It's been 8 years I think since I did a spring buckwheat cover. Might be time to do it again.

We use a pretty light implement which only opens the top 2" or so. I hope the infrequent cultivation and root growth from the covercrop offsets any compaction. Before we started our covercrop/mulch program our soil was much worse.

You never really know until it is harvested, graded and weighed. At this point in the pre-season, counting the fruit on sample trees allows you to estimate the pounds/acre yield. But avocados are very inconsistent, so even experts often end up +/- 25%.

It doesn't include the concept that small town/rural = farmer... that's another discussion.

Yes. We think of farmers as people who own, live on and work the land, but usually those are separate roles today.

That would be my guess, but I'm not an authority

It is an affectation to be sure, but one that I will admit I embrace. Although I use "farm" or "orchard" more commonly on social media than I do in everyday conversation.

I do usually make sure I'm wearing a plaid shirt on most occasions where I have to speak in public "as a farmer." And typically clean and shine my boots which have enough battle scars to be legit. Not cowboy boots though... that would feel too much like a costume to me.

I wasn't sure about up there. I know the stone fruit industry developed along somewhat similar lines, but have no first hand knowledge.

Launching a co-op requires a great deal of trust among the members and (usually) a lack of alternatives for funding or services. I think it would be hard (not impossible) to do today.

Over time, bank financing became more available and attractive, while the management of members "revolving funds" (a term to search) became more cumbersome. Also services formerly available solely through the co-op started to become available through other, independent vendors.

The history of Sunkist would be a good place to start. Coops were a popular structure in the early 1900s. Partly due to distrust of banks, partly because banks didn't want to invest enough capital (at times) to get the operations off the ground.

"Avocado ranch" always hits the ears funny to people not used to it, but that has been a common term for a long time. Tied to the marketing of the properties way back when.

Wardrobe though... A black turtleneck doesn't read as authentic farmer, but how else will the TED audience know they're seeing a thought leader?

A venn diagram that would be useful for more Americans to understand

Standing up to Big Toe

85 between SP and Fillmore, 62 in Saticoy