News from the Grove
Topwork
August 31, 2023We had a block of Pixie trees that turned out to be growing on the wrong rootstock. Turns out that the wrong rootstock for Pixies is a good rootstock for Kishus. So we are grafting – or “topworking” – them over to Kishus. Yes, more Kishu trees. Grafting? Yes –… Read more
The Pixie Collins
June 27, 2023Our friends at Ventura Spirits have been incorporating our Pixies into their excellent Wilder Gin for some time now. We’re delighted to be an ingredient in the Wilder. Ventura Spirits has just released a Pixie Collins – you can see their handiwork here: https://venturaspirits.com/products/pixie-collins Read more
Wet Kishu Report Jan 12
January 12, 2023When creeks rise in southern California, dry beds become turbulent torrents. We put together a little video to show how storm flows look in the East End of Ojai. https://vimeo.com/788758343 Nikos, born in the drought, gets his first glimpse of Ojai’s waterways in full flood. The Ojai Valley is 100%… Read more
Winter rains and kishus
January 3, 2023A week of serious storms approaches from the Pacific. Winter rain looms large in our history. We need it, and yet… A very very hard rain can end Kishsu season just by beating the delicate skins until they bruise or break. We get a lot of exercise trying to preserve… Read more
Fall is a wonderful time at the orchard.
November 15, 2022Fall is a wonderful time at Churchill Orchard. Summer is over – summer’s a hard time at the orchard, hot and kinda dull, with lots of repetitive walking of irrigation lines and checking on gopher traps. In the fall, after the heat breaks, all kinds of things start happening. *… Read more
Spring Flower Show – April 2022
April 27, 2022April is a glorious and fragrant time in the orchard. Fruit and flowers abound, and the air is delicious. April is also harvest time for Pixies, and most of our other varieties, so it’s the busiest time. Here are some pictures of the beautiful bloom – we smile as we hustle… Read more