It's a Beautiful Summer

Summer has finally arrived, and we’re bracing for a heat wave this week. After such a cool season, it feels a little peevish to complain—but still, anything over 100 degrees means all hands on deck. We’re filling up the water troughs, shading plants, moving animals, and setting up misters for the chickens.

Earlier this month, I managed to take a few days off and went to Point Reyes. I realized August was nearly gone, and I hadn’t had a real break since the beginning of the year. I rented a small farmhouse on the coast and spent time with my friends at Homestead Design Collective and Morningsun Herb Farm .

An old dairy out where the Tule Elk roam

The first evening started with good wine, local cheese, and a crusty loaf of bread… and a wild idea that kept us talking late into the night. Something new is coming, and we can’t wait to share it with you—announcement soon!” We also rolled up our sleeves and began fine-tuning our 2026 garden tour in Italy, where we’ll be taking 20 lucky travelers for what we like to call grown-up summer camp. And closer to home, we have more workshops here in California that weave together farming, landscape design, and the joy of growing herbs and perennials.

To find out what’s happening in our neck of the woods, follow the Homestead Design Collective and Morningsun Herb Farm websites which list classes and workshops.

Back at Soul Food Farm, August has been all about projects. We’re building a new garden to bridge the space between the walking path and the gravel garden in front of the farmstand. New fences, rock walls, potted trees, and even a water trough pond are all in the works, and we hope to share something beautiful with you by the end of September.

This week, another delivery of lavender plugs arrived. Tomorrow we’ll begin transplanting them into 3-inch pots so they can grow strong before we plant the new lavender field later this fall, ideally timed with the first rains in October or November.

It’s been a month of planning, design, and creating infrastructure, but all of it is laying the groundwork for 2026 and a farm that is more welcoming and beautiful. We want you to hang out and relax and let the quiet serenity of the farm melt your worries away.

Ben Lyons owner of Lockewood Acre with his wife Denise

Of course, the heart of our work each week remains the farmstand. We continue to welcome new visitors and greet familiar faces who return week after week. Everything we offer is locally grown or handmade: olive oil, bread, soap, and fresh produce from Lockewood Acres and Farmboy Organics, which tastes delicious.

You’ll also find handmade bird feeders from a sweet couple in Fairfield, books from authors who have taught workshops here, dried lavender, local honey, and farm eggs from our new flock of happy hens.

EVENTS TO PLAN FOR:

We have over a dozen farms that are now participating. Follow the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association on Instagram for more local farm news and events.

To see what is happening at the Soul Food Farm Farmstand, follow us on Instagram for photos, news, and what’s stocked at Soul Food Farm Reserve, The Farmstand. Hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 9-5