Rancho Dos Pablos, as we call the new farm, does present a few challenges for event planning — even as low key and low budget an affair as our farm day.  First of all, it is much bigger than our other location — prepare to do some walking, for example, just to get from your car to the strawberry field or picnic site (If you thought the walk at the other location was long, you better start training).  You might end the day having walked a couple of miles.  I would encourage anyone with a bike rack to bring their mountain bikes, and folks with small children may want to bring a stroller (with pneumatic tires) to avoid episodes of whining. 

We will do our best to work within the limitations of the site to make everything as convenient as possible.    Pumpkins will be located right by the parking lot.    But you can expect it to be even more rustic an experience than past farm days.   There is no running water for drinking or washing located in the vicinity,  so we will provide coolers of ice water, and the only toilet facilities will be Porta Potties. 

 The new farm is fairly close to our other location as the crow flies, but it is in a hidden spot at the end of a narrow gravel road, and you’ll never find it without good directions.  And since we will be here on the day of the event and not there, there won’t be anyone around to tell you how to get here. 

 Most years we forget to set a raindate for farm day, but this year I’ll go ahead and do it in advance — exactly one week from the date will be the raindate.     And because another one of the rustic qualities of the new farm is its lack not just of shelter, but of gravel roads, even rain the night before the event will make it necessary to reschedule.    So if it rains Saturday, Saturday night, or is forecast to rain on Sunday  Oct 22, we will automatically invoke the raindate as Oct 29.      Rainout notice will be posted on our website, here on this page, big and blinking.

From Sacramento/Davis:
Take I-80 to Hwy. 113 north.  Exit at Covell Blvd. in Davis.  Turn left 
(west) onto Covell (which becomes Rd. 31 and then Hwy. 128) and take it 
all the way to I-505.  Take 505 South to the next exit, Putah Creek 
Road.  After the exit, turn left onto Putah Creek Road.

Take Putah Creek Road to the first stop sign, then turn left and go 1/4 
mile.  At the "Y", bear to the right.  You will still be on Putah Creek 
Road.  Go 1/2 mile, around a big S curve, and start watching for the 
signs.  Turn left onto Wintu Way, a gravel road.
Take Wintu Way back to the Terra Firma parking area -- we will have 
signs posted.  Please obey the 15 mph speed limit on Wintu.

BRINGING    DOGS    TO    FARM DAY? 
I guess several subscribers have inquired about whether they can bring their dogs to the farm this year.  Everyone knows that I love dogs, and I want as many dogs as possible to share the experience of a day in the country.  Just a few rules, though:
Leashes may be more necessary at the new farm, because there is a much smaller safe “leash-free” area than the walnut orchard at the usual farmday location.  Please bring them.    If your dog doesn’t follow verbal commands, we expect you to keep them on the leash the entire time.  To a dog, a strawberry field looks just like a park, but a single dog running circles in it can do terrible damage.