Little City Gardens

The dahlias were a source of great beauty this summer on the farm, at the market, and in our homes.  We can’t wait for them to come back next year.

We planted a few fruit trees recently: a mulberry, a fig, and a pineapple guava.  Once the rainy season gets into full swing, we have plans to put some more trees and perennials in the ground: apple, meyer lemon, raspberry, rosemary, rhubarb, chayote, hops, cardoon and yarrow. It is a special kind of  excitement to watch perennials grow and to know that they won’t need to be pulled out at the end of a growing season but that there roots will deepen and spread for many years to come. These plants can be like cheerleaders encouraging us on a daily basis through the rigorous cycle of annual crop production.

The first rain of the season is always momentous for us. It means all our plants get a good long healthy drink of high quality water, and we don’t have to lift a finger to make it happen. It means we can begin to cover crop.  It means that all of our unirrigated soil that has been dry all summer will get a breath of life…the worms and other organisms will start to return to the topsoil. I imagine the relief being similar to the moment for a parent when a child can finally feed itself!