It looks as though 2024 will be good year for water, we’ve had a fairly wet April and the snow pack in the Trinity Alps is excellent. Were it not for the cows, pastures would be knee deep in grass. I got all the onion and broccoli starts out of the
greenhouse and into the kitchen garden,along with early Japanese turnips and Chinese greens. They’re all nice and cozy under hoops and agriculture fabric. The spuds are in the ground, and fall planted garlic and shallots are thriving. This year husband decided he was tired of losing his fruit harvest to late spring frosts killing all the blossoms. He constructed greenhouses from 2 inch pvc and plastic sheeting over semi-dwarf peach, plum, pear, and early apple trees.

We also wrapped up the paw paw bushes and kiwi. And so, each morning we unwrap trees, vines and shrubs for bee access, and each evening cover them up
again. It’s a big hassle. Who knows if it will work. Personally, I’m not caring much about the kiwi, thinking them a losing proposition in this climate, but I surely would like to taste a Paw Paw once before I die. You no doubt recall the song from our childhood – “picking up paw paws put ‘em in your pocket, way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.” I understand that they’re s’pozed to taste like banana custard. We planted these shrubs 10 YEARS AGO! They just started to bloom two years ago. Last year, I actually got them wrapped in Ag fab but removed it two days too early, and a vicious 20 degree night in early May wiped out all the blossoms.

Just one paw paw. That’s all I ask. Just one to taste. Banana custard fruit. Just one would make it all worth while.