The first crops have been planted! After a few dry runs with the precision seeder we were able to plant 4 rows on seeds. Mesculin mix, lettuce, spinach and bunching onions. It was a full day that ended late. As of today we have prepared about 1/4 of the space for this season. The tilling and bed preparation is going a little faster now that I have figured out how to use the BCS. The next planting is scheduled for March 3rd. That should be another big day.

After spending a few days playing with the new tractor, we finally started the tilling the garden area. It worked great! With two easy passes we were able to incorporate all the manure down to about 10 inches. Jen even took a try at it!! The tractor work was easy compared to all the raking dad and I did.

The BCS arrives!! After anxiously waiting for a couple of weeks, the tractor has finally arrived. An unknown woman called me to tell me that a UPS freight truck was waiting for me up in the “town” of Portal, some 20 miles away. After sending a few smoke signals we final found a place where he could turn around his 55’ semi truck to unload two small pallets. The BCS is great! The chipper, tiller and small cart came with it. The kids and I took it for a ride around the farm.

We have been here a couple of weeks now and have just started to get used to being here. Portal is a unique place from anywhere we have ever lived. When the moon is new the darkness is unbelievable you can almost feel the weight of it. There are so many stars in the sky it glorious. Although it is a little cold and often windy, we are still in awe of our new home.

As we have expected the amount of work to get our vineyard going is large. We are still trying to get the existing irrigation to work. Jerry senior has ordered us a walking tractor (BCS) to till and prepare to plant a sustainance garden. We have gone through a lot of debate as to what to plant and what to do with the vineyard area. I wish that we could say its resolved, but we like to just figure it out as we go.

We have pruned about a dozen of six dozen trees. The pile of brush is getting pretty large. In our orchard we have found apple, peach, ???? and lots of beautiful olive trees. If anyone knows what to do with olives or wants to work for gratis on our vineyard/farm please email.