Thank goodness for the beauty of Spring and the promise of new life! 

I am able to see endings as a part of new beginnings and keep on trusting. I don't mean that things go my way, but they do go God's way, and I let go.

With the closing of our Central Kitchen and the lay off of so many long time employees (an ending) room has been made for something new to come into that space and even some of our people are interested in participating. Our first employee from Mexico returned to his family and now he and his wife and their four children are living together. They enriched our lives and we enriched theirs. Some of  our managers are now starting their own businesses, and others and helping friends build theirs. While our lives are being redesigned we are still very connected. 

There are some amazing scents in the air on the farm. The orange tree is in bloom with the sweet scent of the promise of fruit this winter, lilacs are in full bloom tempting us to walk over to their garden just for a more vibrant sniff.  Roses are out and filling the sunny hours with the sweetness only they are famous for and lavender adds to the air its own sweet remembrance.

Kale, chard, onions, beets, greens (now available in our Cafes) along with potatoes, cilantro, strawberries, cabbage...are all in the ground and some already being harvested.

Kansas City Cafe Gratitude had their opening celebration yesterday and are now finalizing food prep, along with practice serving before opening their doors to the public early next week! Congratulations to a community supported Cafe coming into existence. We are proud of you.

Olives from last fall are done curing and are being put away in jars.

Puppies are playing out side nearly all day with just a few naps.

Baby ducks are out of their brooder for the first time today and loving it!

Bees are audible all over the farm, we even collected five swarms in the past week!

The pool is clean and grandchildren have already tested the water.

Kansas City Cafe Gratitude opens on the 26th with an opening party on the 22nd!

Venice Beach Cafe Gratitude  is coming along beautifully and the excitement rises for an early June opening.

Eggs are plentiful and my heart is open.

We do have offers in Escrow on the Harrison and San Rafael locations and will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, Harrison St, San Rafael, Santa Cruz, Berkeley and Gracias Madre are open and looking forward to serving you.....Love!

Happy Spring,

Terces

Hi Everyone,

Our newest Spring addition arrived at the farm this morning early, baby ducks. These are Kakhi Campbell ducklings who are adorable. The little webbed feet are so amazing! They love staying all together, such community birds! They will grow up to come to my call, swim, and lay eggs! 

I'll keep you abreast of their growth and progress. They are not nearly as sensitive to the rainy days as the baby chicks are.

We just returned from Los Angeles where we were supporting the upcoming changes in management with the opening of Venice Beach Cafe Gratitude. Dreux and Anna are now in LA and we are aware of the unity of our mission. No matter where we go, love is!

Our Healdsburg location closed on Saturday and we thank all of you who supported that Cafe and we are grateful for our years of service there.
Our Berkeley, Harrison, San Rafael and Santa Cruz locations are open, along with Gracias Madre (see updated list here).
The farm is wet and green and kale and lettuce is flourishing, you can see from the photos both the young spring greens as well as the tomato plants inside the greenhouse just starting out.
Bees are flying, young birds hatching, flowers starting to bloom and small fruits forming. Every sign of Spring is in full swing. New life, new love, new beginnings.

Love and blessings,
Happy Spring
Terces

We just finished a week long workshop on Laulima farm in Maui where 20 folks from the mainland gathered. It was a magical experience and we are so grateful to all the hands that work to make Aloha Awakenings possible, we love you!

On our retreat was Jessie, the founder of Somovar Tea House. He so generously led a tea tasting ceremony which was so informative and fun. We even tasted a 50 year old tea that had been prayed over by monks!

Rain is a welcome sign for us on the farm, although soggy and wet we are grateful for the life water provides us all. Newe, our two year old farm member LOVES the puddles and inspires me to stay excited about all the water! Children really do sort me out!

Chickens are wet and droopy but laying away, I will be creating some more outlets for eggs soon! I have them  back on the street on the farm for local folks!

Well there is nothing like new birth for a Spring celebration. Matthew's brother Scotts's dog, Lily had pups four nights ago, four little pre opus pups. See the photo.

Birds are making nests, frogs are croaking most of the night, hummingbirds are zooming into freshly filled feeders, daffodils are blooming and Spring is in the air!

The Cafes that will be remaining permanently open, Berkeley and Santa Cruz, will be reinventing themselves, with more local options.

Windy day on the farm and frost last night.  We've been keeping our hopes up for the early flowering fruit trees!

Planting beets, kale, onions and potatoes. The olives are curing!

I made my first mozzarella cheese from Leche's milk (I still milk her once a day and the calf gets her the rest of the time).