Sunday, May 4, 2014

Bald Head Island

The Ferry

Bald Head Island is a developed Island off the SouthEast Coast of North Carolina.  Automobiles are not allowed on the Island, all Island transportation is via electric Golf Cart.  To get to Bald Head you have to take a passenger Ferry, checking your luggage in a similar manner as for air travel.  Cars must be parked in several very large and well landscaped parking lots across the road from the Ferry Terminal.  It's a relaxing way to start your adventure to Bald Head,  much like starting out in Disneyworld.

Waiting for the Bald Head Island Ferry





Libbie Studies an Island map while waiting for the Ferry

The Ferry transit time is 20 minutes, leaving the mainland on the hour and leaving the Island on the half hour.
We took the 3 PM Ferry which arrived at 2:50 to unload passengers and containers of checked luggage.
Once all had disembarked, we were allowed to go on board.  Libbie and I chose an outdoor seat in the back on the upper deck.  Since it was late Sunday afternoon there were significantly more people returning from the island than going there.  At exactly 3:00 the steam whistle blasted a loud sound and we cast off.  It's a beautiful sunny afternoon and as soon as the Ferry leaves the no wake zone we pick up speed and glide across the water on the  two pontoons below the main deck.

As the Ferry approaches the Harbor on Bald Head Island, an army of trams with blue tarps for luggage can be seen.  These trams transport clients to their Island destination.  We had a tram waiting for us to take us to the Marsh Harbor Inn.
Bald Head Island Ferry entering the Harbor on Bald Head Island


Welcome to Bald Head Island

Marsh Harbor Inn


Once on the island we were met by the Tram which efficiently took us to our lodging, the Marsh Harbor Inn, a short distance around the Harbor.

Marsh Harbor Inn as seen from the Ferry


Marsh Harbor Inn from the Street
Our Electric Golf Cart was waiting for us parked in front of the Marsh Harbor Inn.   After checking in, we promptly took our little cart out for a drive around the island.

The Island


 This attractive "golf cart sized" wood bridge crosses the salt marsh near the light house.  It serves to connect the harbor area with the rest of the island.


Wood bridge and "Old Baldy" in the background
Our cart stopped at a Beach Access area


The beaches are wide and deserted.



Bald Head Beach










Thursday, April 3, 2014

Food Share






Food Share

We visited the distribution center of Food Share.  The center serves as a warehouse for affiliated agencies and does not directly distribute food themselves. 



 Our guide for a tour of the warehouse was Christina Forina, Coordinator for Volunteers. We arrived to volunteer some time to the center.
Christina, Coordinator for Volunteers

  
Food waiting for distribution



Food assembled for a member agency

For our volunteer project we wrote Thank You cards to donor agencies.  Libbie and I wrote 2 Thank You letters each including addressing and inserting our cards into envelopes.  Since we were a group of 26 and if each person did 2 Thank Yous, there should have been a total of 52 letters written and addressed.






Heritage Square - Oxnard

Heritage Square - Oxnard

The City of Oxnard purchased a series of Victorian and Craftsmen style houses and moved them out of the path of development.  The houses have been arranged facing inward with a center square as a focus point and sold to private individuals for uses as offices, restaurants and specialty retail.  We had lunch in one of the houses in a cafe named "La Dolce Vita".

La Dolce Vita



Docents in period costume gave a brief talk on the history of the Square and then led us on a walking tour.

Docent in Character

The Square has a unique blend of beautiful period homes saved from the wrecking ball.



The Square

Our docent leads the walking tour

Nice attention to detail

Windows with curved glass in this beauty

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Proceed to the next stop, Food Share




Conroy Farms - Strawberries in Oxnard


Conroy Farms

Strawberries are the #1 cash crop in Ventura County, having displaced Lemons by a large margin.  We visited the strawberry Fields of Conroy Farms which employs 300 pickers at the season peak which just happens to be last week.  Our host for the Conroy Strawberry fields was the second generation owner.



Owner-Farmer, Conroy Farms

Conroy Farms has 117 acres of Strawberries.  Interestingly, the Strawberries are ripped out every year, the field is tilled and laser leveled for drainage, plastic mulch covering laid down and then replanted.




Ripe Strawberries

  Strawberries are picked and packed directly into consumer packaging without any further handling.  Shelf life is short and strawberries can't be washed since they start molding immediately.

Picked directly into Consumer packaging

Consumer Packaging ready for shipping

Strawberries that are overripe or otherwise damaged are picked in bulk containers and sent to Smuckers for crushing.

Strawberries for Crushing



Ripening Strawberries ready in a day or two

McGrath Family Farm

This was not my favorite of the Organic Farms we visited.  The owner was more of a gentleman farmer than a real farmer, most of his fields are leased out to commercial corporate growers.

McGrath Family Farm
We took a short walk in the newly planted field led by owner McGrath.

Farm owner McGrath

Newly planted organic vegetable crop

New planting

A dirt driveway/road runs along the field.  Alongside the road this planting of corn acts as a dust shield keeping the vegetables clean.  The corn will reach 5 to 6 feet in height which will nicely protect the crops from a cloud of dust by passing farm vehicles.

Row of emerging corn seedlings

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Faulkner Farm

Faulkner Farm

The University of California-Hansen runs the Faulkner Farm as an educational and research facility.  The original farmhouse has been restored as offices and the barns have been painted, restored and serve as a classroom facility.

Faulkner House

Restored Barn, now a classroom

Our guide for the Farm tour was Dr. Jose De Soto, Director of the Research Center. After a brief lecture explaining the challenges facing agriculture and the economic value of the current top crops in Ventura County, he took us on a walking tour of the grounds and crops.

Jose De Soto






Research Fields


Faulkner Farm, UC-Hansen

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