Potatoes are so easy to grow. After getting a few bags of already sprouting potatoes from the organic produce section in our local market, we dug up a section of the garden, reserving it for them. This was in early May, if not late April. This was our first year of potato gardening.

The potato plants began to peak through the soil in a few weeks. Within 2 months, they were a great addition to the blossoming garden. By the end of summer the purple potatoes had beautiful little flowers covering the plant. As of mid September the potato plants are all gone, but the goods are waiting for us under the dirt.

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We were just up in Oregon a couple weeks ago visiting and were given some Giant Sequoia trees. We’ve planted them on the North Western side of our little land here in a spot where there is a lot of room for some giant trees. Reading in the Sunset Western Garden Book I found that these trees can be up to 325′ tall and be “young” at 3000 years old! I won’t live to be that old, unless the Goji Berries kick in overdrive, but look forward to seeing these trees at 50′ tall.

They like the cold, dry air and well drained soils that we have here on the east side. My favorite trees are Cedar trees, or those that look similar, and the Giant Sequoia’s bark resembles one a little. Giant Sequoia National Monument comes to my mind when I think of these trees, so make sure and check out their photo gallery. I’ll keep an update on the trees as they grow to the heavens.

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This is our first year in our new home. So this Garden category will be all about what we are doing and how it is going; as well as, how our experiements are turning out.

We have a little over 2 acres and are located about 4500′ on the East Side in Nor Cal. 1 acre of that is fruit trees, and 800 sq/ft is the garden. Our soil drains as fast as a colander, so we have been amending it with local horse manure (careful brings weeds!) and a few bags of soil from the nursery. Fall has come in its splender and I have been thinking about what I need to be doing in order to prepare for winter and spring after that. I have some old moldy hay I have been mulching the smaller trees, 2 rasberry rows and 2 Goji berry plants with. Seems to be doing the job holding moisture well.

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Thompson Peak, in Northern California near Janesville, looked awesome the other day on our way to Fort Bidwell. I took a few shots, but these 2 came out the best. I like the sun on the mountain within the clouds. I have heard about the possibility of creating a research station and backcountry hut out of an old army radar station on top of the peak. Currently there is a lookout up there. Almost 100,000 acres burned just west and north west of this peak this past summer, 2007. Crazy.

We have some chickens. These are my first chickens. My wife had chickens when she was young, but doesn’t really remember much about them besides their color, oh and that the rooster got booted by a wooden clog from mom. Rotten rooster. We don’t have any roosters.

7 hens is what we are left with as of Sunday night. We had a fox or cat get in a kill 2 of them that night. I have them really locked up at night now. I felt bad about not being a good dad to them. Guilty really. They are my responsibility.

They run after us when we come out in the yard, stick fairly close when we are working, and are generally watching us at all times. If something spooky happens around them, they come running to us. So I am their protection. Without me the cute little fox has dinner, and I am out breakfast.

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After only a couple of years, I got the permit and it was on. A group of us from Oregon drove to Idaho for the best river trip of my life. The Middle Fork of the Salmon river is increadible. Some of the most amazing scenery in America while rafting along with constant clear flowing water make this trip a must on any rafters list.

After the meteor broke up over the Idaho sky, we awoke to 1/8″ of frost on our boats. That first cold morning took me by surprise. As the week progressed, the weather warmed and became hot at times. By the end of the trip, we were all talking about timing the permits right among us to get a Middle Fork then Main Salmon transition just right. Maybe 2008?

A snowy road ahead.