China date farm

After hunkering down for several days due to the cold temperatures, we needed to get out and about again. Once again, we have managed to be in the wrong place at the right time weather wise. We are enduring a record cold that has not been seen here in 17 years. We have lost power in the park at the depth of the cold night and then had the majority of the water pipes break in the park from the same cause.

Katie decided to visit today and we headed to the China date farm just across the border in California.

This farm was first founded by a Chinese worker previously working at the Borax site in Death Valley a century ago. The current owners started the date farm after previous owners failed to make the site a success. They advertise the farm as a hidden oasis. In this case it is true. It is located in the middle of the desert and surrounded by hot springs and mud hills that have existed in this area for centuries. In the middle of a huge barren area you turn on to a private road that winds down into hidden valley and suddenly this oasis appears full of trees and bushes in an otherwise desert location.

We learned a good deal about the history of dates and how they are grown and harvested. We also learned that they are great in chocolate chip date cookies.