Newsletter November 2007

We welcome United States Army Chief Warrant Officer Scott M. Doyle to our group and thank him for his interest in assisting Norm in organizing meeting

We also thank Jerry Sortomme for all the work he has done over the past several years. Jerry will continue to be available for consultation and will attend meetings when he can.

Norm and the rest of us old-timers are looking forward to our “retirements”, too. To remain viable, our chapter needs an infusion of new blood and new ideas. One of the advantages to our loose structure is that we can be flexible. While a year’s commitment as co-chair is ideal, we welcome members who are willing to set up one or two or three meetings, issue the newsletter every other month, locate venues for indoor meetings, identify a speaker, or organize a potluck.

Contact Norm or me if you would like to help out or if you have an idea for a meeting.

Laura Nanna, (805) 687-4553, laurainsb@gmail.com
Norm Beard, (805) 968-0989, beardtropics@earthlink.net

******November Meeting/Tour

When: Saturday, November 17
Time: 10:00 to Noon
Where: Ojai Olive Oil 1811 Ladera Rd., Ojai 93023, 805/646-5964, info@ojaioliveoil.com

Description: At the east boundary of the beautiful Ojai Valley is the site of the Asquith Family olive grove. The Asquith grove produces olive oil from nine recognized olive stock cultivars; Frantoio, Leccino, Mission, Columella, Kalmata, Pendolino, Leccio del Corno, Belice and Lechin de Sevilla.

Ron Asquith will tour our CRFG members and guests thru the groves and facilities of this family enterprise. A tasting of various estate olive oils will be a highlight portion of our November tour. Fall is the harvest season for Mediterranean groves, and a wonderful time to taste the diversity of these oils.

Your are encouraged to bring family members, friends and neighbors. The meeting/tour begins 10:00 sharp!

Directions: Take the 101 Freeway to the 33 Freeway north into Ojai traveling along the Ventura River. Keep to the right and drive thru the town of Ojai (on Highway 150) Take Highway 150 for about one and 1/2 miles. Left turn on Carne, drive about one mile. At the 90 degree, turn right and proceed 100 feet. Left at Ladera Road, 1811 Ladera Road.

******Review of the Saturday, October 20 meeting/tour by Jerry Sortomme

Our group met at the Apple Lane Apple Farm near Solvang. The Lanes toured us about their small orchard of well groomed trees. It was the end of the local apple picking season and the last crops of Yellow Delicious, Fuji and Gala were still available. The u-pick, and already harvested apples were for sale at the quaint little red sales shack.

We walked the orchard and saw the low profile pruning techniques used at this farm. Deer invasion and insect coddling moth problems need to to dealt with.

We thank out hosts for a very nice late morning meeting and tour of the orchard, for the delicious apple cobbler that Mrs. Lane baked for us, and for quenching cups of apple juice.

******CALENDAR

DECEMBER: No meeting or newsletter.

JANUARY: Annual pruning demonstration, scion exchange, tour of Norm Beard’s orchard and general welcome of the new year.

******TREASURER’S REPORT: Balance as of October 31, $ 5,703.69

******LOCAL OFFICERS

Chapter: Norman Beard, (805) 968-0989, beardtropics@earthlink.net

Treasurer: Roland Messori, (805) 969-4167, Furlanro@msn.com

Newsletter Team: Wally Mathews, (805) 963-6656, wallysb@aol.com; Laura Nanna, (805) 687-4553, laurainsb@gmail.com

Local website: current material http://crfg.blogspot.com older material: http://crfgvsb.blogspot.com;

CRFG Website: http://crfg.org

For Membership in California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc, send $30 to CRFG, Inc., 66 Farrugut Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112-4050 AND $10 (for local dues) to Roland Messori, 355 Sierra Vista Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93108 (Note: Members of the Parent CRFG organization receive the outstanding "Fruit Gardener" magazine.)

Send address changes to BOTH the parent and local organizations (addresses above). Send e-mail address changes to crfgvsb@gmail.com