Today I was out picking the daily produce and I was astounded that I picked more than 13 pounds of fruit and vegetables in one morning. Thus the title, "Peak Produce". I have to believe that early August has to be the peak of my garden here in Sonoma County. Surely cannot sustain 13 pounds of produce every day for very long.
A while ago somebody asked me how much time I spent on my garden. Honestly, there is some time that is used for planting seeds, starts and taking care of the weeding...but my answer to him was that most of my time was spent harvesting stuff. I try to do it all in the morning and I find that the plants respond better if I harvest when it is nice and cool as opposed to during the mid-day heat. Each morning I must spend a good 15 minutes gathering from the garden. Due to this blog, I do spend a little more time tallying up the totals each day and weighing stuff that I need to do so I can get a dollar figure. Fifteen minutes may not seem like a lot of time...and it is not a problem right now, but being a teacher, once school starts, the mornings are a bit more time-sensitive and I will have to get up a bit earlier just to keep up with the great stuff that is coming out!! Cannot complain too much though since I get to bring all of this fresh stuff to work with me for snacks!!
Did only three weeks this time since the amount we have been havesting is much greater (as opposed to the winter when we harvest one or two varieties of citrus).
A three-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 4 ($2.00)
Chard: 7 bunches ($14.00)
Strawberries: 2.5 baskets ($5.00)
Blueberries: 1.5 baskets ($3.00)
Peaches: 120 ($70.50)
Zucchini: 37 ($34.00)
Cucumber: 27 ($17.00)
Tomatoes: 24 ($27.00)
Cherry Tomato: 2 baskets ($4.00)
Pears: 37 ($32.50)
Asian Pears: 4 ($3.75)
Grapes: 1.75 lb ($3.50)
Year 3, Day 15
1) 1 tomato
2) 1 cucumber
3) 15 peaches
4) 1 basket blueberries
Year 3, Day 16
gone
Year 3, Day 17
1) 6 zucchini
2) 1 tomato
Year 3, Day 18
1) 2 zucchini
2) 5 peaches
3) 1 bunch chard
4) 1 tomato
5) 3 cucumbers
Year 3, Day 19
1) 27 peaches
2) 1 tomato
3) 2 zucchini
4) 1 bunch chard
Year 3, Day 20
1) 36 peaches
2) 2 cucumbers
3) 2 bunches chard
Year 3, Day 21
gone
Year 3, Day 22
1) 5 zucchini
2) 2 cucumbers
3) 1 tomato
4) 2 lemons
Year 3, Day 23
1) 2 lemons
2) 2 cucumbers
3) 3 zucchini
Year 3, Day 24
gone
Year 3, Day 25
1) 5 cucumbers
2) 2 zucchini
3) 2 tomatoes
4) 5 peaches
5) 3 pears
6) 1 basket cherry tomatoes
Year 3, Day 26
1) 2 tomatoes
2) 3 bunches chard
Year 3, Day 27
1) 4 tomatoes
2) 3 zucchini
3) 3 cucumber
4) 1/2 basket blueberries
5) 1 peach
Year 3, Day 28
1) 3 peaches
2) 1 basket strawberries
3) 5 pears
4) 2 zucchini
5) 1 asian pear
Year 3, Day 29
1) 1 cucumber
2) 1 peach
3) 6 pears
4) 1 zucchini
Year 3, Day 30
1) 1 1/4 lb grapes
2) 3 zucchini
3) 1 basket cherry tomatoes
4) 2 cucumbers
5) 6 pears
6) 3 peaches
Year 3, Day 31
gone
Year 3, Day 32
1) 3 tomatoes
2) 5 zucchini
3) 1 cucumber
4) 9 peaches
Year 3, Day 33
1) 9 peaches
2) 1/2 lb grapes
Year 3, Day 34
1) 7 peaches
2) 9 pears
3) 4 cucumbers
4) 5 tomatoes
5) 3 zucchini
Year 3, Day 35
1) 8 pears
2) 1 1/2 baskets strawberries
3) 3 tomatoes
4) 1 cucumber
5) 3 asian pears
Three-Week harvest: $216.25
Total Produce Harvested : $3640.50
Total Honey Harvested: $520.00
Expenses: $430.00
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Monday, July 16, 2012
Days 718 - 745 Variety of Life
Coming out of winter it amazes me how much variety can come out of a little backyard garden. This 4-week period saw 14 varieties of produce...almost a grocery store...with quality that never ceases to amaze the senses.
It is this time of the year when we can start seeing a real difference in our shopping habits. I have been doing most of the grocery shopping for the summer and I hardly have to buy any produce. I buy carrots because we do not grow those and the occasional bunch of bananas, but I have been finding that we can eat almost all of our fruit and at least half of our veggies from our yard. The tally for the last 4 weeks is over $200...which is greater than the entire 8 weeks prior. That itself says why my shopping trips have become so much easier.
The summer fruit. That is what we are partaking in right now. Peaches are ripening nicely and we are doing our daily consumption. Lucky for us, the first peach variety that we get is slow to ripen and I can find about 10 each day that are perfect. The aprium though was a different story. How that tree has the quality of a plum!!! All of the fruit came and went in about 10 days. Giving some away and freezing a whole lot...for the kids love them frozen!! What a treat.
Starting the 3rd year of continuous harvest. Here we go!!
A four-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 15 ($7.50)
Salad Greens: 5 salads ($5.00)
Chard: 8.5 bunches ($17.00)
Beets: 40 ($30.00)
Strawberries: 3.5 baskets ($7.00)
Raspberries: 15.5 baskets ($31.00)
Blueberries: 8 baskets ($16.00)
Apriums: 105 ($39.00)
Nectarines: 17 ($12.00)
Peaches: 35 ($18.00)
Zucchini: 24 ($23.50)
Cucumber: 7 ($4.00)
Tomatoes: 2 ($1.00)
Cherry Tomato: 1 basket ($2.00)
Year 2, Day 353
1) 1 basket Strawberries
2) Salad greens
3) 1/2 bunch chard
4) 3 baskets raspberries
5) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 354
1) 1/2 basket blueberries
2) 5 beets
3) salad greens
4) 1 basket raspberries
5) 1 aprium
Year 2, Day 355
1) 2 bunches chard
2) 5 apriums
3) 1.5 baskets raspberries
Year 2, Day 356
1) Salad greens
2) 5 beets
3) 1 aprium
4) 1 basket raspberries
5) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 357
1) Salad greens
Year 2, Day 358
1) 6 beets
2) 1 basket raspberries
3) 1 lemon
4) 1 aprium
Year 2, Day 359
1) 1 bunch chard
2) 6 lemons
3) 1 basket raspberries
4) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 360
1) 1 basket strawberries
2) salad greens
Year 2, Day 361
1) 1.5 baskets raspberries
2) 2 apriums
Year 2, Day 362
1) 6 beets
2) 1 basket raspberries
3) 2 apriums
Year 2, Day 363
1) 1 basket blueberries
2) 5 apriums
Year 2, Day 364
1) 6 beets
2) 12 apriums
3) 1/2 basket raspberries
Year 2, Day 365
1) 2 bunches chard
2) 1 basket strawberries
3) 1 basket blueberries
4) 1 basket raspberries
5) 6 apriums
Year 2, Day 366
1) 4 zukes
2) 2 cherry tomatoes
3) 1 basket blueberries
4) 1/2 basket raspberries
5) 30 apriums
Year 3, Day 1
1) 6 beets
2) 1 nectarine
3) 1 zuke
4) 20 apriums
Year 3, Day 2
1) 10 apriums
2) 1 basket blueberries
3) 2 cherry tomatoes
4) 3 nectarines
5) 1 zuke
Year 3, Day 3
1) 10 apriums
2) 1 nectarine
3) 6 beets
4) 1.5 baskets raspberries
Year 3, Day 4
1) 5 nectarines
2) 1 basket blueberries
Year 3, Day 5
1) 6 zukes
2) 1 nectarine
3) 3 peaches
Year 3, Day 6
1) 2 nectarines
2) 2 bunches chard
Year 3, Day 7
1) 4 nectarines
2) 5 zukes
Year 3, Day 8
1) 1 basket blueberries
2) 3 peaches
Year 3, Day 9
1) 3 zukes
2) 5 cukes
3) 1 peach
Year 3, Day 10
Gone
Year 3, Day 11
1) 2 tomatoes
2) 2 zukes
Year 3, Day 12
1) 1/2 basket strawberries
2) 1/2 basket blueberries
3) 10 peaches
4) 3 zukes
5) 2 cukes
6) 3 lemons
Year 3, Day 13
1) 8 peaches
2) 2 zukes
3) 1 bunch chard
Year 3, Day 14
1) 10 peaches
2) 1 zuke
Four-Week harvest: $213.00
Total Produce Harvested : $3424.25
Total Honey Harvested: $520.00
Expenses: $430.00 (seeds and avocado tree)
It is this time of the year when we can start seeing a real difference in our shopping habits. I have been doing most of the grocery shopping for the summer and I hardly have to buy any produce. I buy carrots because we do not grow those and the occasional bunch of bananas, but I have been finding that we can eat almost all of our fruit and at least half of our veggies from our yard. The tally for the last 4 weeks is over $200...which is greater than the entire 8 weeks prior. That itself says why my shopping trips have become so much easier.
The summer fruit. That is what we are partaking in right now. Peaches are ripening nicely and we are doing our daily consumption. Lucky for us, the first peach variety that we get is slow to ripen and I can find about 10 each day that are perfect. The aprium though was a different story. How that tree has the quality of a plum!!! All of the fruit came and went in about 10 days. Giving some away and freezing a whole lot...for the kids love them frozen!! What a treat.
Starting the 3rd year of continuous harvest. Here we go!!
A four-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 15 ($7.50)
Salad Greens: 5 salads ($5.00)
Chard: 8.5 bunches ($17.00)
Beets: 40 ($30.00)
Strawberries: 3.5 baskets ($7.00)
Raspberries: 15.5 baskets ($31.00)
Blueberries: 8 baskets ($16.00)
Apriums: 105 ($39.00)
Nectarines: 17 ($12.00)
Peaches: 35 ($18.00)
Zucchini: 24 ($23.50)
Cucumber: 7 ($4.00)
Tomatoes: 2 ($1.00)
Cherry Tomato: 1 basket ($2.00)
Year 2, Day 353
1) 1 basket Strawberries
2) Salad greens
3) 1/2 bunch chard
4) 3 baskets raspberries
5) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 354
1) 1/2 basket blueberries
2) 5 beets
3) salad greens
4) 1 basket raspberries
5) 1 aprium
Year 2, Day 355
1) 2 bunches chard
2) 5 apriums
3) 1.5 baskets raspberries
Year 2, Day 356
1) Salad greens
2) 5 beets
3) 1 aprium
4) 1 basket raspberries
5) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 357
1) Salad greens
Year 2, Day 358
1) 6 beets
2) 1 basket raspberries
3) 1 lemon
4) 1 aprium
Year 2, Day 359
1) 1 bunch chard
2) 6 lemons
3) 1 basket raspberries
4) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 360
1) 1 basket strawberries
2) salad greens
Year 2, Day 361
1) 1.5 baskets raspberries
2) 2 apriums
Year 2, Day 362
1) 6 beets
2) 1 basket raspberries
3) 2 apriums
Year 2, Day 363
1) 1 basket blueberries
2) 5 apriums
Year 2, Day 364
1) 6 beets
2) 12 apriums
3) 1/2 basket raspberries
Year 2, Day 365
1) 2 bunches chard
2) 1 basket strawberries
3) 1 basket blueberries
4) 1 basket raspberries
5) 6 apriums
Year 2, Day 366
1) 4 zukes
2) 2 cherry tomatoes
3) 1 basket blueberries
4) 1/2 basket raspberries
5) 30 apriums
Year 3, Day 1
1) 6 beets
2) 1 nectarine
3) 1 zuke
4) 20 apriums
Year 3, Day 2
1) 10 apriums
2) 1 basket blueberries
3) 2 cherry tomatoes
4) 3 nectarines
5) 1 zuke
Year 3, Day 3
1) 10 apriums
2) 1 nectarine
3) 6 beets
4) 1.5 baskets raspberries
Year 3, Day 4
1) 5 nectarines
2) 1 basket blueberries
Year 3, Day 5
1) 6 zukes
2) 1 nectarine
3) 3 peaches
Year 3, Day 6
1) 2 nectarines
2) 2 bunches chard
Year 3, Day 7
1) 4 nectarines
2) 5 zukes
Year 3, Day 8
1) 1 basket blueberries
2) 3 peaches
Year 3, Day 9
1) 3 zukes
2) 5 cukes
3) 1 peach
Year 3, Day 10
Gone
Year 3, Day 11
1) 2 tomatoes
2) 2 zukes
Year 3, Day 12
1) 1/2 basket strawberries
2) 1/2 basket blueberries
3) 10 peaches
4) 3 zukes
5) 2 cukes
6) 3 lemons
Year 3, Day 13
1) 8 peaches
2) 2 zukes
3) 1 bunch chard
Year 3, Day 14
1) 10 peaches
2) 1 zuke
Four-Week harvest: $213.00
Total Produce Harvested : $3424.25
Total Honey Harvested: $520.00
Expenses: $430.00 (seeds and avocado tree)
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Days 662 - 717 BB King
Eigt weeks is just too long of a time. We left harvesting only lemons and we have already harvested our first cherry tomatos!! I will try to commit to a 4 week maximum between posts.
Why BB King? Well, berries and beets are king right now in the garden. Not to mention that I harvested honey early and took nearly 2 gallons. Good stuff!! We have had so little rain in the spring but that has made a greatt berry spring. We are harvesting raspberries every morning and evening with more than enough for everybody in the family (and some for the neighbors). Gotta love that!! Beets are plentiful and the beets and the greens have been feeding our family every 2 or three days. Kids love them and we do too.
I started this blog trying to show that you can harvest something every day in Sonoma County and I am just completing 2 years. Pretty cool. By the time I post again I will be in the third year. I can forsee trouble in October with a small apple harvest...but the citrus crop next winter looks great!!
An eight-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 101 ($50.50)
Salad Greens: 21 salads ($21.00)
Garlic: 61 bulbs ($30.50)
Chard: 3 bunches ($6.00)
Beets: 33 ($27.50)
Strawberries: 11 baskets ($22.00)
Raspberries: 9.5 baskets ($19.00)
Blueberries: 2.75 baskets ($5.50)
Cherries: 0.5 lb ($4.00)
Honey: 8 quarts ($160.00)
Year 2, Day 297
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 garlic
Year 2, Day 298
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 299
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 300
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 301
1) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 302
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 303
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 304
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 305
1) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 306
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 307
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 308
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 309
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 310
1) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 311
1) 4 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 312
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 313
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 314
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 315
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 316
1) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 317
1) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 318
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 319
1) Salad Greens
2) 1 Garlic
Year 2, Day 320
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 Garlic
3) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 321
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 322
1) 2 bunches Chard
Year 2, Day 323
1) 1 lemon
2) 1/2 basket Strawberries
Year 2, Day 324
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 325
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 garlic
3) 1 raspberrry
4) 1/2 basket Strawberries
Year 2, Day 326
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 327
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
3) 1/2 basket Strawberries
Year 2, Day 328
1) 4 lemons
2) 1 cherry
3) 1 garlic
Year 2, Day 329
1) 3 lemons
2) 56 garlic
Year 2, Day 330
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 331
1) 5 lemons
2) 4 blueberries
3) 10 cherries
Year 2, Day 332
1) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 333
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 bunch chard
Year 2, Day 334
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
3) 1 basket strawberries
4) 4 cherries
5) 4 raspberries
Year 2, Day 335
1) 8 lemons
Year 2, Day 336
1) 4 beets
2) 6 raspberries
3) 6 cherries
4) 1 basket strawberries
Year 2, Day 337
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 338
1) 5 lemons
2) 6 beets
3) Salad Greens
4) 1/4 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 339
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
3) 1 bunch chard
4) 1.5 bvaskets strawberries
5) 1/4 basket blueberries
6) 1/4 basket raspberries
Year 2, Day 340
Gone
Year 2, Day 341
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 342
1) 5 beets
2) Salad greens
3) 1.5 baskets strawberries
4) 1/2 basket raspberries
5) 8 quarts honey
Year 2, Day 343
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 344
1) 5 beets
2) Salad Greens
3) 2 baskets strawberries
4) 1 basket raspberries
Year 2, Day 345
1) 1 lemon
2) 1 basket Raspberries
3) 1/4 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 346
1) 1 lemon
2) 1 basket raspberries
3) 1 basket strawberries
Year 2, Day 347
1) 8 lemons
2) 5 beets
3) Salad Greens
4) 1.5 baskets raspberries
5) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 348
1) Salad Greens
2) 1.5 baskets strawberries
3) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 349
Gone
Year 2, Day 350
Gone
Year 2, Day 351
1) 3 beets
2) 2 baskets raspberries
3) 1 cherry tomato
Year 2, Day 352
1) 5 beets
2) Salad Greens
3) 2 baskets Raspberries
4) 1 basket blueberries
Eight-Week harvest: $190.00
Total Produce Harvested : $3211.25
Total Honey Harvested: $520.00
Expenses: $380.00 (seeds)
Why BB King? Well, berries and beets are king right now in the garden. Not to mention that I harvested honey early and took nearly 2 gallons. Good stuff!! We have had so little rain in the spring but that has made a greatt berry spring. We are harvesting raspberries every morning and evening with more than enough for everybody in the family (and some for the neighbors). Gotta love that!! Beets are plentiful and the beets and the greens have been feeding our family every 2 or three days. Kids love them and we do too.
I started this blog trying to show that you can harvest something every day in Sonoma County and I am just completing 2 years. Pretty cool. By the time I post again I will be in the third year. I can forsee trouble in October with a small apple harvest...but the citrus crop next winter looks great!!
An eight-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 101 ($50.50)
Salad Greens: 21 salads ($21.00)
Garlic: 61 bulbs ($30.50)
Chard: 3 bunches ($6.00)
Beets: 33 ($27.50)
Strawberries: 11 baskets ($22.00)
Raspberries: 9.5 baskets ($19.00)
Blueberries: 2.75 baskets ($5.50)
Cherries: 0.5 lb ($4.00)
Honey: 8 quarts ($160.00)
Year 2, Day 297
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 garlic
Year 2, Day 298
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 299
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 300
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 301
1) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 302
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 303
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 304
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 305
1) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 306
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 307
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 308
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 309
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 310
1) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 311
1) 4 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 312
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 313
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 314
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 315
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 316
1) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 317
1) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 318
1) 2 lemons
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 319
1) Salad Greens
2) 1 Garlic
Year 2, Day 320
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 Garlic
3) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 321
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 322
1) 2 bunches Chard
Year 2, Day 323
1) 1 lemon
2) 1/2 basket Strawberries
Year 2, Day 324
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 325
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 garlic
3) 1 raspberrry
4) 1/2 basket Strawberries
Year 2, Day 326
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 327
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
3) 1/2 basket Strawberries
Year 2, Day 328
1) 4 lemons
2) 1 cherry
3) 1 garlic
Year 2, Day 329
1) 3 lemons
2) 56 garlic
Year 2, Day 330
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 331
1) 5 lemons
2) 4 blueberries
3) 10 cherries
Year 2, Day 332
1) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 333
1) 2 lemons
2) 1 bunch chard
Year 2, Day 334
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
3) 1 basket strawberries
4) 4 cherries
5) 4 raspberries
Year 2, Day 335
1) 8 lemons
Year 2, Day 336
1) 4 beets
2) 6 raspberries
3) 6 cherries
4) 1 basket strawberries
Year 2, Day 337
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 338
1) 5 lemons
2) 6 beets
3) Salad Greens
4) 1/4 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 339
1) 1 lemon
2) Salad Greens
3) 1 bunch chard
4) 1.5 bvaskets strawberries
5) 1/4 basket blueberries
6) 1/4 basket raspberries
Year 2, Day 340
Gone
Year 2, Day 341
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 342
1) 5 beets
2) Salad greens
3) 1.5 baskets strawberries
4) 1/2 basket raspberries
5) 8 quarts honey
Year 2, Day 343
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 344
1) 5 beets
2) Salad Greens
3) 2 baskets strawberries
4) 1 basket raspberries
Year 2, Day 345
1) 1 lemon
2) 1 basket Raspberries
3) 1/4 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 346
1) 1 lemon
2) 1 basket raspberries
3) 1 basket strawberries
Year 2, Day 347
1) 8 lemons
2) 5 beets
3) Salad Greens
4) 1.5 baskets raspberries
5) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 348
1) Salad Greens
2) 1.5 baskets strawberries
3) 1/2 basket blueberries
Year 2, Day 349
Gone
Year 2, Day 350
Gone
Year 2, Day 351
1) 3 beets
2) 2 baskets raspberries
3) 1 cherry tomato
Year 2, Day 352
1) 5 beets
2) Salad Greens
3) 2 baskets Raspberries
4) 1 basket blueberries
Eight-Week harvest: $190.00
Total Produce Harvested : $3211.25
Total Honey Harvested: $520.00
Expenses: $380.00 (seeds)
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Days 627 - 661 Lemons
It is the time of the year that the garden is renewing. Flowers are out, bees are flying, and the veggie garden is starting. The lemon tree is the staple for about another month or so until the raspberries and the blueberries start ripening...and if we ever get a decent crop of cherries!!
It is also the time of the year when I realize how tenuous farming must be. A rain storm during the bloom and the crop drops. I have seen it in our yard. Last year we had very little grapes but a bumper crop of apples. I think this year might be just the opposite. It kind of shows how monocropping can be a real boom or bust economy. We definitely do not do the monocrop...we hardly have a duplicate of anything.
Observing my yard is like looking into a crystal ball. I can start to see the future crops that will be on our table this summer and next winter. Cannot count my chickens before they hatch, but it may look like we will have our first kiwi out of the yard this year. Also hoping to have my first avocado(s), but do not know if anything is pollinating the flowers, which seem to be open only one day and then are gone. Lucky for the tree, there are lots of flowers!! The citrus trees are looking to be loaded. The biggest bloom I have ever seen is about to happen.
Speaking of citrus...the lemon. It is all we are going harvest for the next few weeks. After the mandarins, oranges, and grapefruit are gone, my body seems to still crave the daily vitamin C fix, so I take two lemons, squeeze them and put that into a pitcher of water. No sugar, just lemon and water. Quite refreshing and it really makes you feel good.
An five-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 86 ($43.00)
Oranges: 8 ($4.00)
Grapefruit: 5 ($5.00)
Salad Greens: 5 salads
Year 2, Day 262
Gone
Year 2, Day 263
Gone
Year 2, Day 264
1) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 265
1) 5 lemons
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 oranges
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 266
1) 10 lemons
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 3 oranges
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 267
1) 1 lemon
2) 1 orange
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 268
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 269
1) salad greens
Year 2, Day 270
1) 6 lemons
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 271
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 272
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 273
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 274
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 275
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens
Year 2, Day 276
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 277
1) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 278
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 279
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 280
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 281
1) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 282
1) 6 lemons
Year 2, Day 283
1) salad greens
Year 2, Day 284
1) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 285
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 286
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 287
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 288
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 289
1) 5 lemons
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 290
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 291
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 292
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 293
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 294
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 295
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 296
1) 3 lemons
Five-Week harvest: $57.00
Total Produce Harvested : $3021.25
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $370.00 (seeds, lettuce, fertilizer)
It is also the time of the year when I realize how tenuous farming must be. A rain storm during the bloom and the crop drops. I have seen it in our yard. Last year we had very little grapes but a bumper crop of apples. I think this year might be just the opposite. It kind of shows how monocropping can be a real boom or bust economy. We definitely do not do the monocrop...we hardly have a duplicate of anything.
Observing my yard is like looking into a crystal ball. I can start to see the future crops that will be on our table this summer and next winter. Cannot count my chickens before they hatch, but it may look like we will have our first kiwi out of the yard this year. Also hoping to have my first avocado(s), but do not know if anything is pollinating the flowers, which seem to be open only one day and then are gone. Lucky for the tree, there are lots of flowers!! The citrus trees are looking to be loaded. The biggest bloom I have ever seen is about to happen.
Speaking of citrus...the lemon. It is all we are going harvest for the next few weeks. After the mandarins, oranges, and grapefruit are gone, my body seems to still crave the daily vitamin C fix, so I take two lemons, squeeze them and put that into a pitcher of water. No sugar, just lemon and water. Quite refreshing and it really makes you feel good.
An five-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 86 ($43.00)
Oranges: 8 ($4.00)
Grapefruit: 5 ($5.00)
Salad Greens: 5 salads
Year 2, Day 262
Gone
Year 2, Day 263
Gone
Year 2, Day 264
1) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 265
1) 5 lemons
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 oranges
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 266
1) 10 lemons
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 3 oranges
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 267
1) 1 lemon
2) 1 orange
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 268
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 269
1) salad greens
Year 2, Day 270
1) 6 lemons
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 271
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 272
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 273
1) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 274
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 275
1) 2 lemons
2) salad greens
Year 2, Day 276
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 277
1) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 278
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 279
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 280
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 281
1) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 282
1) 6 lemons
Year 2, Day 283
1) salad greens
Year 2, Day 284
1) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 285
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 286
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 287
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 288
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 289
1) 5 lemons
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 290
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 291
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 292
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 293
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 294
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 295
1) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 296
1) 3 lemons
Five-Week harvest: $57.00
Total Produce Harvested : $3021.25
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $370.00 (seeds, lettuce, fertilizer)
Friday, March 16, 2012
Days 571 - 626 Spring Back
Spring is back!! It really never quite felt like winter this year with 70 degree temperatures in the middle of winter and very little rain (until this week!!)
As we wind down the citrus harvest over the next couple of weeks, we will start to see the stone fruit start to develop and grow. Right now it looks like a large Aprium crop is coming and if the Peaches and Nectarines got pollinated before this rain, they too will have large crops. There sure were a lot of blossoms!! And the bees were out working early with all of the warm weather.
The pears and apples are still in the process of flowering. The Asian Pear tree is in full flower and I am hoping that the Bartlett flowers before the Asian Pear drops its flowers...since a pollinator is needed for both. The Cherry tree and the apple trees are just about to explode. I see the citrus trees blooming soon too. Hope there are some breaks in this rainy pattern so that they set a good crop too.
In the veggie garden, I took out the Kale and we now have lettuce starts, a bed of chard, and a bed of beets. Add that to the garlic which is doing really well this year and it looks to be a fine April/May. This is the time of the year when we run out of oranges and grapefruit, so the veggie garden needs to kick in soon.
I have to say, it is pretty cool that we have been harvesting citrus for 4 months solid and fruit since June 1st!! That is 10 months of uninterrupted fruit harvest. I feel spoiled :)
Hope to update this a bit more frequently in the future. Every 4 weeks seems fair...I was a slacker with this eight week delay!!
An eight-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 56 ($28.00)
Mandarins: 161 ($40.25)
Oranges: 154 ($77.00)
Grapefruit: 41 ($41.00)
Salad Greens: 1 salad
Year 2, Day 206
1) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 207
1) 1 orange
2) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 208
1) 2 oranges
2) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 209
1) 2 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 210
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 211
1) 1 orange
2) 2 mandarins
3) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 212
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 213
1) 3 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 214
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 215
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 216
1) 2 oranges
2) 15 mandarins
Year 2, Day 217
1) 5 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 218
1) 2 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 219
1) 3 oranges
2) 22 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 220
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 221
1) 3 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 222
1) 2 oranges
2) 18 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 223
1) 3 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
Year 2, Day 224
1) 2 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
3) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 225
1) 2 oranges
2) 10 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 226
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 227
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 228
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 229
1) 7 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 230
1) 4 oranges
Year 2, Day 231
1) 4 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 232
1) 5 oranges
2) 3 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
4) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 233
1) 7 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
Year 2, Day 234
1) 3 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
3) 2 bunches kale
Year 2, Day 235
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 236
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
3) salad greens
Year 2, Day 237
1) 5 oranges
Year 2, Day 238
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 239
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 240
1) 3 oranges
2) 4 lemons
Year 2, Day 241
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 242
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 243
1) 4 oranges
2) 3 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 244
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 245
1) 6 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 246
1) 3 oranges
Year 2, Day 247
1) 1 grapefruit
2) 3 lemons
3) 3 bunches kale
Year 2, Day 248
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 6 lemons
Year 2, Day 249
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 250
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 251
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 252
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 253
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 254
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 255
1) 1 orange
2) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 256
1) 5 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 257
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 258
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 259
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 260
1) 1 orange
2) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 261
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Eight-Week harvest: $187.25
Total Produce Harvested : $2964.25
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $370.00 (seeds, lettuce, fertilizer)
As we wind down the citrus harvest over the next couple of weeks, we will start to see the stone fruit start to develop and grow. Right now it looks like a large Aprium crop is coming and if the Peaches and Nectarines got pollinated before this rain, they too will have large crops. There sure were a lot of blossoms!! And the bees were out working early with all of the warm weather.
The pears and apples are still in the process of flowering. The Asian Pear tree is in full flower and I am hoping that the Bartlett flowers before the Asian Pear drops its flowers...since a pollinator is needed for both. The Cherry tree and the apple trees are just about to explode. I see the citrus trees blooming soon too. Hope there are some breaks in this rainy pattern so that they set a good crop too.
In the veggie garden, I took out the Kale and we now have lettuce starts, a bed of chard, and a bed of beets. Add that to the garlic which is doing really well this year and it looks to be a fine April/May. This is the time of the year when we run out of oranges and grapefruit, so the veggie garden needs to kick in soon.
I have to say, it is pretty cool that we have been harvesting citrus for 4 months solid and fruit since June 1st!! That is 10 months of uninterrupted fruit harvest. I feel spoiled :)
Hope to update this a bit more frequently in the future. Every 4 weeks seems fair...I was a slacker with this eight week delay!!
An eight-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 56 ($28.00)
Mandarins: 161 ($40.25)
Oranges: 154 ($77.00)
Grapefruit: 41 ($41.00)
Salad Greens: 1 salad
Year 2, Day 206
1) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 207
1) 1 orange
2) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 208
1) 2 oranges
2) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 209
1) 2 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 210
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 211
1) 1 orange
2) 2 mandarins
3) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 212
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 213
1) 3 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 214
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 215
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 216
1) 2 oranges
2) 15 mandarins
Year 2, Day 217
1) 5 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
4) salad greens
Year 2, Day 218
1) 2 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 219
1) 3 oranges
2) 22 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 220
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 221
1) 3 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 222
1) 2 oranges
2) 18 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 223
1) 3 oranges
2) 6 mandarins
Year 2, Day 224
1) 2 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
3) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 225
1) 2 oranges
2) 10 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 226
1) 2 oranges
2) 4 mandarins
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 227
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 228
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 229
1) 7 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 230
1) 4 oranges
Year 2, Day 231
1) 4 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 232
1) 5 oranges
2) 3 mandarins
3) 1 grapefruit
4) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 233
1) 7 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
Year 2, Day 234
1) 3 oranges
2) 5 mandarins
3) 2 bunches kale
Year 2, Day 235
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 236
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
3) salad greens
Year 2, Day 237
1) 5 oranges
Year 2, Day 238
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 239
1) 3 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 240
1) 3 oranges
2) 4 lemons
Year 2, Day 241
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 242
1) 4 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 243
1) 4 oranges
2) 3 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 244
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 245
1) 6 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 246
1) 3 oranges
Year 2, Day 247
1) 1 grapefruit
2) 3 lemons
3) 3 bunches kale
Year 2, Day 248
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 6 lemons
Year 2, Day 249
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 250
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 251
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 252
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 253
1) 1 orange
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 254
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
3) 5 lemons
Year 2, Day 255
1) 1 orange
2) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 256
1) 5 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 257
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 258
1) 2 oranges
2) 1 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 259
1) 3 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 260
1) 1 orange
2) 2 grapefruit
Year 2, Day 261
1) 2 oranges
2) 2 grapefruit
3) 3 lemons
Eight-Week harvest: $187.25
Total Produce Harvested : $2964.25
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $370.00 (seeds, lettuce, fertilizer)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Days 543 - 570 Year-to-Year Variation
Harvesting mandarins every day for the past 4 weeks is pretty amazing...and although it may seem like we have harvested a lot of mandarins this year, we really have only harvested about 1/2 of what we did last year. Now, last year was a bumper crop of 1127 mandarins and this year is "only" at 582 with probably 100 or so more on the tree.
Which brings me to year-to-year variation and why it is a good thing to have a variety of different types of produce growing in the yard. Some years may be great for the apples but low for the grapes (this year) and others may be just the opposite. By doing this blog, it has me keeping track of all this and I am looking forward to what ten years might look like.
Since the last post, I tallied up what has come out of our little yard and it is pretty amazing. Here you are with the totals and in parenthesis are year1 + year2 quantities. Citrus year 2 numbers are not complete. You can see the affect the late rains had last year, particularly with the grapes and peaches.
Strawberries: 36 baskets (30 + 6)
Blueberries: 28 baskets (9 + 19)
Raspberries: 24 baskets (10 + 14)
Apriums: 10 (9 + 1)
Nectarines: 7 (3 + 4)
Zuchini: 103 (62 + 41)
Cherry Tomatoes: 29 baskets (8 + 21)
Peaches: 230 (161 + 69)
Tomatoes: 277 (133 + 144)
Pears: 304 (66 + 238)
Asian Pears: 12 (0 + 12)
Pickles: 16 lbs (11 + 5)
Cucumbers: 154 (62 + 92)
Grapes: 68 lbs (49 + 19)
Apples: 579 (79 + 500)
Chard: 77 bunches (77 + 0)
Figs: 297 (74 + 223)
Mandarins: 1709 (1127 + 582)
Limes: 36 (25 + 11)
Oranges: 162 (157 + 5) (2nd year not complete)
Grapefruit: 29 (29 + 0) (2nd year not complete)
Lemons: 361 (307 + 54) (2nd year not complete)
Kale: 53 bunches (27 + 26)
Garlic: 87 (87 + 0) (2nd year not complete)
Salad Greens: 17 (16 + 1) (2nd year not complete)
Beets: 51 (51 + 0) (2nd year not complete)
A four-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 12 ($6.00)
Limes: 1 ($0.25)
Mandarins: 323 ($80.75)
Apples: 1 ($0.50)
Oranges: 5 ($2.50)
Salad Greens: 1 salad
Year 2, Day 178
1) 15 mandarins
Year 2, Day 179
1) 9 mandarins
2) 1 lime
3) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 180
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 apple (last)
Year 2, Day 181
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 182
1) 14 mandarins
Year 2, Day 183
1) 4 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 184
1) 20 mandarins
Year 2, Day 185
1) 12 mandarins
2) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 186
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 187
1) 19 mandarins
Year 2, Day 188
1) 14 mandarins
Year 2, Day 189
1) 15 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 190
1) 9 mandarins
2) 3 lemons
3) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 191
1) 14 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 192
1) 11 mandarins
Year 2, Day 193
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 194
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 195
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 196
1) 12 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 197
1) 5 mandarins
Year 2, Day 198
1) 13 mandarins
Year 2, Day 199
1) 20 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 200
1) 14 mandarins
2) 1 orange
3) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 201
1) 14 mandarins
Year 2, Day 202
1) 5 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 203
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 204
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 205
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Four-Week harvest: $91.00
Total Produce Harvested : $2777.00
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $350.00 (purchase an Apricot Tree)
Which brings me to year-to-year variation and why it is a good thing to have a variety of different types of produce growing in the yard. Some years may be great for the apples but low for the grapes (this year) and others may be just the opposite. By doing this blog, it has me keeping track of all this and I am looking forward to what ten years might look like.
Since the last post, I tallied up what has come out of our little yard and it is pretty amazing. Here you are with the totals and in parenthesis are year1 + year2 quantities. Citrus year 2 numbers are not complete. You can see the affect the late rains had last year, particularly with the grapes and peaches.
Strawberries: 36 baskets (30 + 6)
Blueberries: 28 baskets (9 + 19)
Raspberries: 24 baskets (10 + 14)
Apriums: 10 (9 + 1)
Nectarines: 7 (3 + 4)
Zuchini: 103 (62 + 41)
Cherry Tomatoes: 29 baskets (8 + 21)
Peaches: 230 (161 + 69)
Tomatoes: 277 (133 + 144)
Pears: 304 (66 + 238)
Asian Pears: 12 (0 + 12)
Pickles: 16 lbs (11 + 5)
Cucumbers: 154 (62 + 92)
Grapes: 68 lbs (49 + 19)
Apples: 579 (79 + 500)
Chard: 77 bunches (77 + 0)
Figs: 297 (74 + 223)
Mandarins: 1709 (1127 + 582)
Limes: 36 (25 + 11)
Oranges: 162 (157 + 5) (2nd year not complete)
Grapefruit: 29 (29 + 0) (2nd year not complete)
Lemons: 361 (307 + 54) (2nd year not complete)
Kale: 53 bunches (27 + 26)
Garlic: 87 (87 + 0) (2nd year not complete)
Salad Greens: 17 (16 + 1) (2nd year not complete)
Beets: 51 (51 + 0) (2nd year not complete)
A four-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Lemons: 12 ($6.00)
Limes: 1 ($0.25)
Mandarins: 323 ($80.75)
Apples: 1 ($0.50)
Oranges: 5 ($2.50)
Salad Greens: 1 salad
Year 2, Day 178
1) 15 mandarins
Year 2, Day 179
1) 9 mandarins
2) 1 lime
3) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 180
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 apple (last)
Year 2, Day 181
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 182
1) 14 mandarins
Year 2, Day 183
1) 4 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 184
1) 20 mandarins
Year 2, Day 185
1) 12 mandarins
2) 3 lemons
Year 2, Day 186
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 187
1) 19 mandarins
Year 2, Day 188
1) 14 mandarins
Year 2, Day 189
1) 15 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 190
1) 9 mandarins
2) 3 lemons
3) Salad Greens
Year 2, Day 191
1) 14 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 192
1) 11 mandarins
Year 2, Day 193
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 194
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 195
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 196
1) 12 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 197
1) 5 mandarins
Year 2, Day 198
1) 13 mandarins
Year 2, Day 199
1) 20 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 200
1) 14 mandarins
2) 1 orange
3) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 201
1) 14 mandarins
Year 2, Day 202
1) 5 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Year 2, Day 203
1) 10 mandarins
Year 2, Day 204
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 205
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 orange
Four-Week harvest: $91.00
Total Produce Harvested : $2777.00
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $350.00 (purchase an Apricot Tree)
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Days 508 - 542 Citrus aplenty...but a drought?
Here we are at the end of December and I had to water the citrus trees. Never have I had to water any fruit trees after November 1st, but we have only seen a trace of rain this December...bummer for the ski season and I had to do some watering.
I have to say that the quality of the mandarins are as good as ever. The magical flavors that come from a fresh-picked citrus jsut cannot be bought at the supermarket. I did a little experiment the other day with a mandarin that was sitting on my desk for a few days (perhaps a week) vs. one that I had just picked that day. The one off of my desk tasted like store-bought citrus. It should of course because the ones in the store are just like that. Picked at least a week ago!!
With the lack of rain, I am taking advantage of the time to prune my trees. Did copper spray for the peaches and nectarine trees and have pruned all but the grape vines. No skiing, so I might as well get it done so that when the snow does come to the mountains I do not feel like I need to stay home to tend the garden.
Last year we picked 1080 mandarins and it looks like we are on target for another big harvest. What looked like a light year has me doing a double-take as the fruit starts to change color and "magically" appears on the trees. We are a bit over 250 mandarins for the season so far. Not sure it will be over a 1000 this year, but we should be picking through January and perhaps into February.
By the end of the week, I want to have a tally of what has been harvested for the year and a half that I have been on this quest. Stay tuned!! It should be interesting to see what comes out of a single yard that is planted well.
A five-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Kale: 5 bunches ($10.00)
Lemons: 17 ($8.50)
Limes: 5 ($1.25)
Mandarins: 237 ($59.25)
Apples: 41 ($17.50)
Year 2, Day 143
1) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 144
1) 6 mandarins
Year 2, Day 145
1) 18 apples
Year 2, Day 146
1) 24 mandarins
2) 4 limes
3) 2 bunches kale
Year 2, Day 147-150
gone
Year 2, Day 151
1) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 152
1) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 153
1) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 154
1) 5 mandarins
2) 5 apples
Year 2, Day 155
1) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 156
1) 3 mandarins
2) 8 apples
Year 2, Day 157
1) 9 mandarins
Year 2, Day 158
1) 3 mandarins
Year 2, Day 159
1) 6 mandarins
Year 2, Day 160
1) 5 mandarins
Year 2, Day 161
1) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 162
1) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 163
1) 10 mandarins
2) 4 lemons
Year 2, Day 164
1) 1 mandarin
2) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 165
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 166
1) 8 mandarins
2) 4 apples
Year 2, Day 167
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 168
1) 6 mandarins
2) 2 apples
Year 2, Day 169
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 170
1) 16 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
3) 1 bunch kale
Year 2, Day 171
1) 12 mandarins
2) 6 lemons
Year 2, Day 172
1) 6 mandarins
2) 1 apple
Year 2, Day 173
1) 11 mandarins
2) 1 apple
Year 2, Day 174
1) 11 mandarins
2) 1 apple
3) 1 bunch kale
Year 2, Day 175
1) 4 mandarins
2) 1 apple
3) 1 bunch kale
Year 2, Day 176
1) 26 mandarins
2) 3 lemons
3) 1 lime
Year 2, Day 177
1) 4 mandarins
Five-Week harvest: $96.50
Total Produce Harvested : $2686.00
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $330.00
I have to say that the quality of the mandarins are as good as ever. The magical flavors that come from a fresh-picked citrus jsut cannot be bought at the supermarket. I did a little experiment the other day with a mandarin that was sitting on my desk for a few days (perhaps a week) vs. one that I had just picked that day. The one off of my desk tasted like store-bought citrus. It should of course because the ones in the store are just like that. Picked at least a week ago!!
With the lack of rain, I am taking advantage of the time to prune my trees. Did copper spray for the peaches and nectarine trees and have pruned all but the grape vines. No skiing, so I might as well get it done so that when the snow does come to the mountains I do not feel like I need to stay home to tend the garden.
Last year we picked 1080 mandarins and it looks like we are on target for another big harvest. What looked like a light year has me doing a double-take as the fruit starts to change color and "magically" appears on the trees. We are a bit over 250 mandarins for the season so far. Not sure it will be over a 1000 this year, but we should be picking through January and perhaps into February.
By the end of the week, I want to have a tally of what has been harvested for the year and a half that I have been on this quest. Stay tuned!! It should be interesting to see what comes out of a single yard that is planted well.
A five-week summary if you do not want to read the details:
Kale: 5 bunches ($10.00)
Lemons: 17 ($8.50)
Limes: 5 ($1.25)
Mandarins: 237 ($59.25)
Apples: 41 ($17.50)
Year 2, Day 143
1) 2 mandarins
Year 2, Day 144
1) 6 mandarins
Year 2, Day 145
1) 18 apples
Year 2, Day 146
1) 24 mandarins
2) 4 limes
3) 2 bunches kale
Year 2, Day 147-150
gone
Year 2, Day 151
1) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 152
1) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 153
1) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 154
1) 5 mandarins
2) 5 apples
Year 2, Day 155
1) 4 mandarins
Year 2, Day 156
1) 3 mandarins
2) 8 apples
Year 2, Day 157
1) 9 mandarins
Year 2, Day 158
1) 3 mandarins
Year 2, Day 159
1) 6 mandarins
Year 2, Day 160
1) 5 mandarins
Year 2, Day 161
1) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 162
1) 7 mandarins
Year 2, Day 163
1) 10 mandarins
2) 4 lemons
Year 2, Day 164
1) 1 mandarin
2) 2 lemons
Year 2, Day 165
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 166
1) 8 mandarins
2) 4 apples
Year 2, Day 167
1) 8 mandarins
Year 2, Day 168
1) 6 mandarins
2) 2 apples
Year 2, Day 169
1) 10 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
Year 2, Day 170
1) 16 mandarins
2) 1 lemon
3) 1 bunch kale
Year 2, Day 171
1) 12 mandarins
2) 6 lemons
Year 2, Day 172
1) 6 mandarins
2) 1 apple
Year 2, Day 173
1) 11 mandarins
2) 1 apple
Year 2, Day 174
1) 11 mandarins
2) 1 apple
3) 1 bunch kale
Year 2, Day 175
1) 4 mandarins
2) 1 apple
3) 1 bunch kale
Year 2, Day 176
1) 26 mandarins
2) 3 lemons
3) 1 lime
Year 2, Day 177
1) 4 mandarins
Five-Week harvest: $96.50
Total Produce Harvested : $2686.00
Total Honey Harvested: $360.00
Expenses: $330.00
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