Sunday, September 28, 2014

August & Everything After....Morgan takes on the role of farm photographer.

Mount Whitney Summit 14,500ft
The John Muir Trail is a long-distance hiking path in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California that passes through Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. It also travels through the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wildernesses. The world famous 211+ mile trail stretches from the Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States. We hiked from 4,000 ft to over 14,000ft through some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. I was lucky to have been invited to fill an open spot on a permit for the month of August. This was my first long distance hike since my 2008 thru hike on the Appalachian Trail. I walked along deep blue alpine lakes, high altitude passes and wildflower filled meadows. I took over 6,000 pictures and hiked for 21 days. The sun was intense and at times the hiking was difficult and rocky. I met a lot of great people from all over the world and will have memories forever.  It was an amazing trip, but I was happy to get home to Morgan, the farm and the farm diet.

Morgan held down the farm while I was gone and a lot of great folks came out to help in my absence. Our intern quit a week after I flew to CA, right when we needed her the most. We learned a lot and can now only move forward to greener pastures. The farm has never been a happier place. Luckily, friends came out to help and we couldn't have done it without our good friend Justin, aka the Tomato Pickin' Master. As I hiked high in the Sierras, the tomatoes kept coming. Morgan took on the role of photographer while I was gone. Here are his photos and how he saw August.
Farmer lunch


Birds eye view of a Summer farm
 
Annual flowers
 
 
Aesa has a knack for finding the best nap spots
13 lbs of grapes harvested for their second season in the ground
Lettuce
Basil
Purple Potatoes
Squash
Winter squash bounty
 
Boxes of beets
 
Onions
 
 
Volunteer basket
Rainbow beets
 
 
 
Delicata squash.The sweetest of all the squashes.
 
Farmer snack
At the market
The ole farm truck never disappoints
 
 
 
 
 
Tomato jungle
 
 
 
 
 
Tomato Master
 
 
 
 
My first week back finished up the month of August and I hit the ground running. (and running for the rest of the month..since I am just now catching up on the blog) I went to two farmers markets, helped with the harvests and got rid of 75 lbs of tomatoes that needed to be used asap. I made 13 jars of tomato sauce, 9 jars of salsa, 13 containers of tomato & roasted red pepper soup and an extra large mason jar of dehydrated tomatoes. My Winter self will thank me.
 
Great to be home. 100% Root Bottom
 
 Kira & her giant pumpkin :)
 Tomatoes still had a few weeks left in them...Morgan estimated over 1,200 lbs this season
 
 
 Heading to market in the farm truck
 
 Making the weekly "left over" farm juice
 
 The first apple from our orchard. Good texture and great taste.
 
 Fall garden to the left, annual garden finishing out the season to the right
 Morgan cooling off
 Making tomato sauce
 13 jars of tomato sauce, 9 jars of salsa, 13 containers of tomato & roasted red pepper soup and an extra large mason jar of dehydrated tomatoes. My Winter self will thank me.