Rodin Farms Fruit Stand lies along one of the “stroads” in Stanislaus County, and a widening of the highway could drive the longtime landmark out of business.
As the weekend of Thanksgiving leftovers draws to an end, we’re thinking about our publishing partners, Sacramento Digs Gardening. Every day, SDG’s Debbie Arrington and Kathy Morrison dish the dirt on horticultural happenings in the greater Capital Region, and much of their advice is applicable for gardeners throughout the state. They’ll also no doubt keep an eye on how to adapt to the newly released—and much more detailed—USDA plant hardiness zone map, last updated in 2012, which proves what gardeners have already noticed: temperatures are rising.
Photo by Kathy Morrison/Sacramento Digs Gardening
Arrington and Morrison also produce quarterly cookbooks, sponsored by Sacramento-based Green Acres Nursery & Supply, the most recent of which serves up fresh ideas for homemade holiday gifts. Think of new spins on old favorites, such as a pumpkin spice latte cake or persimmon cookies—or something completely different, like a holiday casserole featuring chayote, a Mesoamerican squash that grows like a weed in California backyards.
Even non-gardeners can enjoy both these recipes and California’s seasonal bounty by visiting a farmstand, where one can buy directly from a grower. Some are simple affairs—hand-lettered signs with bags of produce for the picking. But since agriculture is big business in the Golden State, some roadside stands have grown into bona fide tourist attractions.
