Market.

I'm hooking up with Monday Mellow Yellows today. Check out other participants by clicking here.

M&M Plant Sales Garden Mart

Are you looking for a local independent nursery that sells drought tolerant plants?

Then, M&M Plant Sales Garden Mart is the place to go.

The nursery has two locations. Its main location is 410 Spring Grove Road, off of Fairview Road. In Downtown Hollister, the nursery is on 190 San San Benito Street, at the foot of Park Hill. If you're driving north on San Benito Street, it's easy to miss the entrance.  No problem. Just turn left at First Street, then left onto the gravel lot to the nursery.

The main site is open from Monday to Friday. The downtown spot is open on weekends. It's also open during the week, but I can't recall which days. Visit the nursery's website or Facebook page for more details.

John Smith Road

Back road, country road. Same thing, isn't it?

This one is John Smith Road heading into Santa Ana Valley. I enjoy wandering this road, which starts at Fairview Road and goes past the landfill. Pedaling the bicycle is even better. When you get to the end of the road, you can either turn left to cruise through the small valley or turn right to head towards Quien Sabe Road, which takes you to Tres Pinos.

Today, I'm hanging out at Our World Tuesday. Come join me. Click here to visit other participants from around the globe.

From the Archives -- The Organic Farm Stand

I'm posting articles from my archives for the next few days. This one is about purchasing fresh organic vegetables from the Pinnacle Organic Farm on Saturdays in 2008, which we still do today. FYI: I edited the original piece.

 If It's Saturday, It Must Be Farm Day

(originally published on October 25, 2008)

We live in an agricultural area where some organic produce is grown. Yet, when the Husband and I moved to Hollister five years ago, one of the things I really missed about living in the big city area was being able to buy organic produce year round. Ironic, isn't it?

Between May and late August, we are fine. The local farmers market comes to downtown Hollister every Wednesday afternoon. It’s a small market, which seems to get smaller each year. The unfortunate thing about farmers markets is that the cost of fruits and vegetables are higher than in the stores. I think it’s worth paying the extra pennies for lettuce, tomatoes, squash, onions, potatoes, apples, artichokes, and so forth to feel, smell, and taste them the way that they are created to be.

A couple of winters ago, we learned that the Pinnacle Organic Farm(part of the Phil Foster Ranches) in San Juan Valley opens it farm stand every Saturday morning. FYI: Phil Foster Ranches sells its certified organic produce to Whole Foods Markets and other grocery shops. The farm stand is open year round, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's located on Duncan Avenue, between Bixby Road and Lucy Brown Road.

We go to this farm stand almost every Saturday. Early or late, it doesn’t matter. The produce is fresh. If some things are low, just ask, and they’ll replenish the stock if they have more on hand.

I wrote a note back in September that we had bought potatoes, onions, garlic, yellow cauliflower, watermelon, cilantro, carrots, apples, zucchinis, and a few other things for just over $20. I would've spent much more for the same amount, if I bought the food at a Whole Foods Market.

Other farm stands in the area are Bertuccio's Market/The Farm and Casa de Fruta. Along with produce, which may or may not be certified organic, they sell other food products. Casa de Fruta also offers fun activities for kids and adults.

Today is Saturday. We’re off to the farm.

O is for. . .

Olives. . .Olive oil. . . olive festival. . .the San Benito Olive Festival!

I never thought of Hollister as being in the middle of olive country. Probably to some we don't have a humongous amount of olive trees, but the number is surely growing. I'd be walking along and suddenly notice, "That's an olive tree." It may be one tree planted in front of a house, several trees clustered together, such as in the public parking lot behind Wells Fargo Bank, or an olive grove, such as the one at the start of the road to the San Juan Oaks Golf Club.

Brigantino's olive grove overlooks San Juan Valley.

Local historians say that the first olive trees were planted in the 18th century by the Spanish padres around Mission San Juan Bautista. (That's about seven miles west of Hollister.) The mission padres turned the crop into olive oil for their private use. I guess it would be a long wait in those days for olive oil to reach them from the Old World.

The Mission San Juan Bautista olive grove where the annual
Old Mission San Juan Bautista Fiesta takes place.

Today, we have several local olive growers in San Benito County who produce award winning olive oils.

• Brigantino Olive Oil
• Guerra Vineyards and Groves
• Oils of Paicines 
• Pietra Santa Winery  
• Sharobed Grove
• Sons-of-Sicily
• Suncoast Organic Farm

San Benito Olive Festival

In 2013, a group of local community leaders, businesses, and volunteers organized the first San Benito Olive Festival to celebrate the agricultural bounty, artisanal food producers, and natural beauty of our area.

One Saturday in October, the event brings together amazing olive oil makers, food crafters, celebrity chefs, artists, musicians, restaurants, and others from the local area as well as from other parts of California.

This year, the San Benito Olive Festival will be October 17, 2015. The venue to be announced soon. Save the Date!

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Outstanding!

These cows are definitely out standing in their field above Quien Sabe Road. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.

Whooo-hooooo! It's the first day of our new adventure around the sun. May you all have a 2015 trip full of wonder and joy.

A Mooooooo-ving View

"Moooove along," said this cow on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. "There's nothing to see here."

I took the photo anyway. Ha!

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One of a Kind

Rather unique tomato, don't you think?  I wonder if it was the butt of all jokes among its peers.

These organic tomatoes waited patiently to be bought at the Pinnacle Organic Saturday Farmstand.

Pumpkins!

Yes, you can buy your pumpkins at the supermarket. Nothing wrong with that. But, if you want a bit more added fun, you might check out one of these local hot spots.

Tonascia Farms Pumpkin Patch

The Tonascia Farms Pumpkin Patch is in the parking lot on the west side of Airline Highway (aka Highway 25) just before you reach Bertuccio's Market–The Farm, near the corner of Union Road. Another reference point for you: Where Maverick's BBQ is set up on Friday afternoons. The pumpkin patch is self-pay. If you'd like to buy gourds, Indian corn, and decorative pumpkins, then head down to Bertuccio's Market.

Swank Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch

At Swank Farms, you can choose to pick your own pumpkins or buy them ready to go. While you're there, you might enjoy some of the other fun activities, besides the corn maze, they offer throughout October, such as the pumpkin sling shot, pedal cars, pig races, and the corn cannon. If you want a good fright, go at night and check out their Terror at Night, Alien Invasion.  Mwahahahahaha!

Pumpkin Junction at Casa de Fruta

Every October, Casa de Fruta, just a few miles northeast of Hollister, sets up its Pumpkin Junction with pumpkins of all sizes ready to go. Either before or after choosing your pumpkins, take the time to enjoy the various activities and shops that Casa de Fruta has to offer, including its infamous produce stand, Casa de Choo-choo, Casa de Carousel, wandering peacocks, antique farm machinery, and more. 

Gears Make the World Go Round

Where would farm machinery be without gears?

I took this photo a while back at Pinnacle Farm in San Juan Valley when we were purchasing some yummy organic produce at the farmstand. It's open every Saturday, from 9 AM to 1 PM. A great place to go locally when the Hollister Farmers Market closes this coming Wednesday.

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