Farm And Forest

There are three things you’ll find nearly everywhere in the Pacific Northwest; water, forests and farms. For the past week or so, I’ve been learning a bit more about organic farming; specifically organic garlic farming. I did a little “hands on” research at a local Hood River organic farm. The ready for harvest garlic was gold in the midsummer sun with snowcapped Mt. Hood in the distance, towering over the fruit trees across the road.

Hood River Garlic Fields

No heavy farm machinery here, every garlic plant has to be individually dug out of the ground.

Freshly Dug Garlic

The garlic then has to have the dirt cleaned off and sorted according to size.

Hood River Organic Garlic

The garlic is then hung up to cure for a couple weeks.

Curing Garlic

In a couple weeks, the garlic will be taken down from the curing racks, cleaned, the roots and stem cut off, packaged and sent to organic food markets across the United States.
Farming is hard work, especially organic farming. I learned a lot, but I’m glad the harvest is over. There were a lot of 12-14 hour days, kind of wears you out.
After a day to rest up a bit and catch up on business that had to wait for Mother Nature’s harvest call, it’s back on the trails. Summer is not going to last forever around here, gotta get it while you can.

Shady Summer Trail 8-11-11

It’s been mostly hot, dry and sunny, the trails are starting to show the effects. There are some trails that are dry, dusty and loose as ball bearings. These trail sections don’t look much different than other parts of the trail, but if you hit them the wrong way, your wheels will wash out and you’ll be on the ground before you know what happened. Using the brakes won’t help, front or rear, the wheels have no grip. On trails like the one pictured below, you really have to pay attention to what you are doing

Lean To The Right

Still, summer is the best time of the year, always a great view around the next bend

Mt. Hood 8-11-11

Tomorrow is shaping up to be another great summer day, no farm work on the schedule.

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