On Saturday, May 17, I drove out to North Fork, California – the exact center of the state, as the sign proudly proclaims – to play a benefit show for KFCF.
North Fork is 3000+ feet up, on the San Joaquin River. A beautiful spot.
The show was at the Town Hall, which I gather used to be the multi-purpose room of a high school.
The show was well-attended – about 100 people. Those who paid an extra $5 got a healthy dinner of curried lentil soup and a hearty salad.
Everyone sat at long tables, and I realized on the drive home that I would have had a better time performing if I had thought to ask people to move the tables away and sit together in the chairs. Instead, I played to this spread-out audience sitting at tables. But still – a really fun time.
After the show, I was led up the canyon to the Kern Family Farm, 80 amazing acres on a bluff overlooking the San Joaquin. I spent the night in the “studio,” a stone house on a ledge right on the bluff. Got up at around 7 am and walked around with my camera, enjoying this spectacular spot.
I called the main house to let ’em know I was awake and ready to move and Hansel, the patriarch, came down in his truck to lead me up to the main house. I never would have found it unassisted.
After a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and fresh homemade goat cheese (the latter two items being mainstays of the farm’s market offerings), I was taken on a tour of the farm. I met two dozen goats, a hundred or so chickens, a small assortment of ducks and geese, two llamas, a pot-bellied pig, two Great Pyrenees dogs who protect the livestock from bears, mountain lions, etc., the two house dogs (Shiva and Ken). Saw the greenhouse and the fields in various states of growing or being prepared, took pictures of the amazing water wheel that moves fresh water from 750 feet down in the granite to the house, and the solar-power pumps that move gray water, etc. All their electricity is locally generated, either solar or hydroelectric (!).
Hansel and Sue have two teenage kids, both of whom plan to stay there and work the farm.
I had a great time, and I am really impressed with what they have done up there!
Take a look at the rest of the Photos.
“Underfoot the ground is patched with climbing arms of ivy, wrapped around the manzanita, stark and shiny in the breeze”
Nice looking family and what a beautiful spread they have there. We’ve been to Oakhurst, Fish Camp, and Mariposa north of NF and we order our favorite pepper sauce from a place that ships it from Bass Lake.
Great area to spend a weekend!
-DP