Cotton

Cotton has been a crop grown in the Queen Creek area for decades. Right now the crops in the area are about waist high and the cotton is starting to show on the bush. I thought I would share a few up close and personal images of the cotton plant and it's flowers and buds.

BALING TIME

In the past week we've seen farmers in action around town. Bales of hay in the fields look so orderly.

Dictionary.com defines a bale as: a large bundle or package prepared for shipping, storage, or sale, esp. one tightly compressed and secured by wires, hoops, cords, or the like, and sometimes having a wrapping or covering: a bale of cotton; a bale of hay.

Yep, that's what we are seeing.

Monsoon Lightening Storm

We had a huge lightening storm last night in Phoenix and Queen Creek. I tried to capture it on video but it does not do it justice.

Food Co-op East Valley

I was driving around one of the Queen Creek / Pinal County neighborhoods and noticed some activity near a park. There were baskets lined up in the grass and people were coming in and picking up the baskets and putting them in their car.

I was curious about what was going on and spoke with someone who appeared to be in charge (the clipboard was the give-away). The event was a distribution from a local food co-op called Bountiful Baskets.

You can join the co-op and order fresh produce, breads and whatever is the current fresh offering of the week. It costs about $15 for a basket and you get about $50 worth of groceries. That would be what you would pay at the grocery store.

I love the concept and may have to try this myself. If you want more information please go to their website Bountiful Baskets Co-op .

Arboretum in 360 views

The Boyce Thompson Arboretums website now has some fantastic 360 degree camera views of the Arboretum. Fantastic. Check it out. Be sure to click on the drop down menu.

http://virtualstudio13.com/media/bta/

This place is so worth the drive.

Agritopia - Something for Everyone

From the local news yesterday - "Smells of gas prompted neighbors to alert officials to an Agritopia home Tuesday night where Gilbert police and fire discovered a marijuana growing operation. " - What!?

First they break up a prostitution ring and now this.

What a great name for a neighborhood where you grow things. It's like an episode of Weeds.

What's next, a coyote drop house?

Agri-tution Shocking Scandal

Agritopia - Street Scene

Rarely do we I get a chance to comment on something as an alleged breakup of a prostitution ring in a nearby suburban neighborhood.

Nice Bungalow in Agritopia

Apparently the police department in our neighboring town of Gilbert broke up a prostitution ring in Gilbert's golden neighborhood of Agritopia. Evidently the "ring" employed about 100 people. I guess that's just one other creative way to pay your mortgage in these tough times.

Under Construction

I love Agritopia. The neighborhood is reminiscent of an old time neighborhood with front porches and nice clean streets. Very sweet. It just goes to show you that you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

An adorable cottage - no one standing on this corner.

Don't worry Agritopia, I think that since the police were on the case they have saved the reputation of your charming neighborhood.

Below is the article from the Arizona Republic - comments are my own.

Arrest in prostitution ring shocks Agritopia residents
- Aug. 6, 2008 07:12 PMThe Arizona Republic
Residents in Gilbert's Agritopia community, an area of cottage-style houses with an urban farm, were shocked when police arrested a resident suspected of being a key player in a Valley prostitution ring. (Shocked is an understatement except maybe for that one soccer mom)
Phoenix police arrested Peter Shifman, 56, this week and seized his home and vehicle. Police suspect Shifman of being the ring's accountant. (Can they seize your stuff if you are just a suspect?)
He faces nine felony charges, including money laundering, conspiracy and maintaining house of prostitution. (otherwise known as a Bungalow of prostitution)
At least 100 people worked in the Phoenix-based operation that set up high-dollar dates through various escort Web sites including AZ Confidential, Escorts in Action, and Hips Touring, police said. (Not to mention Craigslist and word of mouth)
At least 50 were arrested in raids that began Monday. (Holy Smokes)
Some of Shifman's neighbors were surprised that police suspect their neighbor being involved in the operation.
"They're just good salt of the earth, honest people," David Barber, who lives across the street from Shifman and his family. (Just makin' an honest living)
Barber said he never noticed anything suspicious about Shifman or his home.
He described him as kind-hearted and a good neighbor, even questioning how involved Shifman might have been in the prostitution ring.
"I'll wait for the trial to be over to find out," he said.
Neighbor Sherry Charniski said Agritopia is not the kind of area police visit frequently, which added to her shock of Shifman's arrest.
"It took us all by surprise," said Charniski, a neighbor. "I mean, this neighborhood? This is basically a Christian neighborhood." (Huh? - Who makes the determination if a neighborhood is Christian or not?)
Cottage Living magazine recently named Agritopia, near Ray and Higley roads, the top neighborhood for 2008. The neighborhood features a Christian school, community center and various parks for its 300 classical and 150 cottage-style houses.