Goodbye to the Veteran Tire

Today was officially a day off here at the date farm, and besides assembling a bunch of new drip irrigation end-pieces to be installed tomorrow, I got to spend a few hours of quality time with my bike...

I cleaned the gear system and replaced the original tire that came with the bike when I first got it in Sept '08. That tire rode more than 6200km/3800miles with out a single flat... I had in my mind that I should not replace it until I got a flat. But I got influenced by the thought that by changing it now I could be avoiding a future troublesome situation on the road.

Veteran beside Freshman

My plans are becoming more concrete about going to LA this week and then riding to San Diego by the following week and around the 6th riding back here to the Flying Disc Ranch to do some more work before going further east to Arizona and New Mexico. Stay tuned...

Pedro de-thorning the palms for the next season...

Enjoy the photos and videos on my flickr page (click here)

Date Heaven

My first morning here was like waking up in paradise. Palms trees everywhere and the winter temperatures reaching up to 30C/85F in mid day (up to 48C/120F in the summer). Definitely a rapid transition from my snowy Oregon experience just a week and a half ago. I'm working on a 10 acre farm in the middle of the desert region of the Coachela Valley in Southern California. The Flying Disc Ranch, is a diversified permaculture oasis that has dates and citrus (grapefruit & mandarins) as their main crop.

Date Palms interlaced with citrus trees

"Palapas for WWOOFer"

For those who where inquiring about it before I got here: Date is harvested in the fall. Therefore not many date bunches can be found hanging from the palms today. There are only a few that were not harvested due to some impurity or animals got to them, usually when the palms are still short, young and low to the ground. I have photographed them for your visual curiosity. You may also go to the Flying Disc Ranch's website to find out even more info.

Unharvested date bunches due to animal visits

this is Robert the "date guru"

Aside from doing some post harvest clean-up work (picking up old branches and such), we will be getting a building site ready for the construction of a Cob natural-building structure, to begin construction in mid February. Hopefully I'll be here till then...

Stay tuned (-:


Enjoy the photos and videos on my flickr page (click here)

Happy 2011!

"Halfway in the fog"

I wanted to send out the warmest wishes for this wonderful new year that is full of possibilities and flourishing with potential for our best year yet! I had a wonderful holiday season with my brothers wife's family in NE Oregon, a town called Halfway. A very special place in deed. Besides the wonderful friends and family that I met and stayed with, I througly enjoyed the fact that in one day I went from Califorina temperate weather to a magical winter wonderland. It snowed a lot (about 3' feet) while I was there. I got to learn about & see several solar passive houses in the area. I also got to work with llamas at the Wallawa Llama ranch. If you are interested in packing trips with llamas, this is the trip for you.

"Feeding llamas in 3 feet of snow"

"The girls in single file"

Since the new year, I have once again set foot on the road. Have been getting rides from friendly strangers, visiting with new friends in Portland and Ashland.
I stayed a few extra days with Heather and Jason in Ashland. Had a short and sweet visit with Larry my permaculture teacher, and got to know some new friends Chev, Mia, Dara and Julia... thanks for your friend ships.

"Coco's solar passive home, Halfway OR"

So now I have come full circle to the north, and find myself back here in San Francisco. What is next?
Well I had already planned this since last year. I will get a ride to the Flying Disc Ranch in Thermal (Southern California). This ranch in situated just south of the Joshua Tree National Park, In on of the only regions suitable for growing dates in continental USA. This ranch is also a permaculture site, where I hope I'll be able to put my hands to good use... Have I any experience growing date? No. Do I know what it even looks like? I have a faint idea that they grow on tall palm tree or something, but I'll be sure to fill you in on the details.

After this (I'm guessing I would be there around 3 weeks) I feeling the call to head to southern AZ and NM. I have been inspired by my friend Mia, to go visit the Anima Center lifeways and herbal school. I will find out more about it and will let you know what is going on...

Any way this is what is on my mind. I hope your new year also come with many wondeful changes and opportunities!

Enjoy the photos and videos on my flickr page (click here) more photos to come