To anyone who thinks Sonoma is snooty wine country, I say an emphatic “NO”. We are Small Town America where the predominant industry happens to be wine and small farms, especially farms raising organic, sustainable and heirloom products. If you ever doubt that, you should check out some of the local City festivals. These aren’t staged events for the tourists. Like today’s Community Ox Roast, these events tend to be put on, attended and for the benefit of the locals.
Need more proof? Here is the photographic evidence:
Although I'd hoped to see a whole ox roasting on a spit, the volunteer firemen, who I'm told handle cooking duties, had their hands full with dozens of tri-tip roasts.
And all the eaters seemed to like their "ox plate specials".
You could even try out sauces made by various locals and vote for your favorite to win the trophy.
Then a band of local service people from Travis Air Force Base got the crowd rockin'.
Even some cool old grandpas were cutting a rug.
A lot of people sported "Proud to Be American" gear...
'Cause it's not just for 4th of July.
All proceeds benefit The Sonoma Community Center, so don’t miss this event next year if you are in the vicinity (always the first Sunday in June.)
Meanwhile back at the Ranch, a continuation of yesterday’s Farm Report:
Lake Charles finally has enough plant cover to keep the algae at bay.
Critters of all kinds are enjoying the frosty cool water, including this fine looking terrier.
Lavender fields forever! We may have a bumper crop this year.
My task for the next few weeks is to get a name and branding for our lavender (which will be made into lavender water and essential oil). Then see about getting a stall in the Sonoma Farmer’s Market. Soon you may see me hawking lavender every Tuesday night in summer and fall. My new career path: grassroots retail.
Holy cow! I used to make lavender water, lavender pillows (sachets), and sticks. I sold items mostly to a woman who made specialty pajamas online and for local dress shops. Her brand name was Napcakes. She has disappeared. Last weekend, an old customer of mine asked me if I would consider making more linen water. I believe that she and I are the only two people left on earth that iron. I used the name Petalspretty.
You should have no problem thinking of a name with your talent.
What type of lavender do you grow? Put me on your customer list. I would like to try something made using your lavender.
This is why we like Sonoma so much better than Napa!
Two Terriers Lavender just doesn’t have the right ring to it does it….
We’re growing both lavender that is good for oil and lavender water, and lavender that is better suited to drying. So far, the former has worked out better than the latter, but I think I just didn’t dry the lavender for long enough.
I want to brand our lavender with something sweet and old fashioned. I don’t think it should be branded as a Two Terriers product. If only because terriers are usually not associated with good smells!
I’m toying with the idea of naming the line after The World’s Most Beautiful Baby (which my readers will know is my God Daughter). So it would be “Amelia May’s Sonoma Lavender”. Of course, like all fine Two Terriers’ products, it’s organic and sustainably farmed.
Now I just need to get a business license, incorporate, buy bottles, get labels designed and made and affixed. So, should be available real soon. (Maybe.) It’ s my next big project.
I’d be all over that ox roast if it weren’t so far away. What does it taste like? And please don’t say chicken.
Ox Roast, now that sounds like fun!
Well, tastes like tri-tip. Because it is. While they may once have roasted an ox on the square, now they just grill up loads of tri-tip roasts.
Love the lavender, keep me posted when the products roll out.
Just moseyed over from Ebert’s blog, and am skimming the page. If you would like to go to a festival where the actually DO roast a whole ox, may I suggest the Kutztown Folk Festival in Kutztown, PA. Aside from that, it’s a great, strongly German-influenced festival – one of the best in the country. I went with a vegetarian friend. While she turned away, horrified, I went up and asked if they had any samples ready.
Thanks for the tip, Ryan. Nothing better than a regionally-based food festival. But what the hell were you doing taking a vegetarian to an Ox Roast?