The plum tree in my backyard is awake with white blossoms that shine silver in the moonlight and cluster on the dark wood branches like downy-snow. These small, soft, flowery nests attract wobbly …
Deep Thoughts on Nature: An Ode to Jack Handy
Have I mentioned how impressed I am with nature? I mean, all those things it does for us, like make the trees magically bud and the gnomes come out and those talking cloud creatures. Even after the …
Camp Garbology
I’m a chaperone on my son’s 3-day, 5th-grade outdoor education trip. We’re on a bus heading back from a camp in Santa Cruz. As my head bobs against the cool glass window, I’m jarred out of a twilight …
Strawberry
Strawberries are a member of the rose family and, like their floral cousins, evoke sentiment. They are, after all, heart-shaped. Very delicate, strawberries must be hand-picked and rushed to a cooler. …
Red D’Anjou Pear
These beautiful and tasty maroon D'Anjou pears are an old European-style pear. They were discovered in Oregon on a sport of the green D'Anjou variety. …
Best Ever Pear
A pear that lives up to its name. The best ever pear ripens and eats similarly to a Bartlett but can have increased sugar content. Outwardly, it may exhibit signs of “russetting,” or spots on the skin …
Good Fruit = GoodWorks
The FruitGuys GoodWorks Project includes our Farm Steward and Community Outreach programs which have donated thousands of pieces of fruit to charitable organizations nationwide. Our Farm Steward …
Fruit Olympics
Bob: “Jane, we’re here in client services where Engineering is finally getting the chance to redeem themselves against Outbound Marketing. It’s been a tough winter Olympic season for Engineering whose …
Asparagus & Chard Risotto
INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups aborio rice 3/4 cups white wine 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 tablespoon butter 2 cloves garlic 1 small onion, diced 2 teaspoons dried basil 1 …
The Budding System
The first time I went to a Scion Exchange I didn't know what to expect—was it a science-fiction convention? As I drew nearer I saw people entering the building with little sticks under their arms—was …
Stairway to Heaven
Looking for ways to burn a few extra calories, build your strength, or tone your rear end? Stair climbing is a great way to get an excellent aerobic workout, no matter where you are or what your …
Ponce Upon A Time. . .
Day 26: The marsh of cubicles has cursed our party. We lost Lenny two days ago to the gurgling fried dough found in the quicksand pits of a budget-planning meeting. Sue has been eating the native …
Kohlrabi and Ginger Stir-Fry Recipe
Adapted from Gourmet Enjoy the earthy, peppery flavor of kohlrabi paired with zesty ginger in this colorful dish. This recipe transforms simple ingredients like kohlrabi, carrots, and bok choy into …
Layers of Health and Goggles
Lily, my four-year-old niece, who says things like, “Daddy, are you satisfied?” or “Mommy, what does the word "comely" mean?” decided last weekend that when going to swimming lessons one has a duty to …
Spicy Stir-Fried Brown Rice with Broccoli and Sugar Snap Peas
INGREDIENTS For Rice: 1 cup of brown rice 3 cups of vegetable broth (from boullion) For Stir-Fry: ½ cup of water 1 broccoli crown, cut into ¾-inch pieces (about 2 cups) 1 cup of …
The Book of Citrus
Jonathan Sauer, in his book Historical Geography of Crop Plants: A Select Roster, notes that “Almost nothing is certain about the natural geography and ecology of truly wild citrus. Both the …
Preparing Rancho Gordo’s Good Mother Stallard Beans
Soak Your Beans Pick through the beans, discarding any discolored or shriveled beans or any foreign matter. Rinse well. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, cover 2 cups of dried beans with 6 cups …
Simple Steamed & Buttery Romanesco with Italian Parsley
INGREDIENTS 1 head of Romanesco (aka Romanesco cauliflower or Romanesco broccoli), base removed and discarded, florets and stalks chopped into bite-sized pieces 1 tablespoon butter ¼ cup …
The Lessons of Nature
When we look for lessons in life, it’s not often that we can say: “Hey, check with the slime mold.” However, in The New York Times science section, there was a story about how researchers in Japan …
Profile: Chaffin Family Orchards
Oroville, CA - Oroville is a gold rush town in Butte County, CA. Oro means gold in Spanish, and during the Gold Rush prospectors stampeded over the area in a greedy frenzy. When Del Chaffin came to …
