Chris Sayer 🥑

Observations of an avocado🥑 farmer, dog guy, former Navy P3 pilot. Will be posting infrequently here if at all. BSky now my preferred platform.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

If we can talk about this one fruit in a more adult way, maybe we can have better conversations about the crops at the center of the American plate.
https://t.co/1tOUjZ9TWi

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@CraigBeam1 Part of the bucolic country life that people don't think about.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

They said that avocado cold fusion was impossible. That only a mad man would attempt it. But who's laughing now? (Maniacal laughter ensues.)

Also, the heat might be starting to get to me.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@CraigBeam1 Why we have large dogs and paranoid cats.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@CraigBeam1 Rodents (squirrels and rats particularly) love avocados. Predators (cats, dogs, hawks, owls) work well. Also the Squirellinator traps)

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Despite a very warm summer, our practice of infrequent, shallow irrigation and lots of mulch has kept the trees thriving. After 3/4 year, we are on track to have a very low water usage year.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

At our secret upholstery lab in an undisclosed location, the refreshed seats for our 1991 F150 undergo farm dog test and evaluation. Unfortunately, the Anatolian shepherd simulator might not be heavy duty enough for accurate data.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@ArableSam @BuniChristopher Looks like a nice piece of fruit! Hass is a very good avocado and there are reasons that it has become the global standard for commercial fruit. But it's not the only (or arguably the best) avocado out there.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Even with good starting soil moisture and high humidity, 105 degrees is pretty stressful for avocados. West wind is starting to come in and irrigation is started, but I'll be seeing some damage show up in the next few days.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Scattered raindrops and the rumble of distant thunder are unusual for September. And yet tomorrow we might send everyone home early due to expected heat stress.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Looking and feeling tropical after 4/10 inch of rain yesterday. Surprised to see a bump in soil moisture levels as deep as 16" in some spots.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

"Another dog - mulch - avocado orchard pic? Yawn!"

Hope is not into it this morning.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Roscoe and Hope. Ready for another day

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@cookiesinheaven I've seen this. Their projected ten year return on a project that includes substantial replanting seem .... optimistic? But I have no first hand knowledge of the particular property or management team.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Dramatic skies in Santa Paula this morning. I guess the summer monsoon is going to be our thing now. Forecast has solid chance of rain next week. Better than Santa Ana winds.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@cookiesinheaven Their words, not mine. (And in reality, Hope is ok with cats. Roscoe not so much.(

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Roscoe and Hope wish all who celebrate a happy #nationaldogday. For those that don't, they wish an infestation of cats.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Selected over thousands of years to protect flocks from lions, bears, and wolves, Anatolian shepherds are a tough breed. But Hope does enjoy sitting in the shade with a pup cup after checking irrigation. (Note muddy paws) 21st century quasi suburban farm dog.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

A break from avocado content: this cake by pastry genius Anastasia Chavez highlights 2 of our legacy crops: Meyer lemons and figs. Picked them Wednesday morning, cake Thursday evening. Great farm dinner by Totally Local VC. Thanks Chef Tim and Kat! Photo: Camarillo Barrel Works

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@Laurie_Meadows About that height. We'll see how they develop.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

Occasionally mature avocado trees are heavily cut back to control structure, improve fruit size, and make future harvests safe and economical. Exposed bark is whitewashed with diluted white latex paint. New growth appears quickly, and will yield fruit a couple years from now.

[Chris Sayer 🥑 @pettyranch]

@feddebuylow I'm modeling on "double cordon spur" pruning for grapes, but since avocados don't grow quite the same as grapevine it's a pretty rough approximation.