Under the Solano Sun

This fall I signed up at Be Love Farms[1] (which is an organic winery and regenerative farm) to assist with harvesting of Olives and making Olive Oil. It was a fascinating day. the fruits of my labor netted me a few bottles of their Olive Oil and a wonderful lunch.

We are lucky enough to live at the end of a court with an empty lot next to us. My son was mowing the weeds on the lot today, so I was able to walk around the back half and take a look around at what other cleanup needs to be done.

A couple of years ago I had a bad time with the cucumber beetle eating away at my beloved Dahlias. They were flying around eating up my flowers every day. Arrrrg. So, I decided to come up with a solution for the following year.

Dear Calendula, I did not know anything about you but you caught my attention at the Vallejo People's Garden on Mare Island a couple of years ago - blooming side by side with organic vegetables and herbs on raised beds; spilling in between raised bed walkways; anywhere and everywhere inside and outs...

At this point in my gardening journey, I have learned to pay attention to what other gardeners are successfully growing in their yards. When several gardeners that I know grow the same plant and are very pleased with it, my interest is definitely piqued.