Winter Garden Notes

A very dry winter in Mountain View so far in 2011-12, but bountiful veggies emerge nonetheless. Broccoli fresh from the garden is noticeably more tasty and tender than any I've purchased, even from the farmer's market. It's so much fun to watch the cabbage grow from leafy plants to hopefully tightly curled cabbages. I'd never grown most of these vegetables before. But now that I understand you just have to start the plants before the ground gets cold, I plan to grow a winter garden every year. And homemade Garlic Fire Sauce organic spray successfully killed off aphids that afflicted our broccoli during the rainy October. Here are some January images:

Local Cafe, Bumble, in Los Altos: Eat-Play-Grub, All Organically

My friendly neighbors Margie and Alexander visited Bumble with me in December

I visited a new local business recently, Bumble, located in Los Altos, to learn more about their sourcing of local organic food. It's certainly child-oriented, but I discovered if you are looking for a cozy, quiet place for your morning coffee, you can visit their beautifully remodeled cafe during any weekday morning and support a local business while you sip!

Visit them on First Street in Los Altos, across from the Safeway.

Here is an excerpt of my post published on Eat Drink Better:

"Bumble's ambitious goal is to be a family’s dream come true - a cozy, comfortable, kid friendly cafe that not only goes all out to make children and their parents feel welcome, but that also focuses on providing the healthiest food possible. Organically grown ingredients from local farms dominate the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This not only includes their fresh produce, but all of the dairy and meat products offered too. Parents dining here with their children need not worry about hormones or antibiotics in the milk or meat. The overall intention is to be a comfortable gathering place for families to socialize together while enjoying a healthy meal or snacks."

Bumble is a new cafe in a beautifully remodeled cottage

Photos: Urban Artichoke