The Team - photo by Alec For many of us in Tuolumne County our top priority is fire safety. We know that land clearing is a must, but what is the best way to go about making it happen? Motherlode Goats LLC offers a unique and sustainable way to manage our land and reduce wildfire fuel - goats! Alec Zachreson owns and operates a goat rental service in the Tuolumne County area for landowners looking to clear or maintain their acreage. I had the pleasure of meeting with Zachres

So you’ve built your raised beds, added your soil, planted your plants, and… now what? You’ve put so much love into these tender little plant babies and you want to do everything you can to help them grow. As you stand in front of your garden anxiously awaiting your first fruits, you wonder if there is anything else you can do to help your garden thrive beyond the obvious notions of watering and fertilizing. Well, there is one more thing you can add to your to-do list that wi

The welcome sign for the Welcome Home Maker's Market 2026 Earlier this month the very first “Welcome Home Maker’s Market” was held in Copperopolis by hosts Ashley Arnold and Megan Teske. The Maker’s Market is expected to occur semi-annually and is part of a larger project intended to grow into a space that can bring together our community, including additional events like classes and group gatherings. With a focus on non-toxic, eco-friendly, and reusable products, their hope

A common complaint in our area is the hard, compacted clay soil. While clay soil is actually one of the most nutrient dense soil types that you can have, it can be difficult to work with if it hasn’t been properly cared for over the years. A really simple and relatively hands-off way to break up that hard clay and prepare for an easier and more successful growing season is to utilize a soil preparation method called Lasagna Gardening or Sheet Composting. Lasagna gardening i

One of my favorite parts of driving into Yosemite valley in the Springtime is the iconic image of massive dogwood flowers sprinkled throughout the native landscape. A beautiful shade tree found in the high Sierras, the Dogwood tree is the perfect mix of function and beauty in both wild and curated landscapes. Types of Dogwoods Yellow flowers of the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood There are several different types of dogwoods: Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Korean Dogwood (Cornu

Arnold Acres Homestead is a charming 8 acre property nestled into a woodsy back road of Jamestown, CA. The homestead is owned and operated by Ashley and Brandon Arnold, along with their son Decker. They have been building up their little bucolic oasis for over 4 years and have created a charming community hub for locals to source homemade sourdough, farm fresh eggs, and more! The Homestead With Brandon being a lineman, the family spent 8 years on the road living in an RV to t

If you know me then you are already well aware that two of my most favorite things are coffee and plants, but you may not know that the two go together in more ways than just what I want to have with me when I walk in my backyard. Complementary by nature, coffee is the perfect vessel for integrating essential components into your compost and soil. Coffee and Composting Composting is a convenient way to handle old, wet coffee grounds (as opposed to leaving them in the trash bi

I think at this point everyone has heard of this hip and magical fruit - elderberry! Often used as a holistic medicine during flu season, this berry’s syrup can be seen on the shelves of most health food stores. While you may have seen its products in stores, you likely have also seen this plant out in our local wilderness! The Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) is native right here in our backyard all over the Sierra Foothills. What does blue elderberry “do”? The Blue Elderb

Having grown up in the Bay Area, one of my favorite memories of my childhood home was our massive orange tree in the backyard. With its beautiful deep green foliage, fragrant blooms, and large succulent winter fruits, orange trees hold a special place in my heart. There really isn't anything quite like a healthy citrus tree. They are particularly beautiful and produce tart fruits unlike anything else. How could anyone possibly say no to a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice

I have been pondering what I could possibly write about for my very first blog post and have been at a loss. As I bounced ideas around both in my head and off of my husband, I found myself admiring the incredible cotton-like blossoms scattered around town and decided that there is no better way to open this blog than spotlighting one of my favorite ornamental trees: the flowering pear ( Pyrus calleryana) ! I am personally a big fan of any of the flowering fruit tree varietie