Days 977 - 1053 Winter Ends...Did it ever start?

Yes, eleven weeks since the last posting. School is coming to an end and I will have more time over the next few months so I should post more frequently.

This is the time of the year when we are just finishing the "lemon only" period and start fruit harvest all over again. We have had some cherries already (very early) and raspberries are not too far off. After this begins, we will have fruit again pretty much every day until at least March of next  year. Pretty amazing climate!!

Speaking of amazing climate. I am pround to day that we have our first Avocados on the tree this year. It looks as though there will be a bunch too!! Perhaps even 100 or so. Do not want to count my guacamole before I am sure, but it sure is a great sign (every other year the flowers on the avocado tree just dropped).

Here is what we harvested in the slow time of the year. Only $150 worth of produce over the past 11 weeks. Not much to speak of but I did managage to harvest something every day to surpass the 1000 day mark!!

An eleven-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 156 ($78.00)
Cherries: 1 pound ($5.00)
Limes: 13 ($4.25)
Oranges: 75 ($37.50)
Grapefruit: 13 ($13.00)
Salad Greens: 14 ($14.00)
Strawberries: 3 baskets ($6.00)

Eleven-Week harvest: $157.75
Total Produce Harvested : $4941.25
Total Honey Harvested: $1080.00
Expenses: $500.00

Daily Details
Year 3, Day 246
1) 1 orange
2) 2 limes

Year 3, Day 247
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 1 lime

Year 3, Day 248
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 249
1) 3 oranges

Year 3, Day 250
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 251
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 252
1) 1 grapefruit
2) 1 lime

Year 3, Day 253
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 lemons

Year 3, Day 254
1) 5 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons

Year 3, Day 255
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 256
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 257
1) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 258
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 259
1) 3 oranges

Year 3, Day 260
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 5 lemons

Year 3, Day 261
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 262
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 limes
4) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 263
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 lime

Year 3, Day 264
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 265
1) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 266
1) 3 oranges

Year 3, Day 267
1) 6 oranges
2) 2 limes

Year 3, Day 268 - 271
gone

Year 3, Day 272
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 273
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 lemons
3) 2 limes

Year 3, Day 274
1) 4 lemons
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 275
1) 1 lemon
2) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 276
1) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 277
1) 3 lemons
2) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 278
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 279
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 280
1) 6 lemons
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 281
1) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 282
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 283
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 284
1) 5 lemons

Year 3, Day 285
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 286
1) 3 lemons

Year 3, Day 287
1) 3 lemons
2) 2 limes

Year 3, Day 288
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 289
1) 1 lemon

Year 3, Day 290
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 291
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 292
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 293
1) 6 lemons

Year 3, Day 294
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 295
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 296
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 297
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 298
1) 7 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 299
1) 7 lemons

Year 3, Day 300
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 301
1) 20 lemons

Year 3, Day 302
1) salad greens

Year 3, Day 303
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 304
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 305
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 306
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 307
1) 3 lemons
2) salad greens
3) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 308
1) 5 lemons

Year 3, Day 309
1) 4 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 310
1) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 311
1) salad greens

Year 3, Day 312
1) 6 lemons

Year 3, Day 313
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 314
1) Basket Strawberries
2) 1/2 pound cherries

Year 3, Day 315
1) 4 lemons
2) Salad greens (2)

Year 3, Day 316
1) 2 lemons
2) 1/4 pound cherries

Year 3, Day 317
1) 2 lemons
2) Basket Strawberries

Year 3, Day 318
1) salad greens
2) 1/4 pound cherries

Year 3, Day 319
1) 2 lemons
2) basket strawberries

Year 3, Day 320
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens

Year 3, Day 321
1) 2 lemons

Days 921 - 976 Springtime Comes with Little Sign of Winter

What an easy winter it has been. A bit colder than normal but very little rain to get in the way of outdoor activities in Northern California. What is great for cycling and running is not the best for the garden though. I actually had to water the fruit trees last weekend for the first time ever that I remember (in the winter that is). An article that I read said that it is the driest January-February on record in California.

Well, fortunately we had a lot of rain in December so that the lakes are all full and there is some snow to ski on...unlike last year when all of the precip came in March and April.

In the garden, I did my February 1st fertilizing of the trees and planted some Kale starts. Need some rain to get them really rolling. Harvested 8 quarts of honey because one of the hives dies out over the winter. Pretty much every day has been started with a few oranges and a grapefruit from the bountiful citrus trees. A record 1313 mandarins this year and looks to be a record orange harvest too. The lemon tree seems to have more lemons than leaves. Pretty cool sight to see.

The Aprium tree has already bloomed and I hope that the fruit has set. The nectarine tree is in full bloom and the peaches are not far behind. Before the next post the entire yard will be in full bloom and I will get to see a sneak preview of what to expect for the years harvest.

An eight-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 15 ($7.50)
Chard: 9 bunches ($22.50)
Limes: 11 ($3.75)
Mandarins: 411 ($103.75)
Oranges: 136 ($78.00)
Grapefruit: 22 ($22.00)
Honey: 8 quarts ($160.00

Eight-Week harvest: $237.00
Total Produce Harvested : $4783.50
Total Honey Harvested: $1080.00
Expenses: $500.00

Daily Details
Year 3, Day 190
1) 1 orange
2) 15 mandarins

Year 3, Day 191
1)   25 mandarins

Year 3, Day 192
1)   15 mandarins

Year 3, Day 193
1) 32 mandarins
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 194
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 195
1) 1 orange
2) 15 mandarins

Year 3, Day 196
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 197
1) 1 orange
2) 3 mandarins
3) 2 limes
4) 2 bunches chard

Year 3, Day 198
1) 15 mandarins

Year 3, Day 199
1) 15 mandarins
2) 2 oranges
3) 1 lime

Year 3, Day 200
1) 1 orange
2) 20 mandarins

Year 3, Day 201
1) 3 oranges
2) 13 mandarins

Year 3, Day 202
1) 2 oranges
2) 60 mandarins

Year 3, Day 203
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 lemon

Year 3, Day 204
gone

Year 3, Day 205
1) 7 oranges
2) 30 mandarins

Year 3, Day 206
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 lemon
3) 4 mandarins

Year 3, Day 207
1) 2 oranges
2) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 208
1) 5 oranges
2) 6 mandarins

Year 3, Day 209
1) 4 oranges
2) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 210
1) 4 oranges
2) 8 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 211
1) 2 oranges
2) 16 mandarins

Year 3, Day 212
1) 2 oranges
2) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 213
1) 3 oranges
2) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 214
1) 4 oranges
2) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 215
1) 3 oranges
2) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 216
1) 2 oranges
2) 10 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 217
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins

Year 3, Day 218
1) 3 oranges
2) 4 lemons

Year 3, Day 219
1) 7 oranges

Year 3, Day 220
1) 2 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 3 lemons

Year 3, Day 221
1) 3 oranges
2) 3 mandarins

Year 3, Day 222
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 1 mandarin

Year 3, Day 223
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 mandarins

Year 3, Day 224
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 225
1) 5 oranges
2) 3 lemons
3) 1 grapefruit
4) 2 limes
5) 1 mandarin
6) 1 bunch chard

Year 3, Day 226
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 227
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 228
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 229
1) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 230
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 231
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 1 lime
4) 2 bunch chard

Year 3, Day 232
1) 4 oranges

Year 3, Day 233
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 234
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 limes

Year 3, Day 235
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 236
1) 5 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 237
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 3 limes
4) 2 bunches chard

Year 3, Day 238
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 bunches chard

Year 3, Day 239
1) 1 orange
2) 3 lemons

Year 3, Day 240
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 241
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 242
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 243
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 244
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Year 3, Day 245
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit

Days 865 - 920 Citrus and Climate Change in Northern CA

As we are in the midst of our citrus harvest season I thougth I would write about an NPR story I heard a while back about the concerns of climate change among citrus growers in Northern California. I would have thought that a warming of the temperatures would have only a positive effect on citrus with growers always fearing the dreaded freeze. Well, the grower that they were interviewing was talking about how much of his crop (Satsuma Mandarins) is eaten fresh and how we are accustomed to eating citrus that is orange in color (oranges, tangerines, mandarins) and how the warming of the climate will slow the colorization  of the fruit. Here is an article about Degreening of Citrus that I really thought explained what Citrus from Florida has to go through before we consumers actually find it acceptable.

This explains why the oranges that I would buy in Mexico would often be green (but perfectly ripe inside).

Well, for now our mandarins are turning nice orange and we have harvested over 900 to this date. The oranges have been tested and I plan on waiting at least a couple more weeks before starting to harvest them daily. Grapefruit will be at least a month.

A eight-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 18 ($9.00)
Chard: 2.5 bunches ($5.00)
Kiwi: 22 ($11.00)
Limes: 11 ($3.75)
Mandarins: 790 ($197.50)
Oranges: 13 ($6.50)

Eight-Week harvest: $232.75
Total Produce Harvested : $4546.50
Total Honey Harvested: $920.00
Expenses: $480.00
Daily Details
Year 3, Day 134
1) 4  mandarins
2) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 135
1) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 136
1) 7 mandarins

Year 3, Day 137
1) 3mandarins

Year 3, Day 138
1) 7 mandarins
2) 1 lemon

Year 3, Day 139
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 140
1) 9 mandarins

Year 3, Day 141
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 142
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 143
1) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 144
1) 17 mandarins
2) 8 limes
3) 2 lemons

Year 3, Day 145
1) 50 mandarins
2) 6 lemons

Year 3, Day 146
gone

Year 3, Day 147
gone

Year 3, Day 148
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 149
1) 7 mandarins

Year 3, Day 150
1) 6 mandarins

Year 3, Day 151
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 152
1) 15 mandarins

Year 3, Day 153
1) 41 mandarins

Year 3, Day 154
1) 2 mandarins
2) 2 oranges
3) 2 kiwi
4) 3 lemons
5) 1/2 bunch chard

Year 3, Day 155
1) 15 mandarins

Year 3, Day 156
1) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 157
1) 8 mandarins
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 158
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 159
1) 6 mandarins

Year 3, Day 160
1) 20 mandarins
2) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 161
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 162
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 163
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 164
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 165
1) 12 mandarins
2) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 166
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 167
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 168
1) 14 mandarins
2) 2 bunches chard

Year 3, Day 169
1) 40 mandarins

Year 3, Day 170
1) 9 mandarins

Year 3, Day 171
1) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 172
1) 26 mandarins

Year 3, Day 173
1) 18 mandarins

Year 3, Day 174
1) 32 mandarins

Year 3, Day 175
gone

Year 3, Day 176
gone

Year 3, Day 177
1) 27 mandarins
2) 20 kiwi

Year 3, Day 178
1) 38 mandarins
2) 1 orange
3) 3 limes

Year 3, Day 179
1) 11 mandarins
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 180
1) 14 mandarins
2) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 181
1) 47 mandarins

Year 3, Day 182
1) 5 mandarins

Year 3, Day 183
1) 8 mandarins

Year 3, Day 184
1) 27 mandarins

Year 3, Day 185
1) 50 mandarins
2) 4 lemons
3) 1 orange

Year 3, Day 186
1) 10 mandarins

Year 3, Day 187
1) 12 mandarins

Year 3, Day 188
1) 13 mandarins
2) 2 oranges

Year 3, Day 189
1) 4 mandarins