8-30-02        Three sides of the hill

This is where my day usually ends--in the pool as the sun sets, while flecks of gold light melt down through the trees and the last hummingbirds flit into the yard for a final taste of the Mexican sage flowers beyond the pool fencing.  But this time I decided I needed a more drastic change of scenery, so I hopped in the truck and drove up to the end of the ridge at the west end of town, now known as Spanish Hills.  I've been thinking about the forces at work in this town: rapid development vs. the consequent destruction of the rural environment that has drawn so many newcomers here in the first place.  The hill will give you a sense of the contrasts and dilemmas we face.

From between million-dollar homes, you can see a bit of the plain below.  The buildings down there include an outlet mall that draws shoppers all the way from L.A., and a shopping center that includes such chains as Target, Staples and Home Depot.  All that area except for our small airport was vegetable fields a few short years ago.

More of the houses on the hill.  Only in Southern California could you have a tract of mansions, which is basically what this neighborhood is.  The picture below shows what's on the other side of the street, where the down side of the hill gives way to a view of the vast Oxnard plain spreading toward the ocean on the horizon.

A remaining undeveloped lot offers this view of the misty Oxnard plain in late afternoon.  Nearly all the land between here and the ocean is agricultural, producing such crops as strawberries, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, celery, tomatoes, chilis and other peppers, cilantro, squash, cucumbers, etc.

Even the back side of the hill, looking toward the Topa Topa mountains and Santa Paula, has become overrun with luxury housing.  The homes at the bottom of this hill, in the small valley area, resemble little Italian villas.  Most of this area used to be planted in neat rows of citrus (mostly lemons) or avocados.

But... in between homes around the side of the hill I caught this view of farms and fields.  Farming here is intensive; some fields are plowed under one day and replanted with a different crop two days later.

Also on the west side of the hill, just below the last spacious homes is this stand of poplars that divides two vegetable fields.  The haze-hidden Topa Topa mountains are barely visible in the background.

On the 'front' (south side) of the hill, below the mansions and above the 101 freeway, I discovered this wonderfully textured field being prepared for planting.  Small though it may be, every available space is put to some productive use.

Best of all, we've still got all that wonderful vegetation that comes from orchards tucked away in between houses (or the other way around!), as you can see in this view of my neighbor's fence and the avocado orchard beyond it.  Late at night, nothing beats quiet, peaceful air infused with the heady perfume of citrus blossoms.