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Our Wildfire Story

9/24/2020

9 Comments

 
Many people have asked about us and the fires--whether they are close, whether we are safe, what is happening. So we are posting our story, not because it was harrowing or unusual--we are much luckier than most--but to answer all of those queries.
To read a truly dramatic story, with photos and some big-picture information on the fires, check this article about our neighbor to the northeast.
​https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/californias-largest-ever-wildfire-approaches-1-million-acres-foretells-fi/
Picture
Our place is on a dirt road, 15 miles from town and about 3 miles from Mendocino National Forest. There is just the one road in and out. The August Complex Fire started in the National Forest to the east of us. Those are hundred-foot trees the fire is towering over. (US Forest Service photo)
​
As winds drove the fire nearer, ash fell for days, and one day was so dark that crickets sang thinking it was night. The photo at right was taken at 3pm.

You can see why the terrain made the fire hard to fight in these USFS photos--steep canyons, super-dry vegetation, hot weather, and hardly any roads. When there is wind, fires can jump from ridge to ridge.
When Cal Fire took over the fire line near us, they added jumbo jets to the helicopters and planes that had been dropping water on the fire. So far, over a million gallons have been dropped on this section, to give firefighters a chance to build firebreaks. But many canyons and cliffs make it hard to reach problem areas, even when the smoke clears. The intense heat and smoke made a mushroom cloud visible from our garden.

The immediate concern was that, since we didn't have an automatic irrigation system, our seed crops would die from lack of water if we evacuated, whether the fire came or not. Luckily, the thick smoke brought temperatures down from the 90's to the 70's, making less stress on the plants. Bob and Will worked to get the automatic system hooked up while Jamie sorted all the seeds for transport, and Julie ran loads of tools and garden supplies to town. We thought we'd have a few days more to prepare & pack.
Picture
In mid-project, the sheriff's deputies came to tell us the fire was moving fast and we needed to evacuate now. (Another section of the same fire advanced more than 20 miles in one night.) That was my cue to pack up the seed packets we had kept out for fulfilling orders. We hurriedly finished the irrigation, caught the cat, and started down the road with virtually our entire seed inventory, as well as the shipping scale, laptop, and supplies. (Also the cat, family photos, and a few  books, but I took out the bedding and most of the clothes, to fit more seeds.) The car was so loaded it barely cleared the ground. A friend called and offered a place to stay. Amazingly, they also had a vacant office we could use. The next morning we started to unpack the seeds and find everything. You can see our makeshift packet storage in the center.
Picture

The firefighters made a stand on a ridgetop four miles from us, and westerly winds from the ocean helped them turn it back. The fireline is holding, and is under much more control now, but the danger will not be entirely over until we get a serious rain. We are keeping the seeds in their place of safety until the rain comes, and operating Quail from there.

​Out at the land, planes and helicopters still are passing overhead all day to make water drops, and things are beginning to look like they did before the fires, when this photo was taken. We look with hope toward next year; in the natural cycle that prevailed in California for thousands of years, ash from forest fires provided essential nutrients and helped prevent disease.
​
We are so very lucky. The only damage to seed crops while we were gone was from gophers, uneven watering, and falling ash. By and large, they are fine. Thank you to all who have asked after us, prayed, helped, housed, ordered, and supported Quail in a myriad of ways. We are happy to be home.

Picture
9 Comments
Jill
9/25/2020 07:31:27 am

Thank goodness for firefighters and good friends. Thank you for posting your story. Glad to know that you and your business are safe. Fingers crossed for some early and substantial rain.

Reply
Lee greeley bob Hunley
9/25/2020 08:07:53 am

Thanks so much for the update. We’ve been concerned about you. Love the Quan Lin lettuce. It is great!

Reply
Pauline
9/25/2020 09:30:42 am

I'm so glad to hear you guys and your garden are all safe! I was worried and knew you must have been evacuated. Thank you for sharing this.

Reply
Anna
9/25/2020 11:44:01 am

By God's grace you and your farm remained safe from the fire's ravages. So glad you were able to return home!

Reply
Jake Schumacher
9/25/2020 12:12:28 pm

So glad you are safe, and the cat, AND the seeds! Other ex-Sitka friends outside Medford also evacuated. Thinking of you and planning a big order to help out! Stay safe, Jake

Reply
Lily Herwald
9/25/2020 03:16:33 pm

Hi Jamie and Bob,
Glad you're safe...we moved to Ashland Oregon a year ago. Our neighboring towns of Talent and Phoenix were decimated by fires. So horrible.

Glad to know you are just down the road. I will buy products from you as we are buying a place in Medford.

I used to see Rowan plenty...hope you both and the boys and family are well. With fond regards. Lily

Reply
rosebud and scott ireland bug-guts link
9/26/2020 02:55:07 pm

Cheers to your your clan's infamous courage and resiliency. Love the shot of Bob and Will rockin' the garden preservation!

Thanks for sharing your inspiring story, Jamie.. and huge gratitude to the continued amazing work of brave Firefighters protecting human structures etc, while humbly bowing to the rejuvenating powers of fire and its natural processes.

Reply
Rick Howe
10/3/2020 04:11:55 pm

Imma ol' frienda Jamie's beau, Bob. Jody & I send love!

Reply
https://rewardbloggers.com/blog/post/13578/receive-the-rewards-of-logistics-management link
11/27/2020 11:07:41 pm

great work man i would like to congratulate you on this effort

Reply



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    Author

    Jamie Chevalier lives and gardens on a river in the Coast Range of Northern California. She has gardened professionally in Alaska and California, as well as living in a remote cabin, commercial fishing, and working with seeds.  She is the proprietor of Quail Seeds.

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  • Home
  • Shop
    • New for 2023
    • Plant for Spring >
      • Spring Vegetables
      • Spring Herbs & Flowers
      • Spring Grains
      • Seeds that Need Winter Cold
    • Vegetable Seeds >
      • Arugula
      • Beans
      • Beets
      • Broccoli and Cima di Rapa
      • Cabbage
      • Carrots & Roots
      • Celery
      • Chard
      • Corn
      • Cucumber
      • Eggplant
      • Fast, Fresh Food
      • Fennel
      • Greens
      • Kale and Collards
      • Lettuce
      • Melons
      • Oil Crops
      • Okra
      • Open-Source Seeds (OSSI)
      • Onions and Leeks
      • Peas
      • Peppers
      • Spinach
      • Squash & Pumpkins
      • Sunflowers
      • Tomatoes
      • Tomatillos/Husk Cherries
      • Turnips and Rutabagas
    • Perennial Vegetables >
      • Perennial Vegetable Seeds
      • About Perennial Vegetables
    • Pollinator and Pest Control Plants >
      • Pollinator and Pest Control Mixes
      • Plants for Pollinators
    • Flower Seeds
    • Herb Seeds >
      • Medicinal and Historic Herbs
      • Culinary Herbs (and teas)
      • Herb Collections
    • Seed Collections
    • Grains >
      • Heirloom Wheat Barley Oats & Rye
      • Gluten-Free Grains
    • Cover Crops >
      • Cover Crop Mixes
      • Cover Crops that are Food Crops
      • Decorative Cover Crops
    • Start these Indoors
    • Open Source (OSSI)
    • People behind the Seeds >
      • Carol Deppe Varieties
      • Jonathan Spero Varieties
      • Frank Morton Varieties
    • Companion Plants
    • Recipes >
      • Tomato Recipes
      • Preserving and Fermenting
    • Plant for Summer
    • Plant for Fall >
      • Fall Vegetables
      • Fall Salad Greens
      • ltalian Fall Specialties
      • Herbs and Flowers for Fall
  • About Us.
    • Our Story
    • Shipping Info
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • HOW-TO