Red beans from Matagalpa
Here are the 5′th generation red beans from Nicaragua. It all started with 4 beans that I found in my pocket from our last visit with Damaso in his fields. We had visited Damaso and seen how he worked: organic and independent. These beans are growing for the first time next to corn as they used to back in the mountains of Matagalpa. Let’s see how they work together here in our garden…. I am waiting with anticipation
Well, a day could not finish better than this…… after building a stone-grill under a tree; a beautiful nut tree with a perfect crown, 
planted by a man over 30 years ago. This man worked very hard to get his farm into shape, and his vineyard to a level where he was proud. Life sometimes throws unforseen curves into it’s path and he passed away leaving his wife and his children still very young. The oldest son took over and tries his hardest to stay true to his family…. this was the first time in 12 years that this son sat under this tree and relaxed. This little corner was finally a reality; a place that his father and he himself had envisioned over 30 years ago. This little dreamed was launched of with one of the best Chardonnays that I know of and a gorgeous lake trout on the fire….
still life with quail eggs and feathers
A still life with quail eggs and feathers: We have 9 little quails living with us. The survival instinct of one of them has lead to a small story of fate for 8 others……
It all started on a cold, wet november night, when all was quiet in the “henhouse”. Julius, the man who had raised them all from eggs to adults, came in and sent them of, one by one, to where the big white quail flies free forever. He went home to prepare them for the restaurant that had ordered them, leaving the henhouse quiet and desolate…. days went by, and one sunny morning there was something small and white moving around in the yard: a little scared quail! What can we do? Julius is gone and our little friend must have survived for a reason…. so, I got on the phone to the neighbor farmer who also has quails and chickens to “order” a few friends. This was just in time, as they were also about to “close down for the season”.
The nine quails have passed the cold winter together and taught me many little tricks. One is the gathering of “Hühnerdarm” (Vogelmiere (Stellaria media)) for calcium and it also tastes great as a salad. It is a great indicator of good soil and grows absolutely everywhere here. But this is another theme I hope to get into soon.
All in all the 9 little friends are bathing in the sun and sand this morning and seem to have collectively agreed that they will not lay eggs any more…. is this my next learning curve?
