Annual Newsletter 2008
Dear Friends,
The early July mom is tranquil. Independence begins in the land. Yet taking time to be festive is challenging for the urgency of a growing world is at a peak. Not a time to sit and ponder, but to buildup sweat equity. Pausing is critical.
Bill’s dad grasped one of the defining moment of each spring when we can capture the scent of apple blossoms. Though brief, its sweetness endures as the days unfurl. How often the spirit of our mothers and fathers allows us to gather the drive for the next day. We often remember the best times with Ben and Adrianne when we would work together-whether it was training a young tree, coping with an aggravating tractor, or selling peaches to a farm friend in the market. To be marked by the grime of a long day may well be a benchmark that reveals the genuineness of our overriding love.
There is a peculiar obligation we all acquire-to banter about the weather, the price of gas or the direction our children are taking. City lights continue to warm the coolest nights for Adrianne and Ben. Their evolving lives make Minneapolis and Austin interesting at times for Bill and I. Our lives will always be highlighted by their lives. What gives us the most pleasure is that they still call Mason Road home. A Labor Day homecoming for them, perhaps.
We had our first grape harvest last September. Mac, our partner and award winning winemaker, produced a unique blend that can now be enjoyed under the pin oaks here at the farm. We anticipate establishing a winery down the road and up the hill in the near future. Here everyone will be able to enjoy Mac’s wines in gentler setting.
Garrison Kellar quipped a couple Saturdays ago as summer emerges, “it’s time to do something worthwhile. Eat a ripe peach.” He may be anticipating that joy a bit early, but we are headed in that direction.
HERE’S WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS YEAR
June 20-July 15 Sweet Cherries
July 15-20 First Peaches and Apricots (sweetcorn and tomatoes too)
August 15 -20 Red Haven Peaches (1st freestone)
August 18 -20 First White Peaches
August 25 -Sept. 20 Plums
August 25 Pears
Sept. 15-20 Gala & Honeycrisp Apricots
Sept. 20-25 Last of Peaches
Sept. 15-20 Fall Apples/Pick your own begins
Oct. 5-31 Pumpkins
Oct. 15-20 Cameo & Fuji Apples
