Well, I have finally arrived at my new digs in Oroville, California.
The trip went fairly well, making the trek from San Antonio Texas to Northern California in 3 days. But I was relieved when it was over. Pulling a 12 ft trailer through the West Texas Desert and Arizona with 108 degree temps was not my idea of fun.
Then, after we arrived and began to settle in, we discovered getting Internet coverage from here is very tricky. No cable out here, and the first wireless provider said sorry, but we were too far out.
Finally, at the suggestion of one of my Facebook followers I tried another company who was able to get me connected through a Wireless dish on the roof, albeit up and down connectivity. I think the Internet has become what the telephone was years ago– missing in many area but much needed.
If you doubt me, try unplugging your network connection sometime and turn on your computer. Its amazing how many software programs insist on connecting to the net before they allow you to work.
But on to the more pleasant happenings at the “Oro Butte Farm” as I have started to call it. ( In Oroville, part of Butte County so I sort of liked the conjunction)
Now, after years of learning how to garden in Texas Drought and Heat, fight off Texas Critters like deer, scorpions, and armadillos, I now find myself learning how to garden all over again under new conditions.
First on the plate is to amend the soil. Luckily all my neighbors keep lots of horses so that should be easy. I am looking for a stable to clean, if you know what I mean.
My Son is here helping out as sort of a “hired hand” and we started breaking the soil up a bit to day to get a look at it. As you can see, it took a pick axe at this time of year.
It appear to be a mainly clay based soil as you can see from the other picture, so we have our work cut out for us. Meantime, its a lot of dust in the air every time we bust up some clods of dirt from the digging.
Since we also am finding a substantial number of rocks, we needed a way to clean them out too. Luckily, Scott is very handy and 
put together a little 2ft x 2 ft box out of a 1×4 with 1/4 inch hardware cloth on the bottom to use as a soil sifter. This cleans out the large rocks and leaves to soil behind.
Although we don’t appear to have too bad of a deer problem, I know they are here as I have seen them in the area but they don’t seem to approach us much as we are pretty open. I believe we are safe from them also because the previous owners left several rose bushes which have been in bloom and have remained untouched.
That’s not saying we are critter free though. Not by a long shot. By far our largest issue is with long eared Jack rabbits and unfortunately, gophers too.
I may have been raised in Minnesota, home of the Golden Gophers, but I do not like these little root munchers in the least.
Well, thats the latest on the move. I really appreciate your patience sticking with me while I have been moving and fighting to find a way to update my blog and podcast.
Who knew that Internet access could be so hard!
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