Whispers of Spring

The recent rains seem to be behind us as we welcome warmer skies and sunnier afternoons back to the Ranch. For me there is no greater pleasure than watching the sun finally triumph over the clouds in the late morning, breaking through the fog that so thickly hugged the Pacific just hours before. That moment deserves to be basked in, an instant of golden gratification in which it is okay to lay down your shovel, to take your hands away from the wool you are pulling or the goat you are milking, and to turn upwards, whispering gratitude.

Slide Ranch is beautiful in every season, but spring time is special. Already, there are little hints of its arrival. February showers bring March flowers is probably a more accurate saying to describe Northern California’s seasonality, as wildflowers usually begin blooming here in February and March rather than the colloquial month of May. In the sunshine at Slide, poppies and nasturtiums burst against vivid shades of green, electrified by the recent rainfall. The garden looks lush and the greenhouse is brimming with so many starts that there are almost not enough beds to contain them. I love this time of the year because it is a promise of new things to come. Ever changing and ever moving, staff are preparing for events like a sunset concert series, the first of which welcomed folk duo Rising Appalachia last Saturday.

As we stretch our limbs and look towards the light, there is no better time to consider a visit to Slide. March and April will be full of events like Family Farm Days and the ever-anticipated Spring Fling which you can buy tickets for now! Soaking up the sun is often easier and more rewarding in our coastal climate, as powerful rays transform the water into a glittering tapestry of blue.

Kleigh is a regular volunteer at Slide Ranch. If you'd like to become a regular volunteer at Slide Ranch - check out all the opportunities we have on our website.