A group of amazing young people were out to the farm today to help us collect all the butternut squash from the fields. It is so fun to have them come and see what the farm is really all about. Their energy and help is so appreciated. Thank you all. Cacao is off to spend a couple of months with Dex the bull. We went to visit her today and she looks great and was having fun, running the hillside with the other cattle. I imagine the exercise is good for her too, she had gotten so chubby!  She let me rub her face and scratch her around the horns, one of her favorite things! Leche is doing great, it is easier to see the difference in the pregnancies now (or what we thought was a pregnancy)! She spends her days with one of the chicken families and they enjoy sharing their sprouts and wheat grass together! It is quite the scene.  These warm days and evenings are appreciated before winter comes. We are able to prepare fields for spring planting and the fall garden is in full swing now. Cauliflour, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce all in abundance. The peppers are still finishing up and we are roasting them daily. I shared that we bottled last years wine and we crushed and put into barrels (three!) this years harvest. We have enjoyed what is called "fresh wine", only fermented for two weeks prior to putting into oak. It is on the sweet side and delicious! Javier loves making wine and seems like he could do it all day every day, it is definitely his "gift" and passion. The days are shorter and I can begin to feel things starting to slow down a bit (seasonally). However life still feels like I carry a full bucket. We leave for a family reunion in Los Angeles on Saturday, then return home that night, head to SF to sleep, and leave for Maui on Sunday morning to prepare for our Community Building workshop there. I am so grateful for the support of community and especially Cary's father Jon, during some of the challenges we are facing. He has sent me so many great references, and inspiring sermons, and daily reads to keep our spirits up and focused on what really matters. I am blessed. Today I read a sermon he sent that shared how important "strife" is in any community, that resistance is what makes us stronger, more connected, and shored up to our mission.
Thank you all for continuing to support Cafe Gratitude and we are grateful to have you as part of our family. Love. Terces

Well the SUN came out today and watermelon is back on the farm menu with 5 volunteers here today to pick corn before more rain comes our way! Chilies are drying ( see photo) and boy do they smell good. Bread is baking and everyone is working together. The feeling of teamwork always warms my heart, I am grateful.

Corn is being picked to then dry and take off the cob to make our masa. It is a beautiful process. This years wine is fermenting and will be pressed on Saturday morning and put into oak barrels. Last year's wine has been bottled and is now resting while the flavor deepens.

Head to one of our Cafes and taste the first of our amazing blackberries and apricots. The heat is here and so is the fruit! All the plants in the fields are G R O W I N G like crazy! 

We have started to have our heavier meal at breakfast time as it is just TOO HOT to turn on the tortilla grill at 1pm for our midday meal. Our freezer just can't keep up with the demand for ice for cold drinks while working in the field. A sure sign of SUMMER.

Our Santa Cruz location is coming along with the transfer of the Beer and Wine license in process and the excitement building.  We are thrilled to be adding the location to our family and finally serving up the love near the coast. We are so grateful for the loyal following of Santa Cruz people over the years and happy to be bringing you your own Cafe Gratitude in August. Watch for the opening date and celebration!

Our cow Cacao, is due any day now. She just lays down in front of a big fan (yes, we cool down our cows in the summer heat) awaiting her time to give birth. She loves back and belly rubs not to mention her favorite head scratch, when she reaches out her neck and lays her head in my lap!
Love to everyone and thanks for being part of our Mission to serve up love along with some really great nutritious food!

Love. Terces

The buds are getting ready to burst open soon on the almond trees! The pruning is just about done, and Matthew is spreading the minerals based on the soil tests throughout the farm. The greenhouse is planted with kale and lettuce and it is a beautiful sight. 

We leave for Los Angeles this Thursday to do the new employee orientation for all the new hires. We are thrilled and excited to see the restaurant and where the crew from us here is living together. 

Jose, who has lived with us on the farm for 3 years is cleaning out his trailer and heading to Los Angeles to join the crew there and head up the kitchen. We are going to miss him and are grateful that he is still a part of our community. Last night we had dinner with him at Gracias Madre and we were all sharing how wonderful and life changing our years together have been.