Bodega Report - October 2011

First of all, given a little crack I made in an earlier article, I want to give a big thank you to the County for the great resurfacing job on Highway 12.  O’Farrell Hill is so smooth I feel like I’m surfing, or skiing, or something.  I guess I don’t need new tires after all. The roadside trimming was well done this year too.

The Bodega Reds are coming in bigger and better than the poor little nubs we distributed last May at the first Bodega Red Potato Club potato-getting meeting.  Bodega Reds were featured at the first annual National Heirloom Expo in Santa Rosa, and were quite a hit.  That Expo was quite a hit, too, I might add. It seemed to me that everyone was connected in some way or another, like the web of our food supply. Many new potato heads signed up for the club. At the November 7 potato-giving-back party at 6:30 p.m. at McCaughey Hall we hope all will share their stories of success and failure.  If you have already harvested them, save your best potatoes, and store them surrounded in straw or newspaper in a dark, dry, cool place with good circulation. All are encouraged to buy raffle tickets for Dennis Hunt’s painting at the Organic Cotton Fabric Shop in Bodega - (which is my shop, and in my next article I’m going to tell you all about it) to raise money for virus-free potatoes that will be delivered in May 2012.

The Sea Squids 4H Club is off and running for its second year.  Officers have been elected and nine new projects are starting up, including cooking; fishing, fiber crafts, milk sheep, market and breeding la.m.bs, rabbits, chickens, and goats.  Several new fa.m.ilies have joined and are showing solid 4H spirit by volunteering for all sorts of jobs. Sign ups will continue through November.  Club meetings are now the second Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Grange.  Though old news, I still have to laud that great giant sea squid they made for the Bodega Big Event parade. You will see lots of 4H-baked items at various local events including the new Bodega Bay Farmers Market on Sundays from 10-1 through the end of October at the Bodega Bay Community Center.  I highly recommend you give them a try.

The Gold Ridge RCD finally got the No-Till Drill, which they are renting out by the day to ranchers and farms in the area. This implement pleases environmentalists because it doesn’t disturb the soil, and it pleases farmers because it makes seed spreading so much easier. It looks like this may be a happy development that will be great for both agriculture AND the environment. 

At this month’s Documentary at the Bodega Bay Grange, award-winning documentary filmmaker Rich Panter will present the third documentary of his fascinating series. On October 1st at 7:00 p.m., Rich will be showing Micro-Credit: The Business of Survival, about bootstrap entrepreneurs in Latin A.m.erica and the USA. Films air every first Saturday of the month.  When Rice was King, a history of South Carolina’s low-country rice culture, will show on November 5. Free gourmet popcorn is provided with your $5.00 entry ticket.  BYOB and enjoy conversation about the film with the filmmaker.

Don’t miss BLTs for Bodega Land Trust on October 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McCaughey Hall in Bodega.  Let’s hope we don’t get competition from a wild fire again this year.  They are really good!

I know it’s a little early, but THIS year, we’re going to get organized ahead of time for the Christmas Posada. This sweet event will take place in downtown Bodega Wednesday, December 21 (probably).  Carolers and revelers will parade through town enacting the Christmas story. Caroling around the fire will continue at McCaughey Hall with cookies, hot chocolate and a live Nativity scene. Volunteers are needed to help organize costumes, refreshments, farm animals and music. First on the list of needed volunteers is a candidate to play baby Jesus.  It’d also be great if we could line up some brass musicians. Please call if you would like to help.

Happy Harvest Season!