Slow Life with Real Food

Hollyhock Farms is a gem of a place, owned by two charming farmers, Dick and Kim Rogers. This is as mom-and-pop of an operation as it gets. These two work non-stop to provide the people in their community with fresh and tasty organic produce. Even while we were sitting and enjoying a beer and a chat, Kim was pulling pesky mint from around a fountain, in preparation for guests that were planning on staying in their bed and breakfast.

When we first arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to take a seat while Kim and Dick peeled onions for their 'honor-system' produce stand. While enjoying the shade and the break from the bike, Dick shared stories with us from his 29 years of service in the Los Angeles Sherriff's Dept. Homicide Unit. Astonishing stuff!

Afterwards, Guillermo and I enjoyed a stroll through their tomato garden, and picnic lunch of cheese, salami, bread, and fresh fruit. We relaxed in a hammock, discussing life as we know it, letting all of the goodness sink in. What a life! Even better was the local beer that followed, and more stories from Dick. Apparently there was a game show filmed on their farm a few months back, and Dick was one of the lucky contestants. The show was a pilot, and was called 'The Smartest Guy in Town' (how sexist). Dick was not the smartest guy in town, unfortunately. He did have me howling with laughter, however, when he explained a contraption for getting rid of the squirrels that were plaguing his almond trees. The machine was called 'the Rodenator,' and it consists of a couple of tanks of propane and oxygen, a hose that probes squirrel holes, and a trigger that wouldn't quite go off when it was expected to. Dick said that he was almost sent to the mental hospital a couple of times due to that faulty trigger (picture a farmer strapped with an explosive that sometimes goes off with or without the trigger being pulled). Hilarious! Luckily 'the Rodenator' was deemed unfit for organic purposes, so Dick was spared from the nut house.

Hopefully we can visit Hollyhock again, and stay at their lovely bed and breakfast, enjoy a few more beers, and have many more laughs. And, of course, eat well!

Check out our photos at Hollyhock farm