The HR Garden Grows Like A Jungle

We are still harvesting squash and greens, and now cauliflower, carrots, beans, and beets too! There are little baby tomatoes growing, and the promise of peppers, lemon cucumbers, eggplant, and more! Our flower garden is most likely at the peak of its season, as we are cutting lots of dahlias every day, and some of the stalks reach 7 feet!

Come and take a tasty stroll in the HR Garden!

Garden Tip: Broccoli secrets from Mother Earth News!

For a possible early or late harvest, experiment with planting dates.

Plant several varieties, as bio-diversity helps a crop defend itself against pests and disease. You may also find that one variety adapts especially well to your climate!

When you notice small broccoli heads growing, you can boost up the nitrogen in the soil.

Broccoli likes moist, cool soil, so mulch about two inches thick, and keep an eye on the weeds, too.

 

If you are looking for a comprehensive and progressive organic gardening magazine, we really like Mother Earth News.

Rob's Recipe: Tomato-Basil Bruschetta

Ah, the bounty of summer. Italian bruschetta (pronounced "brusketta") is a wonderful way to capture the flavors of ripe summer tomatoes, fresh garden basil, and garlic. Although our tomatoes aren’t quite ready yet, some of our favorite local farmers are producing some juicy and delicious varieties.

INGREDIENTS
6 or 7 ripe Heirloom tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 baguette French bread or similar Italian bread
1/4 cup olive oil

METHOD
• Make sure there is a top rack in place in your oven. Turn on the oven to 450°F to preheat.

• While the oven is heating, chop up the tomatoes finely. Put tomatoes, garlic, 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, vinegar in a bowl and mix. Add the chopped basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

• Slice the baguette on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick slices. Coat one side of each slice with olive oil using a pastry brush. Place on a cooking sheet, olive oil side down. You will want to toast them in the top rack in your oven, so you may need to do these in batches depending on the size of your oven. Once the oven has reached 450°F, place a tray of bread slices in the oven on the top rack. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until the bread just begins to turn golden brown.

• Align the bread on a serving platter, olive oil side up. Either place the tomato topping in a bowl separately with a spoon for people to serve themselves over the bread, or place some topping on each slice of bread and serve. If you top each slice with the tomatoes, do it right before serving or the bread may get soggy.

• Makes 24 small slices. Serves 6-10 as an appetizer. Or 3-4 for lunch (delicious served with fresh mozzarella.)
 

Corporate, Religious or Family Retreat?

Highland Ranch is the perfect place to have a retreat of any kind, birthday party or family reunion. And Fall is a beautiful and magical time at Highland Ranch.

There is still availability through the fall for exclusive use groups, which recieve a 10% discount for filling the ranch with at least 16 people.

Ride, bike and hike up to a beautiful picnic for your whole party on a ridge looking over the entire Anderson Valley, or have a corporate meeting in our Yurt or Dining Room. Schedule a Wine Maker's Dinner with a local wine maker, paired with Highland Ranch cookin'. Have a family wide tennis match!  Or a birthday party and we'll decorate the ranch house, throw in local champagne and bake a cake of your choice on us. Visit the stunning local beaches and fun coastal towns. Book the entire place for Thanksgiving or Christmas!

There is no limit to the adventures and facilities of Highland Ranch. Call us today to make a reservation.

Just follow owner George Gaines's Example... We've been having our family reunion here for over 20 years! (And we're not the only ones!) Start your family tradition this year.

--Joanna Gaines