Arctic Tomatoes in a Hat

[Bjørn J]

Nice shot - nice tomatoes.

Mayumi has several varieties in her greenhouse, but not 21; I'm jealous. But this year has been a very good year here for greenhouse-raised tomatoes, in spite of the very cool temperatures and lack of sunshine.

The opposite here - cold and cloudy, and not a good year for our tomatoes so far. But in 2014 we harvested the last ones on October 30, so there is still hope
(And Berit makes the most delicious jam of all the green (not ripe) tomatoes mixed with organic oranges!)

[Gary]

I cannot afford a greenhouse, so my poor veggies have to weather the climate with their own means. How about some photos of your greenhouse? How do you induce pollination? 

[Bjørn J]

You live in California? I can't imagine you need a greenhouse there
(Probably a bigger problem to get enough water to the poor plants)

As for pollination, on sunny days we have windows and doors open, so some insects find their way. But on tomatoes it's usually enough to shake them a bit - the tomato dance

Here's some mobile-phone photos (not the last one) from the greenhouse.

[Gary]

Man, your greenhouse and veggies look wonderful. We do have glaciers here in California (but I live hundred of miles away and 14,000 feet lower from the glaciers).

I would love to have a greenhouse. But on the flip-side-of-the-coin, your are right regarding our need, as we are growing everything from orchids and plumeria on one side of the spectrum to apples and berries on the other side.

I love your greenhouse, both inside and out.

[Frank Fremerey]

Gary. Lucky you with fertile soil and climate!

Yes, I am lucky. I've lived in Europe, Asia and Central America ... but nothing beats California weather, geography and wine.

May I read this as an invitation to visit?

[Frank Fremerey]

The last set of pictures makes me want to buy a farm or a greenhouse ant least. Thank you Bjørn

[Gary]

Gary. Lucky you with fertile soil and climate!

Yes, I am lucky. I've lived in Europe, Asia and Central America ... but nothing beats California weather, geography and wine.

May I read this as an invitation to visit?

JA, JA und JA!!!  I would love to show you my California.

From the tallest mountain in the Continental United States, (Mt. Whitney), you can peer down to the lowest spot in North America, (Death Valley). The oldest living trees (Bristlecone Pines), the largest trees (Sequoias), the largest birds in North America (California Condor), the largest creature to have ever lived on Earth, (Blue Whale), all reside in California.

Year round, Arguably ... San Diego has the best climate in the world, California Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), is the most scenic highway in the world and Yosemite is the most beautiful spot in the world. I could go on ...

PS- (I hope you like Mexican food. Some of the best is here.)

PPS- And the wines ... OMG ... the wines are astonishingly wonderful and affordable.

[Bjørn J]

PPS- And the wines ... OMG ... the wines are astonishingly wonderful and affordable.

True, Californian wines have become much better the last years, some are absolutely upper class. Actually I opened a bottle of white Rabbit Ridge yesterday. Not very expensive, and very different from for example typical German white, but it was very, very good.

[Gary]

PPS- And the wines ... OMG ... the wines are astonishingly wonderful and affordable.

True, Californian wines have become much better the last years, some are absolutely upper class. Actually I opened a bottle of white Rabbit Ridge yesterday. Not very expensive, and very different from for example typical German white, but it was very, very good.

Wines are hard to ship. There is such a big market here that our wines don't go very far. The better wines don't get much beyond the tasting rooms and are mostly sold regionally to merchants and restaurants. If you have a chance, watch the movie Bottle Shock. We have been bettering the French for decades. The movie is very entertaining. I grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir in the yard. They are much more tasty than my table grapes (Thompson, Flame, Concord).

When I lived in Paris, arguing over wines, California verses France ... was a hot topic and discussed often.

[Frank Fremerey]

Wines are another of my interests and you are right about transport of food in general.

the best fruit and tomatoes are the ones you pick ripely from the bush and tree

The best meals I prepared were living on an organic farm in the 1980ies. I took a knife and basket and got the ingredients
from our Garden. The goats I helped raise and did slaughter and butcher. What a feast for the senses!

unfortunally I have very few pictures of that time.

[Bjørn J]

When I lived in Paris, arguing over wines, California verses France ... was a hot topic and discussed often.

Did you ever get a someone from France to admit that Californian wines are as good or better than French? 

[Gary]

Wines are another of my interests and you are right about transport of food in general.

the best fruit and tomatoes are the ones you pick ripely from the bush and tree

The best meals I prepared were living on an organic farm in the 1980ies. I took a knife and basket and got the ingredients
from our Garden. The goats I helped raise and did slaughter and butcher. What a feast for the senses!

unfortunally I have very few pictures of that time.

I am now making my breads from scratch, (I even use free-range yeast) and most everything fresh, comes from the garden. I have a ton of herbs and everything gets 'herbed' up ... the herbs have raised the taste a magnitude higher. I recently acquired a Komado style grill ... and that has raised the taste another magnitude. I have avocados, Naval, Valencia and Mandarin oranges, Meyer Lemons, Apples and Persimmons. I have peppers from hot to sweet, artichokes, veggies, berries and melons. I'm even making bathtub orange liqueur that I use in my Margaritas and Sangria. Every meal I make uses significant food/seasons from the garden. It is the best for your health and for the tongue.

I find it simply amazing that Bjørn is growing such stuff in such a cold place.

I get multiple crops a year from my trees (except the persimmon). Right now I only have a few lemons hanging on the tree ... but little green fruit is already appearing. (I make the best orange-lemonade in the world- lol.)

[Gary]

When I lived in Paris, arguing over wines, California verses France ... was a hot topic and discussed often.

Did you ever get a someone from France to admit that Californian wines are as good or better than French? 

LOL ... almost. I was attending another dinner party, this one in the Parisian countryside. It was held in my honor ... (for no other reason than my friends ran out of other reasons). We were on the last course, cheese and Champagne. Borfiga, the host, was standing up with the first bottle and was starting to remove the wire.

I was sitting directly across from him and I softly said, in almost a whisper, "Six".

Borfiga stops and looks at me, "Qu'avez-vous dit?"

"Six", I said in a normal tone, "That wire has six twists. All Champaign wires have six twists."

At that, Borfiga repeatedly hits his glass with his spoon until all was silent. "L'Américain dit qu'il existe six torsades sur le liège ... Nous allons découvrir." With a Frenchman's flourish Borfiga announces "Un ... Deux ... Trois ... Quatre ... Cinq ... ... ... Six ...", and the wire fell off. Borfiga smiles and looks at me and waving his hand announces "France acquises to California".

That was the closest I got.   

(Netflix Bottle Shock)

[Gary]

PPS- And the wines ... OMG ... the wines are astonishingly wonderful and affordable.

True, Californian wines have become much better the last years, some are absolutely upper class. Actually I opened a bottle of white Rabbit Ridge yesterday. Not very expensive, and very different from for example typical German white, but it was very, very good.

Rabbit Ridge is up in Paso Robles, about two hours from my house. I have never partaken of a Rabbit Ridge, but Paso Robles and the nearby Santa Rita Hills, is home to the best Pinots in the world. We often drive up and make a day of exploring the wineries, tasting rooms and restaurants in that area.

[Bjørn J]

Thanks, seeing where the grapes have grown gives me a closer relationship with the wine