Mandarins oranges—in all their forms–are probably descended from wild oranges that grew in northeast India as long as 3,000 years ago. From India, mandarins made their way to China and from China to Europe, North Africa and Australia before they traveled on to other parts of the world. The first of these small, loose-skinned oranges
The almond harvest happens in late summer, but you will find almonds at the farm market almost all year long. Almonds originated in Asia and North Africa, and the almond tree—which resembles a peach tree—can grow as high as 20 to 30 feet (6-9 m) tall. Because the almond is very sensitive to cold, the
Small yellow spots that appear first on older leaves are a symptom of this fungal blight. These spots gradually enlarge and become dark-colored areas filled with concentric rings. Alternaria leaf blight is particularly problematic for plants in the cabbage and squash families. Strawberries and carrots are also susceptible. When alternaria infects broccoli and cauliflower plants
Ants are an important component of the garden ecosystem. Ants are cleaners: they eat and help decompose organic matter in the soil, enriching the soil. Ants also eat pest insects such as fleas, fly larvae, and termites. Ants tunneling in the soil improve soil aeration which is helpful to plant roots. Ants become a garden
The apple is the most widely grown fruit. Apple trees grow everywhere except in the very hottest and very coldest regions of the world. Apples vary from crisp to soft, from juicy to dry, from acid or insipid to bitter, bland, or aromatic. Apples can range in color from green to gold to yellow to
Can you eat regionally and seasonally? The tastiest fruits and vegetables are almost always those that come to you at the peak of their natural harvest time. The freshest fruits and vegetables are almost always those that travel the least number of miles or kilometers to your plate after harvest. Following the seasons and the
Taste pears. There will be one that is just right for you. There are more than 5,000 varieties of pears. Of course, it is unlikely that you will ever be in the presence of more than a half-dozen varieties at once—even at the farm market. But, nonetheless, the taste of a pear can linger in
Since pears—that is the European varieties–are plucked from the tree before they are ripe and cure to ripeness usually in a cool, dark place, how do you know a pear is ready for your bite? Well, there are two ways to choose a pear for eating out of hand: smell and feel. A ripe pear
Wes hál! Be hale! Be in good health! From the Old Norse language ves heill to the Old English wes hál to the Modern English Be in good health! This toast is to you on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. From wes hál came wassail, the drink, and the Anglo-Saxon tradition of wassailing–toasting to
It would be difficult for you to walk the length of this valley in one night. It stretches nearly 17 miles from a place where the Sonoma Creek begins in a narrow canyon of the Mayacamas Mountains and follows that creek to the San Pablo Bay—a shallow tidal estuary that forms an extension of the
