Farmers are the new Firemen…

Library of Congress

…and vegetable gardens are the 21st century billboard.  When did we gardeners get so HIP?!

Last weekend we had a wonderful short vacation in Sonoma County, California.  Yeah, yeah, yeah…we brought the rain with us.  Well first of all, the area desperately needs the water; I heard one report that rainfall is 70% below normal.  Second of all, we’d never be allowed rainfall in our carry on luggage and even if we were it would probably dry up in a flight delay way before we ever arrived!

flowering mustard amidst the vineyards under a dark sky

But back to our wine country adventure…  I love the farmstead-like wineries and heart-on-their-sleeve passion of the smaller operations in the Russian River and Dry Creek appellations.  We’ve spent the past nearly 30 years visiting this area and it never ceases to take my breath away with its beauty.  Even in February, rolling hills unfurl in an Elysian tableau, rain or no rain.  Granted, all those vines, fields of flowering mustard and winding back roads have a certain sameness; it’s easy to lose yourself (and possibly your lunch) as you wend amongst the magnificent oaks and vineyards.  I can see where wineries might want to distinguish themselves from their neighbors; it can’t be easy to grow, produce, bottle and sell their product – however delicious – in today’s depressed economy.

February cabbage

So the sight of a giant vegetable garden filled with dozens -no hundreds– of cabbages caused us to make a quick turn around and head back to this particular tasting room.  Quivera is a small family-run winery…

“committed to expressing the unique terroir of Dry Creek Valley, and through biodynamic processes, …craft wines from grapes grown on the estate’s vineyards.”

Contemporary, barn-like structures, tiled in solar panels, house chickens, roosters, a farm stand and tasting room alike to create a sustainable compound devoted to the pursuit of a good and delicious life.  The vegetable gardens are purposefully placed out front right on the road to capture attention and draw people in.  Get it?  A vegetable billboard.  Next we’ll have “I brake for Veggie” bumper stickers.

Yep, I’ll say it again, there’s a vegetable zeitgeist afoot. It’s very exciting (although truthfully people – we didn’t invent the notion!!!)

If you’re in the neighborhood next week, don’t miss the Northwest Flower & Garden Show at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center; I still can’t even talk about this being its final year.  I’m speaking on Friday afternoon at 4:15 in the Hood Room.  My topic – Backyard Bountiful – ornamental vegetables for Northwest gardens.

I like to refer to the show as the “Gardener’s Prom”, the only time all year you find most of us together in one place and relatively cleaned up.  Whatever the future of the show I will always appreciate the vision and hard work (you have NO IDEA how much hard work!) Duane Kelly and his crew have invested to bring us this forum for all things floricultural!

Cheers… a toast to you Duane! (2006 Grenache, Wine Creek Ranch, Quivera)

Regarding my title for this post.  Over the years I’ve enjoyed several calendars that feature firemen.  Usually sales of these calendars benefit one or another charitable organizations.  I could tell you I was just being philanthropic, but really, no one would believe me.  These days I’ve got my eye out for a calendar featuring men and women who till the soil – FARMERS.  There are lots of beautiful food, gardening and sustainable calendars out – January featured a woolly black sheep on the one I’ve got over my desk.  No, I’m talking about a project where cheesecake meets cheesemaker; any thoughts?

The vintage photo above is from a Library of Congress collection of images entitled American Memory, America from the Great Depression to World War II.