40-year old camellias at the Ranch

I can now say I am among those that have had a major computer crash.  I now believe in the saying, “it’s not if your computer will crash, it is when”.  Needless to say we lost all our programs but able to keep most of our files.  As I learn how to  get things back in working order I am also updating the blog.

Spring is officially here and it is ever so obvious.  The fruit trees are pushing out new buds, the newly planted seeds are breaking through the soil in the hoop-house, the 40 year camellias are in full bloom and as the ground dries the tractors can work up the soil to prepare for the new plantings.  The seasons repeat themselves and the tradition of farming continues.

As Erickson Ranch continues on the family tradition we also look forward to new directions to enhance our business.  Projects in progress are:

1.  We will be participating in the Benicia Main Street Certified Farmers Market (info@beniciamainstreet.org) every Thursday evening beginning in early July.

2.  We are implementing and becoming certified in the Good Agricultural Practices or GAP program.  The purpose,  as a grower,  is to insure a safe food supply to our customers from planting, growing, harvesting and finally selling the product.  With the on-line direction of Primus Lab (primuslabs.com), which is a premier third party auditing company, we will complete the process of developing our own operationas Standard Operating Procedures manual.  This process is taking us in a  different direction than we are used to but in the long run it is by far the best program for us to implement to insure the best product for our customers.

3.  We are contemplating and setting the foundation to begin our own CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).  If all the parts of the CSA puzzle come together we may begin this year.  If not we will be ready for the 2011 season.

As a small business it is always behooves us to look forward and stretch our business sense to combine our traditions withthe present and into the future.

Every once in a while a family adventure and  experience comes along that  creates memories that last a lifetime.  Our family recently had a wonderful weekend together in Winters, CA,  of all places, that made our family bond even stronger.

Our family celebrated Raymond’s birthday at the the beautiful and welcoming home and cooking school of, renowned cookbook author, Georgeanne Brennan (www.GeorgeanneBrennan.com).

Ross and Kristen creating delicious tastes

Our weekend started when we met Georgeanne at the Davis, CA Farmers Market. She distributed Farmers Bucks, a slip of paper with the special ingredient for our purchases and directions to meet her back at her inviting, bright and comforting French kitchen.   Thus began  the first of two days of preparation, wonderful conversation and cooking that culminated in some of the most wonderful tastes we ’ve experienced.  To complete and compliment the palate of ingredients from the market we  walked through Georgeanne’s gardens and picked a basketful of fresh herbs, blood oranges, asparagus and Meyer lemons.

Once the menu was reviewed we began chopping,  slicing,  boiling,  baking and stuffing under  the forever kind,  gentle and watchful eye of Georgeanne as she provided  guidance.   Much gratitude to the ever vigilant assistance of Sophie and Melissa, the lovely “helper bees” that made the  process move along ever so smoothly.

Rustic Apple Tart

A partial list of the  memorable dishes we prepared and enjoyed at the long, inviting, beautifully set dining table  were herb and citrus stuffed pork roast,  winter vegetables with homemade aioli sauce and rustic apple tart with goat cheese cream, Chicken Provencal,  pizza made from homemade dough, cooked in the outdoor pizza oven with a variety of  toppings from the garden, finished  with the delectable garden picked orange and rosemary sorbet.

Erickson Ranch extends our heartfelt thanks to Georgeanne Brennen, her lovely husband Jim and of course the ever energetic and fetching pup, Louis, for creating a memory for our family that will fill several pages of our family album for generations to come.