Snow at sea level?

While I am getting ready to head across the pond, I am amazed how everyone in the Bay Area was looking forward to falling snow. Ah... the flatlander romanticism of those white water crystals.  But it was not to be. Yesterday, it was 30F in Berkeley, and dewey ice all over - wonderful slip sliding away time, but no snow - just crystal clear blue skies and calm waters. What a postcard view. I could've gone sailing!

News from the WinSol3 front: A few days ago I had to do a quick turnaround for unloading, battening down the hatches for a while, and loading up for the trip. For 8+ days, I watched the weather satellite maps, radar displays, and actual weather station stats from Grizzly Flats - I thought for sure I was going to experience 4 feet of snow. But it was just over 1 foot deep. The two days of warm weather was melting everything. I was able to drive my RAV in that last 1/4 mile, courtesy of some nice icy road tracks.

The new, large deck was a pain to snow shovel. I probably didn't need to shovel it clean, but there are several more storms lined up for the month of March, and thought it might be good to clear some of the weight off the deck... but mainly it was great exercise! Cross-country skiing was not an option with the icy topping.

I hooked up a new solar controller (a 15 amp unit) and cut my solar panels in half to avoid overcurrent issues. With all the power outages going around, I always smile with my solar system running all my toys, printers, lights, etc. No op cost and 100% reliable (as long as we have sun).

Over the past couple weeks, I have planted over 120 new strawberry plants from Peaceful Valley Supply, and Berkeley Horticulture Nursery. That's in addition to the 100 plants already in the greenhouse. The outside strawberry plants are now cozily buried in the snow, along with the 40+ transplanted blackberry roots I relocated over the past month.

This spring and summer should be a real blooming and prosperous + bountiful harvest. More than ever, I am motivated to grow 80% of my own food and share it with friends. Organic (real ones) farmers markets are getting more expensive. And I like biodynamic gardening more.

The next entry here will probably be a month away, as I go learn more from life across the pond, and oh yeah!  I gotta go teach the young'uns over there about our SFM+ practices.   My real journey will be to learn about community energy commons, tri-generation systems and spend some time at Sieben Linden.  I can't wait!

C'est la vie!

mid February update

The six weeks of wintertime summer are over. From 65F to 40F in two days. It's nice to have winter back. I didn't believe the weather reports yesterday that upped everything by one day, but the first wave of many low pressure fronts has arrived. The wind was howling.... a few gusts well over 80mph... ripped a couple chairs off the deck... again (sigh). That's great for the wind power. This morning it was snowing while it was 41F outside - go figure.
I was finally able to get some strawberries (80+) from Peaceful Valley Farms in Grass Valley and in the freezing rain and snow put them all into the new raised soil beds and covered them with 3" of straw. They should be ready to pop after my euro sojourn.

So it's batten-down-the-hatches time. And when the goin' gets tough... Fred goes to the low-lands... I think I'll sit this coming snowstorm out and enjoy the confines and warmth of the Bay Area. Hopefully there will be a fair weather window to return and cross-country ski in next week.

Progress report: The greenhouse ponds is coming along nicely - although VERY slowly. Putting that round river rock bed into a cement bed on top of the liner is a work of art and takes about 2 hours for each 4 sq.ft. area. But the shape and purpose is coming together organically without any preset plans. There will be a nice waterfall and large pond inside the greenhouse this summer.
Each year the courtyard, vegetable area and greenhouse keep getting more eye popping, comfortable, bigger and productive with vegies and color. This coming spring/summer should be the best ever. I hope ya'll come and visit!