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Welcome to the Spring 2009 Beltane Ranch Newsletter!
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Hello friends of Beltane,
Spring has sprung and we are writing to share photos from this bright beautiful season and to fill you in on some exciting new projects. |
  
Spring Flowers and Seasonal Produce 
The gardens and orchards are more lush and varied this year than ever. The house is surrounded by blooms of iris, tulips, camelias, Easter lilies, calendula, Icelandic poppies and daffodils and we are already serving home grown asparagus, broccolini, spring onions, swiss chard, spinach, lemons and oranges from the garden. The driveway is lined with California poppies, while bright yellow mustard and lupine blossoms mark every row of the vineyard. Raspberries will be ready to pick in about a month- which go in to our famous Raspberry Syrup, as featured in Food & Wine Magazine.
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 Sonoma Valley Grass Fed Beef
Beltane Ranch has partnered with Castagnasso Farms in a local Sonoma Valley grass fed beef project. The cattle are free range and are never fed any hormones or antibiotics. Rotational grazing between the ranches benefits both the cattle and the land.
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   Vineyards and Orchards = Wine and Olive Oil
Last year was light for the olive trees so this year should prove to be a full crop. The trees will have a thorough pruning in May, and the weather will determine the crop, which we typically harvest in late November.
Our wine grapes are featured in the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc available to taste and buy at Cakebread Winery
as well as the 2007 Chardonnay at our neighboring winery Kunde. Our award-winning olive oil is available in the kitchen and at The Olive Press in Sonoma.
  
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 Beltane Animals
Louie and Lucky are the pair of Castagnasso Clydesdales currently grazing Beltane pastures and below are Duke, Lucy, George and Dixie
 
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Guests' Beautiful Photos
We'd like to congratulate Mike McCarthy for making the finals of the National Geographic Photo Contest with his photos of Beltane Ranch (the first three are his). We are also sharing with you a selection of the striking photos past guests have sent us or shared online. Thank you for such beautiful photos, please continue to share!
   
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Beltane Ranch is a family run working ranch on a hillside overlooking the heart of the Sonoma Valley. The ranch offers a Bed and Breakfast in the historic Victorian ranch house, a private cottage, events grounds, estate grown olive oil, vineyards, gardens and home grown produce. Check out our website but for reservations call 707-996-6501. We also welcome your feedback, photos and ideas by email. Thanks and hope to see you at the ranch soon!
Sincerely, 
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