Tre

In the grand American tradition of agrarian writers such as Ken Kesey, Gary Snyder, William Kittredge, Wendell Berry, and Wallace Stegner, these three expansive stories follow a cantankerous and feisty farmer striving to make a decent living in the challenging terrain of California. The narratives, set against the backdrop of growing wine grapes and producing commercial wine, draw from real events and vividly capture the unpredictable nature of farming in this demanding state.Beyond the personal struggles of our protagonist, these tales explore the broader agricultural issues that plague farmers everywhere: government regulation, labor laws, land-use policies, irrigation standards, and the ever-rising costs of water, fertilizer, and fuel. Written with a humorous and comic touch, some readers might even find the stories veering into the realm of slapstick.

Dominic M. Martin was lucky to grow up at the beach in the halcyon days of the fifties and sixties when life was easier and more affordable, and when; towards summer’s end, the ocean was warm. Though we did not know it at the time, those days were glorious, tranquil, and unruffled, a gift from God. We did not know how grand those days were until they were gone.