As I walked through the new raised beds at the Far Niente culinary gardens, the smell of autumn hits me. The leaves are blowing in the air and all around the hint of fermentation: the fall harvest is on. And not just for the grapes but also for the squash, eggplants, beans, tomatoes of all kinds, corn and many fruits. The citrus trees are swollen and will bear in late autumn, early winter.
Over the summer we installed 23 new, lined, raised beds made of redwood each at 3’ wide and 18” tall. The lengths vary from a 65 foot herb bed to 25 and 35 foot vegetable beds. This layout allows for a magical jaunt through a maze of beds and trellised archways. We like to grow plants vertically as much as possible to maximize the space. It’s a wonderland to feast upon—literally. There’s always something different and tasty.
I love seeing the Chef Trevor’s culinary creations that come from our gardens. Autumn is a great time to sow all kinds of lettuces, cabbage, romanesco, broccoli, cauliflower and much more. Enjoy the bounty and the fruits of our labor at winery events planned throughout the coming year.
Stay tuned—our 2013 events calendar will be posted in December.
