An update from the Barras

Following a terrific visit from Martha and Charlie Barra during which they were more than happy to support my non-traditional schemes (not many winery owners come to Chicago in order to sell tomatoes), I just recieved this update from Martha in Mendocino:

Here's a funny one for you. After seeing Damien's brother's (and parents') gardens, Charlie came home really jazzed. So, Saturday we had three employees here working in the yard. He planted four more really huge tomato plants, beet seeds, squash, etc., all just in case someone from Chicago came to visit!

I am not sure Charlie needs much inspiration to grow anything, but we sure appreciated his help last weekend chipping branches and mulching out in the Western Suburbs. Martha and Charlie will keep us posted with pictures of their garden and tomatoes as the plants grow. With luck, I, or someone from Candid, will make it out to Mendocino this summer for a closer look as well. Amazing, the power of TomatoFest, no?

Uncommon Tomato Sale

(L to R) Greg Powell, Candid Wines, Martha and Charlie Barra, Barra of Mendocino

Close to 150 more heirloom tomato plants found their ways into the hands of Chicago area gardeners, chefs, and community garden organizers at our Uncommon Plant sale on Friday, June 5th. Special guest Farmers Charlie and Martha Barra joined us to offer insights and experience, and $400 was raised for Slow Food.

We had a few plants that remained unsold at the end of the night, and they were donated to a community garden group on the North side, to the gardeners at Uncommon Ground's rooftop garden on Devon, and finally to a few local friends who were willing to trade smoked brisket and good wine for a plant or two.


Now that the plants are sold, the real work begins. As your tomatoes grow, please send questions, comments and pics. We'd love to share the experience of growing tomatoes across Chicagoland, and we look forward to tasting the fruit of your labor at TomatoFest at The Honey Coop in September.


All of the pictures in this post come from Mr BrownThumb. Before our first sale this year, I had never met Mr. BrownThumb, but his blogs, his advice, and his photos have rapidly become an important part of Tomato Fest. Check out his good work at the link posted above.

Stay tuned! The best is truly yet to come. We are planning for our Heirloom BLT fest in August at Chicago's best restaurants, as well as TomatoFest itself.

Cheers

Buy a plant, meet a legend in Organic farming!

We are thrilled to announce that organic farmer and pioneer Charlie Barra from Mendocino, California will be helping to sell Tomato Plants at Uncommon Ground on Devon this Friday night. In addition to offering thoughts on keeping your tomatoes alive, we'll be sampling the wines he grows as well.

Charlie Barra's (right) first crop was in 1945 when he was just as a junior in High School! Today, the family owns and farms 200 acres of certified organic vineyards in Mendocino and was one of the earliest adopters of organics in the region. His family produces wines made from organically grown grapes under the Girasole and Barra labels (proudly distributed by our company, Candid Wines in IL).

We will have the Girasole Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir available to taste. Please stick around for the Uncommon Ground Friday Farmer's Market that will be happening all around us. Bring a sac and a few extra dollars to take advantage of this terrific new addition to the Chicago Farmer's market landscape. There will be fresh produce, live music, and an all around good vibe.

Those of you who attended TomatoFest 2008 will remember that along with Goose Island, Girasole was the adult beverage sponsor of the evening. We are thrilled that the timing worked our for Charlie and Martha's visit as we get plants in the ground this year.

As a reminder the sale starts at 4:00. If our experience last time is any indication, those of you with your sites on a specific variety should arrive early!