About ten miles south of Pismo Beach, in Nipomo, CA, we toured a Luffa Farm. As many people do, we both thought that a luffa was a sponge from the sea. Clearly, it is not. We learned all about the luffa plant - growing, maturing and processing the plants from seeds to finished product.
Who thought a luffa sponge came from the sea? (Me!)
First, a blossom (edible) much like a gourd. (It is in the gourd family.)
Once the flower has done its thing, the luffa starts its magic and begins to grow. When it is young, it is edible (also known as Chinese Okra).
If conditions are just right, luffas can grow 1 inch a day.
When a second one starts to grow on the same vine, it sucks nutrients from its vine mate, which will start to dry up.
The luffa is allowed to dry on the vine. If you pick it too early, the fibers will not have formed properly. Shake it and the seeds rattle.
When the bottom drops off (allowing the seeds to fall out) it is ready to be removed from the vine.
After soaking the dried luffa, the skin peels off easily.
The Luffa Farm sells online, too.
"Tour the farm... fine."
"Walk in my house... not OK."
There was a dog park in Nipomo where Sam could run free with other dogs. Sam doesn't really do much running and, sadly, there were no other dogs for Sam to sniff. There was one other dog there at first, but its owner said it did not play well with others, so she left. Sam did enjoy biting water from the hose bib - ahh, the simple things in life!
Sam finds dripping water entertaining.
He kept it up for over ten minutes.
A quick stop by the Butterfly Grove found things a bit more active in the afternoon sun.
When it's warm, the butterflies move around a bit.
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