WORKING VACATION FOR HONEY BEES

The honey bees have returned from their annual vacation.  They spent most of March in almond orchards then moved on to citrus groves.  Now they are back with us and starting to collect nectar from wildflowers and persimmon blossoms.

        So much of farming hinges on the weather we get.  Every year is different. At last it is warm enough to put tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in the ground.  The cucumber, okra, long bean, and squash seeds are starting to germinate. We see rows and rows of little green potential.

         Reminder: we are still on slow season hours through May 17:   Tu, Wed, Th 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.  Fri, Sat: 10 am to 6 pm. Sun:  10 am to 5 pm,  Closed on Mondays.  Regular season hours will start on May 18th, 2018.

Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow grapefruit

Eureka lemons

Valencia oranges

Hoshigaki  (No longer available though Mail Order. )

Dehydrated  figs

Salve and Lip Balm

This is what we have from other producers:

Winter vegetables from Barley Oats Farm

Local honey  from Top O'The Hill Apiary in Granite Bay

Jams from The Good Stuff
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

A LITTLE MORE CITRUS

In the orchard we are trying to keep up with the growing weeds.  Mowing, hoeing and  weed eating. We are also starting to thin peaches and plums (though there are not many).  With the extended rainy season came peach leaf curl as you can see in the picture.  Since we do not spray fungicides, our peach and nectarine trees are suffering.  We see only a small amount of fruit set.
       The vegetable plant starts are getting tired of their 4" containers.  As the weather warms and when we start irrigating the orchard, we will be transplanting tomatoes, peppers and eggplants into the ground where they will be happier.  The summer gardens are just getting started but there are still many fresh green vegetables coming out of Barley Oats' winter vegetable garden. 
        Our Slow Season hours have been extended a couple weeks.

         HOURS FROM NOW TILL MAY 17TH, 2018

TU, WED, THUR:  11:30 am to 1:30 pm

Fri, Sat:    10 am to 6 pm

Sun:          10 am to 5 pm

Mon: Closed

If you need to come at a different time, please leave a message at

(916) 300-0720 for an appointment.
May 18, 2018 we will resume our regular hours.

Here's what we have in the farm stand from Otow Orchard:

Yellow grapefruit

Eureka lemons

Hoshigaki  (Also available though Mail Order.  See home page)

Dehydrated  figs and Asian pears
Salve and Lip Balm

This is what we have from other producers:

Eureka Lemons from Mihara Farm

Winter vegetables from Barley Oats Farm

Local honey and comb honey from Top O'The Hill Apiary in Granite Bay

Jams from The Good Stuff
Eggs from Two Feather Farm

AH CHOO

For those of you looking for local honey, we are now selling honey from 2 local apiaries.  Natase Farm in Lincoln is bringing us raw, unfiltered honey.  Top O' The Hill Apiary in Granite Bay is bringing us raw, filtered blackberry honey and wildflower honey.  Top O' The Hill Apiary is also selling comb honey for people looking for this unique product.  We also have lip balm and salve made from bees wax collected at Otow Orchard.
            Peach and plum blossoms are about done and we are watching for little tiny fruits.  Apple, pear and cherry blossoms are starting to push open.  Hope they survive the next rain storm.  Christy and I are starting to put seeds in our vegetable gardens and we are tending tomato, eggplant and pepper plant starts.
        

These are our April hours:  

TU, WED, THUR:  11:30 am to 1:30 pm

Fri, Sat:    10 am to 6 pm

Sun:          10 am to 5 pm

Mon: Closed

If you need to come at a different time, please leave a message at

(916) 300-0720 for an appointment.
May 1, 2018 we will resume our regular hours .

Here's what we have in the farm stand now from Otow Orchard:

Blood oranges

Yellow grapefruit

Eureka lemons

Hoshigaki  (Also available though Mail Order.  See home page)

Pecans
Dehydrated  figs and Asian pears
Salve and Lip Balm

This is what we have from other producers:

Eureka Lemons from Mihara Farm

Kiwi from Mihara Farm

Winter vegetables from Barley Oats Farm

Raw honey from Nastase  Honey Farm in Lincoln
Local honey an comb honey from Top O'The Hill Apiary in Granite Bay

Jams from The Good Stuff
Eggs from Two Feather Farm