October 30, 2017

Box Contents

1 bskt Shishito Peppers

2 Pomegranates

2-3 Delicata Squashes

1 bu Rapini

¾ lb Bulls Blood Greens

1 bu Tokyo Turnips

1 Green Cabbage

Box Notes: Pomegranate season has begun! We are pleased to include these juicy gems in your veggie boxes this week. Coming soon we will also have Fuyu persimmons from our persimmon orchardist neighbor in Guinda. The pomegranates are a sweet treat, break them into sections and gently pull the juicy seeds from the fruit. To prevent a mess, you can separate the seeds from the fruit under running water or in a bowl of water. Sprinkled on a lettuce salad, as a topping for yogurt, or in a combo fruit salad, and in smoothies these old world fruits are quenching and so full of tart sugar.

Field Notes: This mild, late October weather has been very optimal for the crop growing and harvesting conditions. Daytime temperatures in the mid to high eighties and cooler nighttime temperatures has given the fall and winter crops a boost. A game camera we have stationed near the pig paddocks in Brooks caught the image of a beautiful mature, female mountain lion. We have also seen her tracks along with the tracks of her smaller, younger offspring. Our theory is that the fires to the west of us have pushed the wildlife this way. It is very rare for a mountain lion to be seen on the valley floor but many live in the wilder hill country.

Important Payment Information: We will send payment reminders when your account balance has reached $0. If your account drops below $0, your deliveries may be interrupted. Please confirm by responding to the payment reminder that you would like to continue to receive CSA boxes and that payment is on the way. You must let us know if you would like to cancel or permanently hold your deliveries. Email notifications and this newsletter are our primary way of communicating with members. Please be sure to read the newsletter and emails we send, as they contain important information.

Useful links for your new online CSA member profile

Your Account: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa

Payment: https://csa.farmigo.com/pay/riverdogfarmcsa

Web store: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

October 23, 2017

Box Contents

½ lb Braising Mix

1 lb Mei Qing Choi

1 bu Tokyo Turnips

1 bskt Juliette Tomatoes

1/4 lb Early Girl Tomatoes

1 lb Yukon Gold Potatoes

1 Butternut Squash

Field Notes: Thank you to all who attended the Riverdog Farm Pumpkin Party. The roasted pig and potluck dishes were delicious. The kids really enjoyed the hayride, selecting a pumpkin and feeding the pigs. We hope to see you next year in late October to celebrate Autumn’s harvest at the farm!

Box Notes: With cooler nights on the farm, the tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are slowing down. We are excited to include more leafy greens in the weekly veggie boxes as they become available. Both tops and roots of the turnips can be eaten, like beets. The greens are great braised or steamed. The roots are delicious raw or cooked. 

Important Payment Information: We will send payment reminders when your account balance has reached $0. If your account drops below $0, your deliveries may be interrupted. Please confirm by responding to the payment reminder that you would like to continue to receive CSA boxes and that payment is on the way. You must let us know if you would like to cancel or permanently hold your deliveries. Email notifications and this newsletter are our primary way of communicating with members. Please be sure to read the newsletter and emails we send, as they contain important information.

Useful links for your new online CSA member profile

Your Account: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa

Payment: https://csa.farmigo.com/pay/riverdogfarmcsa

Web store: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Capay Valley Vision’s 17th Annual Taste of Capay Farm Dinner

When: Sunday October 29, 2017, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Where: Full Belly Farm in Guinda

$60 per person or $500 per table of ten

This event highlights the bounty of the region with a delectable, locally sourced, multi-course farm dinner and live auction. Event proceeds will support the Esparto Park and Aquatic Center endowment fund, a new 8-acre community park with playing fields, a swimming pool, perimeter walking trail, and a basketball court to be built in 2018. Visit capayvalleyvision.org for more information. Contact Event Coordinator Maya Walker to purchase tickets: maya.m.walker@gmail.com or 530-867-5603, www.capayvalleyvision.org.

October 16, 2017 Veggie Box News

Box Contents

½ lb Arugula

1 bu Tokyo Turnips

1 lb Mixed Sweet Peppers

1 lb Purple Daikon Radish

1 lb Early Girl Tomatoes

1 bu Dino Kale

1 bu Grey Kabocha Squash

Field Notes: We are very saddened by the damage and losses from all the fires throughout Northern California. The response for emergency aid support has been encouraging in this difficult time. In Capay Valley, we had one day of thick smoke but the winds have cleared the air. Thank you to all who reached out to the farm to see if we are okay.

Box Notes: The smaller early girl tomatoes are packed with sweetness and are very flavorful. We grow 3 types of kabocha squash: green, red and grey. They each have dark orange flesh, creamy texture and sweet flavor. 

2017 Annual Pumpkin Party! Saturday October 21st: Come one, come all, and celebrate the fall harvest at the farm! Riverdog Farm is hosting our annual Pumpkin Party on October 21st from 2pm-5pm. Bring the whole family and a potluck dish to share. Riverdog will provide grilled sausages, drinks and Three Twins Ice cream. Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch where you can harvest a free pumpkin to take home. Please RSVP as soon as possible with the number in your party by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com. We will respond with details and directions.

Important information about the new CSA software program PLEASE READ:

A big change from our old system: If you would like to cancel your membership or place a long term hold on your deliveries, you must do so manually via your member page or by contacting the office! Deliveries will continue without receipt of payment.  If you choose to place a hold on your account you can re-activate it at anytime. 

-Any hold requests or changes to your csa delivery schedule and web order must be made 48 hours in advance of your delivery date. If the program will not allow this, contact the office.

-If you entered your credit card for payment and chose a payment plan schedule, your card will automatically be charged according to this schedule.

-Payments for bi-weekly subscriptions are processed according to the number of deliveries. The minimum credit card payment amount is $96. This amount pays for 4 delivery dates. The same is true for bi-weekly quarterly payments, you will be charged $312 this amount will pay for 13 deliveries (roughly 6 months). If you would like to pay in smaller monthly installments for a biweekly subscription, you can continue to send a check to the farm. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

To log onto your CSA member account profile follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa to log onto your existing member account, check your balance, select a payment plan, schedule hold dates, shop the web-store and more!  Web Store: Follow this link to explore, schedule and purchase Riverdog Farm’s pastures pork and chicken and other farm-raised goodies: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Capay Valley Vision’s 17th Annual Taste of Capay Farm Dinner

When: Sunday October 29, 2017, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Where: Full Belly Farm in Guinda

$60 per person or $500 per table of ten

This event highlights the bounty of the region with a delectable, locally sourced, multi-course farm dinner and live auction. Event proceeds will support the Esparto Park and Aquatic Center endowment fund, a new 8-acre community park with playing fields, a swimming pool, perimeter walking trail, and a basketball court to be built in 2018. Visit capayvalleyvision.org for more information. Contact Event Coordinator Maya Walker to purchase tickets: maya.m.walker@gmail.com or 530-867-5603, www.capayvalleyvision.org.

October 9, 2017

Box Contents

½ lb. Arugula

1 bu Tokyo Turnips

1 lb. Mixed Sweet Peppers

1 hd Savoy Cabbage

1 lb. Red Slicer Tomatoes

2 Delicata Squash

2 Rosa Bianca Eggplants

Box Notes: Arugula and turnips are back! The delicata squash is a sweet, yellow squash. Two recipes featuring delicata squash are included below. The Rosa Bianca eggplant is great as the main ingredient in baba ganouj, ratatouille or grilled.

2017 Annual Pumpkin Party! Saturday October 21st: Come one, come all, and celebrate the fall harvest at the farm! Riverdog Farm is hosting our annual Pumpkin Party on October 21st from 2pm-5pm. Bring the whole family and a potluck dish to share. Riverdog will provide grilled sausages, drinks and Three Twins Ice cream. Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch where you can harvest a free pumpkin to take home. Please RSVP with the number in your party by the end of this week, October 13th! Email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com. We will respond with details and directions.

Important information about the new CSA software program PLEASE READ:

A big change from our old system: If you would like to cancel your membership or place a long term hold on your deliveries, you must do so manually via your member page or by contacting the office! Deliveries will continue without receipt of payment.  If you choose to place a hold on your account you can re-activate it at anytime. 

-Any hold requests or changes to your csa delivery schedule and web order must be made 48 hours in advance of your delivery date. If the program will not allow this, contact the office.

-If you entered your credit card for payment and chose a payment plan schedule, your card will automatically be charged according to this schedule.

-Payments for Bi-weekly subscriptions are processed according to the number of deliveries. The minimum credit card payment amount is $96. This amount pays for 4 delivery dates. The same is true for bi-weekly quarterly payments, you will be charged $312 this amount will pay for 13 deliveries (roughly 6 months). If you would like to pay in smaller monthly installments for a biweekly subscription, you can continue to send a check to the farm. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

To log onto your CSA member account profile follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa to log onto your existing member account, check your balance, select a payment plan, schedule hold dates, shop the web-store and more!  Web Store: Follow this link to explore, schedule and purchase Riverdog Farm’s pastures pork and chicken and other farm-raised goodies: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Capay Valley Vision’s 17th Annual Taste of Capay Farm Dinner

When: Sunday October 29, 2017, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Where: Full Belly Farm in Guinda

$60 per person or $500 per table of ten

This event highlights the bounty of the region with a delectable, locally sourced, multi-course farm dinner and live auction. Event proceeds will support the Esparto Park and Aquatic Center, a new 8-acre community park with playing fields, a swimming pool, perimeter walking trail, and a basketball court to be built in 2018. Visit capayvalleyvision.org for more information. Contact Event Coordinator Maya Walker to purchase tickets: maya.m.walker@gmail.com or 530-867-5603.

October 2, 2017

Box Contents

1 ½ lbs Yukon Gold Potatoes

1 lb. Early Girl and Golden Jubilee Tomatoes

1 ½ lbs Mixed Bell Peppers

1 bu Parsley

1 bu Green Chard

1 Acorn Squash

1 hd Green Cabbage

Box Notes: The bunched greens are coming in, they look beautiful! We will feature one in each weekly box – kale, chard, mustard or collards – throughout the fall and winter months. The tomato and pepper harvest will continue until the first frost that sometimes happens as late as Thanksgiving but this year it may come earlier as it’s already starting to be much cooler at night.

2017 Annual Pumpkin Party! Saturday October 21st: Come one, come all, and celebrate the fall harvest at the farm! Riverdog Farm is hosting our annual Pumpkin Party on October 21st from 2pm-5pm. Bring the whole family and a potluck dish to share. Riverdog will provide grilled sausages, drinks and Three Twins Ice cream. Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch where you can harvest a free pumpkin to take home. Please RSVP with the number in your party by October 13th by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com. We will respond with details and directions.

Important information about the new CSA software program PLEASE READ:

A big change from our old system: If you would like to cancel your membership or place a long term hold on your deliveries, you must do so manually via your member page or by contacting the office! Deliveries will continue without receipt of payment.  If you choose to place a hold on your account you can re-activate it at anytime. 

-Any hold requests or changes to your csa delivery schedule and web order must be made 48 hours in advance of your delivery date. If the program will not allow this, contact the office.

-If you entered your credit card for payment and chose a payment plan schedule, your card will automatically be charged according to this schedule.

-Payments for Bi-weekly subscriptions are processed according to the number of deliveries. The minimum credit card payment amount is $96. This amount pays for 4 delivery dates. The same is true for bi-weekly quarterly payments, you will be charged $312 this amount will pay for 13 deliveries (roughly 6 months). If you would like to pay in smaller monthly installments for a biweekly subscription, you can continue to send a check to the farm. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

To log onto your CSA member account profile: Follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa to log onto your existing member account, check your balance, select a payment plan, schedule hold dates, shop the web-store and more!

Web Store: Follow this link to explore, schedule and purchase Riverdog Farm’s pastures pork and chicken and other farm-raised goodies: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Taste of Capay

When: Sunday October 29, 2017, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Where: Full Belly Farm in Guinda

$60 per person or $500 per table of ten

This event highlights the bounty of the region with a delectable, multi-course farm dinner. Event proceeds will support the Esparto Park and Aquatic Center, a new 8-acre community park with playing fields, a swimming pool, perimeter walking trail, and a basketball court to be built in 2018. Visit capayvalleyvision.org for more information. Contact Event Coordinator Maya Walker to purchase event tickets: maya.m.walker@gmail.com or 530-867-5603. 

Buy your tickets now: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival from 11 am to 11 pm at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information. Great kids craft area, live music all day, 

September 25, 2017

Box Contents

2 lbs. Globe Eggplant

1 lbs. Mixed Sweet Peppers

1 lbs. Mixed Heirloom tomatoes

2 Delicata Squash

1 Napa Cabbage

1 Yellow Canary Melon

Box Notes: The Yellow Canary Melon is a very sweet, white flesh melon that remains firm when ripe. It has a floral, perfumy flavor with nuances of banana/pineapple and is loaded with juice. This will likely be the last week for melons in the CSA boxes, though a late cantaloupe is a possibility.

2017 Annual Pumpkin Party! Saturday October 21st: Come one, come all, and celebrate the fall harvest at the farm! Riverdog Farm is hosting our annual Pumpkin Party on October 21st from 2pm-5pm. Bring the whole family and a potluck dish to share. Riverdog will provide grilled sausages, drinks and Three Twins Ice cream. Take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch where you can choose a free pumpkin to take home. Please RSVP with the number in your party by October 13th by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com. We will respond with details and directions.

Important information about the new CSA software program:

-Any hold requests or changes to your csa delivery schedule and web order must be made 48 hours in advance of your delivery date.

-If you entered your credit card for payment and chose a payment plan schedule, your card will automatically be charged according to this schedule.

-Payments for Bi-weekly subscriptions are processed according to the number of deliveries. The minimum credit card payment amount is $96. This amount pays for 4 delivery dates. The same is true for bi-weekly quarterly payments, you will be charged $312 this amount will pay for 13 deliveries (roughly 6 months). If you would like to pay in smaller monthly installments for a biweekly subscription, you can continue to send a check to the farm. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

To log onto your CSA member account profile: Follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa to log onto your existing member account, check your balance, select a payment plan, schedule hold dates, shop the web-store and more!

Web Store: Follow this link to explore, schedule and purchase Riverdog Farm’s pasture raised meat and other farm-raised goodies: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Taste of Capay

When: Sunday October 29, 2017, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Where: Full Belly Farm in Guinda

$60 per person or $500 per table of ten

This event highlights the bounty of the region with a delectable, multi-course farm dinner. Event proceeds will support the Esparto Park and Aquatic Center, a new 8-acre community park with playing fields, a swimming pool, perimeter walking trail, and a basketball court to be built in 2018. Visit capayvalleyvision.org for more information. Contact Maya Walker to purchase event tickets: maya.m.walker@gmail.com or 530-867-5603.

Buy your tickets now: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information.

September 18, 2017

Box Contents

1 Green Cabbage

1 Charlyn or Crenshaw Melon

1 lb. Fairtime Peaches

1 lb. Early girl and Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 Red Kabocha Squash

1 ½ lb. Mixed Sweet Peppers

Box Notes: The Fairtime peaches are the last stone fruit for us to harvest this summer. We’ve included two grilled peach recipes in the newsletter for you to savor the sweetness of summer that is slowly transitioning to autumn.

Farm Notes: We are gearing up for the annual Hoes Down Harvest Festival happening on October 7, 2017. We look forward to this multi-farm celebration of the region’s bounty. One of the ways Riverdog Farm supports the event is our donation of 400 gourds for the children’s area. We grow the gourds two years before the event, as they require a year to dry. Watching the swarm of kids fervently washing and painting their gourds during Hoes Down is such a kick!!

Thank you to all who have signed up for our new online CSA platform! Please follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa to log onto your existing member account, check your balance, select a payment plan, schedule hold dates, shop the web-store and more!

Also new: Our online Web Store is live! Follow this link to explore schedule and purchase our pasture raised meat products and other farm-raised goodies: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Taste of Capay:

When: Sunday October 29, 2017, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Where: Full Belly Farm in Guinda

$60 per person or $500 per table of ten

This event highlights the bounty of the region with a delectable, multi-course farm dinner. Event proceeds will support the Esparto Park and Aquatic Center, a new 8-acre community park with playing fields, a swimming pool, perimeter walking trail, and a basketball court to be built in 2018.

Contact Maya Walker to purchase event tickets: maya.m.walker@gmail.com or 530-867-5603.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

September 11, 2017

Box Contents

1 hd Napa Cabbage

1 Acorn Squash

1.5 lbs. Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

.75 lb. Mixed Corno di Toro Peppers

1 large or 2 small Globe Eggplant

1.5 lb. Fair time Peaches

Very Important News: The Riverdog CSA is now running new online CSA member software!

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SIGNED UP FOR THE NEW SOFTWARE SYSTEM, YOUR DELIVERIES MAY BE INTERRUPTED.

Please head directly over to: https://csa.farmigo.com/join/riverdogfarmcsa/riverdogfarmcsa and sign up ASAP. If you have any questions or would like detailed instructions on the sign up process please email Erin at: csa@riverdogfarm.com or call: 530-796-3802 weekdays between the hours of 9am and 5pm.

If you have signed up, thank you! Please follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa to log onto your account, check your balance, select a payment plan, schedule hold dates, shop the web-store and more!

Also new: Our online Web Store! Follow this link to explore our pasture raised meat products, and other farm raised goodies: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Box Notes: Napa Cabbage and Acorn Squash? The dog days of summer are upon us. This week begins the transition from summer crops to fall crops. You will begin to see winter squash, cabbage, and the first fall greens along side summer fruits like tomatoes, peaches and melons!

Field Notes: Temperatures in the valley are still high during the day, typically in the mid 90’s though the night temperatures are now dropping into the 50’s and some mornings there is a light due on the ground. Fall crops are coming along nicely, while tomatoes and eggplant continue to produce fruit like crazy. With the sun setting earlier daily fall just around the corner.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

September 4, 2017

Box Contents

1.5 lbs. Black Pineapple Heirloom Tomatoes

1 lb. Red Bell Pepper

1 lb. Yellow Finn Potatoes

1 lb. Fair time Peaches

.75 lb. Rosa Bianca Eggplant

1 Yellow Canary Melon

Very important News:

New to Riverdog Farm: We are embarking on a new era for the CSA. We will now manage the CSA program using Farmigo, a web-based platform that gives you the freedom to manage your delivery schedule and make payments online. As an existing CSA member you have through the coming week to sign-up during the enrollment period to avoid a possible interruption in deliveries. Please enroll by 5pm Friday 9/8/17. We sent all members an email last Friday with detailed instructions on how to set up your new account. If you did not receive this email or you need assistance setting up your account online contact the farm, email us at: csa@riverdogfarm.com  or call: 530-796-4100 between the hours of 9am and 5pm.

Follow this link to enroll: https://csa.farmigo.com/join/riverdogfarmcsa

Box Notes: The tomato plants continue to produce fruit despite the high temperatures. Our trellis method provides some indirect light so that some of the maturing fruit is not directly exposed to the sun allowing the tomatoes to ripen uniformly with some shade. Each row becomes a vertical green wall of tomatoes with the leafy stalks of the plants creating a shady oasis amongst the vigorous tomato bushes. The plants can grow as tall as 6 feet!

Field Notes: Record high temperatures hit the region over the weekend. The only way to stay cool was to plunge into some of the finest swimming holes in Cache Creek. The Rumsey Bridge in Rumsey and Nichols Park in Guinda are two of the great swimming spots. Rumsey tends to have fewer people, while Guinda has quite a few with families picnicking in the shade of the bridge. 

Early Girl Tomatoes are available for canning and making sauce: $45 for 20 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you are having a great summer!

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

August 28, 2017

Box Contents

2 lbs Black Pineapple Heirloom and Early Girl tomatoes

2 Slicing Cucumbers

1 bskt Padron Peppers

1 ½ lbs Mixed Corno di Toro Peppers

3 Japanese eggplants

1 Charlyn Melon

Box Notes: The Corno di Toro Pepper (meaning horn of the bull in Italian) is an Italian Heirloom pepper. This is a versatile and sweet thin walled pepper. It can be used in any recipe that calls for Anaheim or Poblano peppers, eaten raw in a salad, or roasted directly over a flame. The Padrone peppers are getting quite spicy, one in 5 are very hot, but have incredible flavor. Best blistered whole in a hot skillet with good olive oil and a little salt and served tapas style, perhaps with some crusty bread, heirloom tomatoes, grilled eggplant, and goat cheese.

Field Notes: Temperatures are predicted to be 105 or higher all week, through the weekend and into next week. Despite the heat we will be planting fall crops. Some roots, spinach and lettuces will be going in the ground. We keep seeds and transplants well watered through germination and root set. You can expect to see these crops in your box in October. For now, enjoy the sun soaked summer veggies and fruits, and stay cool!

Pickling Cucumbers are available by the case: $40 for 22 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Early Girl and Roma Tomatoes are available for canning and making sauce: $45 for 20 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you are having a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10 lb. minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order for pastured pork ribs.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

August 21, 2017

Box Contents

1.5 lb. Black Eyed Peas

1 lb. Yellow Finn Potatoes

1 lb. Early Girl Tomatoes

1 Armenian Cucumber

3 Japanese Eggplant

1 Orange Honeydew Melon

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

Box Notes: Melons will be included in your veggie boxes for the weeks ahead. We do a sequential planting of melons (seeded in the greenhouse in March/April/May) so that the melon harvest is continuous throughout the warm summer and early fall months. They are sun kissed and infused with natural fruit sugar. Like many of the summer crops we grow, the heat makes an incredible difference in the depth of flavor and sugar content. The black eyed peas are a farmers market and chef/restaurant favorite. See the recipe below for these delicious legumes.  

Field Notes: Wow! How lucky we are to have experienced the rare solar eclipse today on the farm. The temperature dropped quickly as the moon covered the sun. A sudden still, quietness settled around the farm. The bird chirps and dog barks came to standstill. All was quiet for the hour of the eclipse as though the wildlife and domesticated critters all seemed to think it was dusk.

Pickling Cucumbers are available by the case: $40 for 22 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Early Girl and Roma Tomatoes are available for canning and making sauce: $45 for 20 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you are having a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10 lb. minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order for pastured pork ribs.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

August 14, 2017

Box Contents

1 lb. German Butterball Potatoes

1 Listada Di Gandia Eggplant

1 lb. Early Girl Tomatoes

1 Slicing Cucumber

1 lb. Mixed Mini Sweet Peppers

1 Charentais Melon

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

Box Notes: This week we have included a mix of Aura and Glow sweet peppers in the box. These peppers are thick walled fruits that taper at the end. The sweet golden and bright orange fruits are incredibly viristal and can be used in many recipes raw or cooked. The Charentais melon is a superb French heirloom that originated in the Poitou-Charentes region circa 1920. It is considered by some to be the most divine and flavorful melon in the world. Its bright deep orange flesh is super sweet and very fragrant. Enjoy!

Field Notes: With the weather forecast promising temperatures in the 90’s all week, the pack shed and field crews are getting a much-needed break from the blistering heat of the past 6 weeks. This mornings slight chill in the air and golden light is reminiscent of fall. While we all know more heat is on the way, we appreciate the break and the refreshing energy it brings. 

Pickling Cucumbers are available by the case: $40 for 22 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Early Girl and Roma Tomatoes are available for canning and making sauce: $45 for 20 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you are having a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10 lb. minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order for pastured pork ribs.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

August 7, 2017

Box Contents

1 lb. Green Beans

2 Rosa Bianca Eggplants

1 lb. Early Girl Tomatoes

1 lbs. Mixed Gypsy Peppers

2 Painted Serpent Armenian Cucumbers

1 Charlyn Melon

Box Notes:

The Rosa Bianca eggplant is coming in from the fields with great color and is full sized. This variety of eggplant has a mild flavor and a dense texture. Slice in ½ inch thick rounds, drizzle olive oil over both sides, then sprinkle some salt over all. Place on hot grill and cook until translucent and soft, flipping with a spatula, about 20 minutes total. We sampled the melons at the farmer’s markets this weekend – they are at their peak of sugar levels at this time. We hope you enjoy your pinnacle of summer veggie box this week!

Field Notes:

We had a light sprinkling of rain on Friday. The sky was full of clouds most of Thursday and Friday with several dry lightening flashes appearing in the southern skyline Thursday evening. Each year in August we usually experience a mild summer storm. It’s like a sneak peak of the winter rainy season and provides a refreshing break from the constant summer sun. 

Pickling Cucumbers are available by the case: $40 for 22 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Early Girl and Roma Tomatoes are available for canning and making sauce: $45 for 20 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you are having a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10 lb. minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order for pastured pork ribs.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

July 31, 2017

Box Contents

1 bskt Shishito Peppers

2 ears Sweet Corn

½ lb. Green Beans

2 ea. Slicing Cucumbers

1 lb. Golden Jubilee Tomatoes

1 Cantaloupe

1 Orchid Watermelon

Box Notes: Melons continue to happen in a big way this week! We included 2 in your veggie boxes again. The Orchid melons are now at their peak flavor with a deep orange colored flesh. Enjoy the summer sweetness of melons for breakfast or for dessert after lunch or dinner. We were sampling melons at market last weekend. They are full of sugar and very juicy. Refreshing and thirst quenching.

Field Notes: Harvesting, trellising tomatoes, planting fall brassicas, and keeping the plants watered are the main farm activities this week. July, August and September are the farm’s busiest months. While the days are very full, we still try to make time to go for a dip in Cache Creek to cool down and refresh. The creek, which is more of a river than a creek, runs down the east side of Capay Valley from the north to the south.  Being in the creek is a way to remember the most important daily task – to enjoy life and the fruits of our labor.  

Early Girl and Roma Tomatoes are available by the 20 lb. case for canning and making sauce: $45 for 20 lbs. Place your order by emailing the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you are having a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10 lb. minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order for pastured pork ribs.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com. 

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

July 24, 2017

Box Contents

1 lb Yellow Carrots

¾ lb Russian Banana Fingerlings

1 Cantaloupe

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

1 ½ lbs Early Girl and Heirloom Tomatoes

2 Slicing Cucumbers

¾ lbs Gypsy Peppers

Box Notes: Tomatoes and melons are happening in a big way this week due to the optimal ripening conditions we’ve experienced during the past two weeks. We are including 2 melons in the veggie boxes this week, a cantaloupe and a yellow baby watermelon. The cucumbers and melons combined together with just salt, lemon and chili flakes make a refreshing summer salad.

Field Notes: We are expecting hot weather again this weekend and next week. We will adjust the workdays accordingly by finishing early - by 2 pm most of the triple digit days.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you have a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10lb minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

July 17, 2017

Box Contents

1 bskt Padron Peppers

¾ lb. French Fingerling Potatoes

1 Cantaloupe

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

1 ½ lbs. Early Girl and Heirloom Tomatoes

¾ lb. Green Zucchini

1 bu Parsley

Box Notes: This is the first week of heirloom tomatoes. We have been growing tomatoes for 27 years! It is one of our biggest crops. This year, we are growing 23 acres of over 100 varieties of tomatoes. It’s amazing how people enjoy eating tomatoes: on BLTs, in salads, cooked as a marinara sauce, and just on their own with salt, pepper and olive oil – they are the true symbol of summer: colorful, juicy, and flavorful. The plants smell incredible while walking through the rows and rows of this vigorous producer. 

Field Notes: Friday and Saturday were very warm again. We finished the workday early on Friday to beat the heat.

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you have a great summer!

CSA Special Offer: For the next 6 weeks we are offering CSA members a summer sale price on racks of Spare Ribs: $8/lb. (10lb minimum order)

Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order.

Pork Shares are available: The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a custom BBQ pork share. You can choose from a selection of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order. Riverdog animals are CCOF certified organic. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. 

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

July 10, 2017 Veggie Box News

Box Contents

1 bu Purple Carrots

1 lb. Mixed Summer Squash

1 Tuscan Melon

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

¾ lb. Russian Banana Fingerlings

3 ears Bicolor Sweet Corn

1 lb. Early Girl Tomatoes

1 pt. Sweet 100 cherry Tomatoes

Box Notes: This week’s box includes an abundance of melons! The best way to enjoy tall of the summers finest fruits is to slice them and combine in a fruit salad, squeeze some lemon or lime juice over all, toss and eat! We’re excited to include sweet corn for the first time this week. Here is the Sustainable Seed Company’s description of the Tuscan melon variety:  “Bursting with flavor and aroma. Thick flesh, small seed cavity. Salmon colored fruits are 2-3 pounds, sutured and finely netted. Striped outer skin.”

Friendly reminder: For vacation skips, please contact the farm by Monday of the week you need to skip. We need advance notice for skips so that we can program the deliveries and adjust the harvest accordingly. Thank you and we hope you have a great summer!

Field Notes: Friday and Saturday were very warm again. We finished the workday early on Friday to beat the heat.

Pork Shares are available. The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a BBQ pork share that includes lots of ribs (country, spare, or baby back), pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order.

Pastured sausage, bacon, ham steaks, pork cuts, and whole chickens are available. Riverdog Farm pastured chickens and hogs are certified organic animals. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

 Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

July 3, 2017 Veggie Box News

Box Contents

1 lb. Yellow Carrots

1 lb. Mixed Summer Squash

2 Slicing Cucumbers

¾ lb. Green Beans

1 lb. Yukon Gold Potatoes

1 hd Cone Cabbage

1 lb. Early Girl Tomatoes

1 lb. June Pride Peaches

Box Notes: We’ve packed the veggie boxes with 4th of July gatherings in mind. The Yukon Gold potatoes make a great potato salad, the green beans make a delicious salad – steamed and then tossed with minced garlic, salt, quartered Early Girl tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil. The cabbage and carrots can be combined into a refreshing coleslaw. We wish everyone a Happy 4th of July holiday. The farm employees will be working a short day with a full day of pay to give everyone a chance to see some fireworks in the evening. The delivery schedule will stay the same despite the holiday.

Field Notes: This year is our biggest ever plum fruit set: the trees have reached full maturity, they are 17 years old this year! The spring weather was perfect for the flowering phase, and the warm summer temperatures have been optimal for ripening the plums. The trees are loaded with fruit that doesn’t ripen all at once, so we will feature them in the veggie boxes next week.

Pork Shares are available. The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a BBQ pork share that includes lots of ribs (country, spare, or baby back) and pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order.

Pastured sausage, bacon, ham steaks, pork cuts, and whole chickens are available. Riverdog Farm pastured chickens and hogs are certified organic animals. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

June 26, 2017 Veggie Box News

Box Contents

1 bu Carrots

1 lb. Mixed Summer Squash

2 Slicing Cucumbers

½ lb. Green Beans

1 lb. French Fingerling Potatoes

1 bu Parsley

1 bskts Gold Nugget Cherry Tomatoes

1 lb. June Pride Peaches and Santa Rosa Plums 

Box Notes: It’s another week of first appearances in the veggie box: first green beans, first cucumbers, and the first peaches! Summer crops are coming along at a nice pace. We picked our first melons today so they will be featured in your veggie box soon along with heirloom tomatoes.

Field Notes: We got through last week’s heat wave and are feeling so relieved that the forecasted temperatures this week are expected to be in the mid 90s. Last week, the employees who work in the fields harvesting and weeding the crops finished each day by 12:30 pm. The temperature being 20 degrees lower - from 110 to 90 - makes a huge difference. But even on days when it’s above 80 degrees we take precautionary measures to ensure that the employees are staying hydrated, have easy access to shade and take extra breaks to prevent heat stress. 

Pork Shares are available. The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a BBQ pork share that includes lots of ribs (country, spare, or baby back) and pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order!

Pastured sausage, bacon, ham steaks, pork cuts, and whole chickens are available. Riverdog Farm pastured chickens and hogs are certified organic animals. Riverdog Farm meat is not certified organic due to being processed in an off-farm facility that is not certified organic. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.

June 19, 2017 Veggie Box news

Box Contents

1 lb. Napa Cabbage

1 lb. Mixed Summer Squash

1 bu Nantes Carrots

1 hd Cone Cabbage

1 lb. Yukon Gold New Potatoes

1 bu Red Beets

1 bskt Tomatillos

½ lb. White Nectarines

Box Notes: Welcome back summer squash! This is the first week of a steady supply of a variety of summer squash: Ronde De Nice, Zephyr, Crookneck, Costata Romanesco, as well as gold and green zucchini. This colorful array of squash is great for grilling, sautéing or eating raw as spiralized veggie noodles. The white nectarines are cosmetically challenged (the way they grew on the trees) and may have split pits, but are incredibly sweet and delicious! Since it’s warm throughout the Bay area the recipes in this week’s veggie box include some no-cook recipes. Beat the heat with chilled, shredded beet and carrot salad, cabbage coleslaw or potato salad! 

Field Notes: We are prepared for this week’s heat wave but it is no fun nonetheless! Our workdays will be two hours shorter than usual. We will be taking breaks more frequently and have encouraged all of our employees to stay hydrated. It is unusual for 110 degree days to last more than 4 days but that is the forecast for this week. Luckily next week will drop down to the low 90s and will provide some relief from the extreme heat of this week.

Pork Shares are available. The pork shares are a combination of smoked and cured pastured pork sausage and bacon along with cuts such as ribs, chops, and roasts. During the summer months, we also offer a BBQ pork share that includes lots of ribs (country, spare, or baby back) and pork cuts and sausage for grilling. The pork shares are $8 per pound and range in total weights of 10 to 19 lbs. Please email the farm: csa@riverdogfarm.com to place an order!

Pastured sausage, bacon, ham steaks, pork cuts, and whole chickens are available. Place your order for Riverdog Farm’s pastured meats by emailing: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the Date: Saturday October 7 and 8, 2017 Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm in Guinda. Visit: hoesdown.org for ticket information and volunteer opportunities.