agday-banner_v2Lately, I’ve discovered a great cable channel called RFD-TV, which bills itself as “Rural America’s Most Important Network”. I guess so. It features a whole raft of horse programs such as live coverage of rodeos and the great Parelli Natural Horsemanship (kind of a “do it yourself Horse Whispering”). I find myself fascinated by the Louisiana Ag Report (which has nothing I can take away to farming in Sonoma, but is still oddly compelling). Andy is partial to The Successful Farming Machinery Show. I should mention one of the great draws of RFD-TV: twice a day they rerun the old Hee-Haw show. I should come clean and admit that we mostly watch RFD-TV at about 3AM when we can’t sleep. And for some odd reason, it airs on San Francisco cable, but not in the Sonoma area. However, we don’t have TV in Sonoma, so that’s a moot point.

Since RFD-TV doesn’t broadcast in Sonoma, well, I guess I’ll have to do it. So here’s the Ag Report from our small corner of paradise:

John the Baptist continues to help us clear out the Chaparral that is choking out one of our seasonal creeks. He’s discovered what he’s calling “The History of Beer”, everything from Mickey’s Big Mouth cans to pre-WWII bottles. Apparently when our boundary road was unpaved (which wasn’t that long ago) this was the town dump.

 

Yes, this is a permitted burn. Not very ecological of us, I know, but having an outdoor bonfire occasionally is one of the perks of country living.

Yes, this is a permitted burn. Not very ecological of us, I know, but having an outdoor bonfire occasionally is one of the perks of country living.

 

Two Terrier Vineyards’ former status as the town dump makes for some interesting juxtapositions. Like this pile of rusted springs from a few old dumped mattresses. John found it next to a Wood Rat’s Nest.

 

The Rats nest was neater.

The rat’s nest (right) was neater. According to John, the rats build multi-roomed condos with pantries, bathrooms and composting areas.

 

This rock will eventually replenish the driveway. For now, the pile lets Lucy play Queen of the Hill.

This rock will eventually replenish the driveway. For now, the pile lets Lucy play Queen of the Hill.

After a brief absence, the coyotes have returned and theyre leaving calling cards -- right outside the barn.

After a brief absence, the coyotes have returned and they’re leaving calling cards — right outside the barn.

 

On a sad note, the Fava Beans are flourishing, but at too high a cost. I thought I had a clever plan to foil the foxes who were digging up my planted beans and munching on them. I put some netting over the raised beds (they are currently slipping right under or climbing over the deer fencing.) But I found that this little bird had gotten tangled in the netting and died. The nets are up now.

 

Ill share my Fava Beans with foxes if it keeps the birds safe. Last harvest season, the foxes were pretty good about just taking an acceptable amount.

I’ll share my Fava Beans with foxes if it keeps the birds safe. Last harvest season, the foxes were pretty good about just taking an acceptable amount. So we’ll have what the Soviets used to call “peaceful co-existence”.

 

So there’s the Sonoma Ag Report, just like RFD-TV would have done it. Now on to Hee-Haw

Better yet, how about some vintage Buck Owens singing Truck Drivin’ Man: