It's 10pm, and just got in from a normal day of work, up at 6am. We bought 9 sheep recently, the idea was to add more genetic diversity to our flock, healthier animals in the future and such and such. One of the ewes we took (for free) was over 11 years old at least and in poor shape, but we've had "grandma's" make great flock mates before, especially for first time lambing ewes, so we thought, what the hell? Well, it turned out that old lady was pregnant and dropped her lamb a day after we get her to our place, only she was too weak to care for the lamb. Out comes the dreaded bottle. The dam tried to nurse, but was just getting weaker. I went out there to make sure I didn't need to bottle feed before turning in, and that's when it was confirmed... yes Virginia, we have a bottle baby. He's smart. Took to the bottle almost immediately, and that's not common. I bottle fed him right next to his dam, wanted to study her reactions. Nothing, too weak. I brought her hay from the best stack we have and stood guard for half an hour to fend off the other ewes from taking her hay flake (there is little sorority among sheep after all). Then I realized the dam could die soon from her actions, so off I went to break into the secrect stash of sweet feed, milled grain with molasses, the big guns. There are medications available that could possibly help her, which I gave. She ate. I made a makeshift private stall for her (remember that I wasn't expecting any lambs at this point). I kept putting her lamb next to her back side in hopes that she'd feed, nose up to her teat. Nope. She kept stumbling, as if she didn't want to stand up anymore, forever. I will do what ever i can to get the ol'girl through this, but I've been through this stage of a sheep's life before and I expect to have to dig a big hole within a couple days to bury her. It will be worth it if I can keep the lamb from getting scours from the powdered milk replacement. What's my point? Not much I guess, except that I'm beginning to get sick of some folks telling me that I don't really care for animals if I expect them to be market animals, that's all.

What's in season? Green Almonds!

Green Almonds are here! In the Capay Valley, the bloom is a little bit earlier here so the green almonds are ready to pick. The trees are already brimming with little green fuzzy fruit. Resembling an apricot with the fuzz and the line between the two halves, the almond nut in this stage is a sour tangy treat. Iranis, North Africans, Greeks, Portuguese and Italians all enjoy the immature nut as a tasty spring snack. Iranis also slice them for garnishes and utilize them in cooking.

With only a few trees on this property, the best way we can use them is to pick them green and offer this spring delicacy to you.

Here are a few recipes for them in different stages. There is the gel stage, where the immature nut is completely liquid and has not formed a skin yet, and the formed nut stage, where the nut has just begun to form and the skin is turning from white to brown. This is the stage that David Leibovitz talks about.

http://pitchforkdiaries.com/2011/06/08/market-watch-green-almonds/

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2006/06/green-almonds-a/

http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2009/04/green_almonds.html

Order Spring Lambs now

We are offering small spring lambs to our Bay Area customers. Delivery to the East Bay on Friday, March 29th or special arrangement.

Lambs are about 25-30 lbs and will cost between $200-250. They can be halved into front and hind sections for $20 extra. These are perfect for that holiday meal- Easter, Passover. Please call or email to reserve yours now... we only have 4 left.

Casa Rosa Farms has a new home in the Capay Valley

This spring, we have big changes. We are moving our farm to the Capay Valley. Our flock of 50 ewes now graze outside our kitchen window and one of our young rams has adopted our daughter as his new best friend. It's great to see them playing tag and follow the leader, and he puts his nose down for her to kiss. While we will miss the snow capped mountains of Yosemite in the distance, we are enjoying our new farm's beautiful ancient oaks, seasonal creek, pecan and orange trees and the unique microclimate of the beautiful Capay Valley, home to many successful organic farms including Capay Organic, Full Belly, Good Humus, Durst Growers, Riverdog and many more.

There were many reasons for our move, the greatest being the fact that our family was targeted by a rural drug dealing gang. After persevering through 3 years of harassment and arson, we were no longer safe on our family farm of 4 generations. We are grateful and happy that no one in our family was harmed and we thank you all for your support. We will continue to grow our signature blend organic extra virgin olive oil in Madera County and graze our cattle seasonally on our land in the foothills of Madera County, but all our other products (including a new Tuscan blend extra virgin organic olive oil) will be grown/raised in the Capay Valley on our new farmstead.