December 18, 2017

December 18, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents:

1 lb. Baby Broccoli

1 lb. Leeks

2 hds. Batavia Lettuce

1 bu. Scarlet Queen Turnips

.5 lb. Arugula

1 hd. Bok Choy

1 Spaghetti Squash

1 hd. Red Cabbage

1 bu. Carrots

Riverdog Farm will be closed next week: 12/24/17-1/1/18.

There will be no CSA deliveries the week of 12/24. CSA deliveries will resume on January 3rd.

Please be sure to set any holiday delivery hold dates via your membership profile at least 48 hours in advance of your delivery date. Follow this link to log onto your membership profile page: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa , once signed on simply click the “Delivery Hold” tab and enter the date range that you would like to suspend deliveries. You will receive a confirmation email when the process is complete.

The farm wishes you a warm and festive holiday season. We will be having our annual farm crew party this Friday at the Guinda Grange Hall to celebrate the closure of 2017 and the coming of 2018. We’re all looking forward to a weeklong break.

Box Notes: We harvest the broccoli and cauliflower with a few leaves still on the stalk. The leaves can be eaten, cooked liked other greens: steamed, sautéed, braised or in soup. The Scarlet Queen turnip greens also make great eats! The arugula is better eaten uncooked as a stand-alone salad or mixed with salad greens. Leeks are our main allium crop that we harvest throughout the winter. We will be including them in the veggie boxes until March. Use them in any dishes where you’d like a mild onion-y flavor.

Field Notes: The dry weather continues with rain forecasted for December 29 through January 1. The days are warm and sunny and the nights are very cold. Last week, we had a 23 degree night! We will continue to harvest broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, greens, roots and lettuce throughout the winter months. The winter squash is winding down. Despite the cold nighttime temperatures, the winter crops are doing great. The dry spell is giving us ample opportunity to do field irrigation, weed cultivation, direct seeding winter peas for livestock grain feed, and seeding of spring brassica crops in the greenhouse.

Riverdog Farm CSA Holiday Delivery Schedule:

The farm will be closed from Sunday December 24th - January 1ST for our annual holiday break. There will be no CSA deliveries 12/24/17-1/2/18. Deliveries will resume on Wednesday 1/3/18. Napa Fatted Calf members, your first box of the New Year will arrive on Thursday 1/4/17. Please make a note of the December Holiday delivery schedule on your calendar.

Farmers Market Holiday Schedule:

The farm will not be at the Berkeley Farmers markets on Tuesday December 26, Thursday December 28 and Saturday December 30. We will be skipping the Sunday markets in Sacramento on December 24 and December 31, 2017. We will be at the Berkeley Farmers Market on Saturday December 23, 2017 and Tuesday January 2, 2108. Happy Holidays!

December 11, 2017

December 11, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents

½ lb. Fuyu Persimmons (Not CCOF certified)

2-3 Pomegranates

¾ lb. Little Gem Lettuce

1 hd. Escarole

1 bu. Green Mustard

1 bu. Chioggia Beet

1 bu. Orange Carrots

1 Green Cabbage

1 bu. Cilantro

Box Notes:

“Escarole is a leafy green vegetable and member of the chicory family, along with frisée, endive and Belgian endive. Sometimes called broad-leaved endive, escarole has broad, curly green leaves and a slightly bitter flavor. It can be eaten raw, grilled, sautéed, or cooked in dishes.

Escarole is less bitter than other chicories and the level of bitterness varies throughout the head, with the inner, lighter-colored leaves being less bitter than the outer, darker green leaves. The inner leaves may be more suitable for salads, using the outer leaves for cooked dishes.” To learn more about this family of vegetables visit: https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-an-escarole

This is the last week for Persimmons. We hope you enjoyed them as much as we did. The Fuyu Persimmons are grown by our neighbor Frank Espriella in Guinda. He has spent over 20 years developing his specialty persimmon orchard. They are not certified organic but are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This type of persimmon can be eaten when firm, like an apple. No need to peel the skin.

Field Notes: The dry weather continues. The forecast says no rain for the next ten days. We will need to irrigate throughout the rest of the month as the soil has become dry since the last rains.

Riverdog Farm Holiday Delivery Schedule:

Holiday Hams are available for reservation on the web store!

Limited availability. All hams will ship the week of 12/18. Please specify desired weight at check out. Hams are $10/lb and require a $15 deposit.

Riverdog hams are smoked over apple and alder wood chips by Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. They range form 3.5 to 10 lbs. and contain no added nitrates. Our certified organic hogs live on 50 acres of organic pasture and enjoy an all organic diet that consists of our vegetable culls, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins Ice Cream, foraged black walnuts, acorns, grasses, farm grown grains and certified organic feed. Riverdog Farm hogs are certified organically raised animals by CCOF. Our meat is processed at non-certified organic USDA facilities therefore; the pork is not certified organic.

December 04, 2017

December 4, 2017

December 04, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents

1-½ lbs. Fuyu Persimmons (not certified organic)

2 hds Batavian Lettuce

1 bu Gold Beets

1 lb. Broccoli

1 Butternut Squash

½ lb. Loose Spinach

1 bu Purple Carrots

1 bu Rapini

Box Notes: Before the 17th century almost all cultivated carrots were deep purple, almost black or yellow. Purple carrots provide many of the same health benefits as orange carrots but offer some additional nutritional benefits due to their high concentration of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments that give many blue, purple, and black vegetables and berries their intense hews and strong antioxidant rich immune-boosting properties. Learn more by going to our source: http://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/purple-carrots-nutrition-vs-orange-cultivars.php#ixzz50Kz5Xfr0

The Fuyu Persimmons are grown by our neighbor Frank Espriella in Guinda. He has spent over 20 years developing his specialty persimmon orchard. They are not certified organic but are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This type of persimmon can be eaten when firm, like an apple. No need to peel the skin.

Field Notes: Dry weather is forecasted until December 14, 2017. During this time, we will continue to prepare ground for spring planting and cultivate the winter crops. This is also the time of year when we direct seed cover crops to build soil fertility and plant triticale that we harvest in June for the livestock feed.

Riverdog Farm Holiday Delivery Schedule:

Holiday Hams are available for reservation on the web store!

Limited availability. Please specify desired weight and delivery date at check out. Hams are $10/lb and require a $15 deposit.

Riverdog hams are smoked over apple and alder wood chips by Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. They range form 3.5 to10 lbs. and contain no added nitrates. Our certified organic hogs live on 50 acres of organic pasture and enjoy an all organic diet that consists of our vegetable culls, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins Ice Cream, foraged black walnuts, acorns, grasses, farm grown grains and certified organic feed. Riverdog Farm hogs are certified organically raised animals by CCOF. Our meat is processed at non-certified organic USDA facilities therefore; the pork is not certified organic.

November 27, 2017

November 27, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents

1 ½ lbs Fuyu Persimmons (not certified organic)

1 lb Pomegranates

¾ lb Baby Red Romaine

¾ lb Broccoli

¾ lb Cauliflower

1 bu Red Beets

1 bu Carrots

2 hds Mei Qing Choi

Box Notes: The broccoli and cauliflower crops are coming on strong. We would like to encourage members to eat the leaves! They are a nutrient packed, sweet (not bitter) green. The leaves boast a richer source of beta-carotene than the florets and contain loads of vitamin A, C and B-6. They cook much like kale or collards and can be used in place of traditional greens in any recipe.

The Fuyu Persimmons are grown by our neighbor Frank Espriella here in Guinda. He has spent over 20 years developing his specialty persimmon orchard. They are not certified organic but are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This type of persimmon can be eaten when firm, like an apple. No need to peel the skin.

Field Notes: The Sunday rain brought about ½ inch to the farm. It helped settle the dust and refresh the air. This is the time of year when we experience frosty nights after the storms clear. The tomatoes and peppers are officially done due to the cold nighttime temperatures. There are only 4 weeks of harvest until the farm is closed for the last week in December. We will be harvesting brassica crops, carrots, and bunched greens. The garlic is planted. It’s over-wintering. Green garlic and asparagus will be here sooner than we realize, starting sometime in March.

Riverdog Farm Holliday Delivery Schedule:

Holiday Hams are available for reservation on the web store!

Limited availability. Please specify desired weight and delivery date at check out. Hams are $10/lb and require a $15 deposit.

Riverdog hams are smoked over apple and alder wood chips by Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. They range form 3.5 to10 lbs and contain no added nitrates. Our certified organic hogs live on 50 acres of organic pasture and enjoy an all organic diet that consists of our vegetable culls, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins Ice Cream, foraged black walnuts, acorns, grasses, farm grown grains and certified organic feed. Riverdog Farm hogs are certified organically raised animals by CCOF. Our meat is processed at non-certified organic USDA facilities therefore, the pork is not certified organic.

November 20, 2017

November 20, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents

1 1/2 lb. Fuyu Persimmons (not certified organic)

1 lb. Pomegranates

¾ lb Little Gem Lettuce

¾ lb. Arugula

1 bu Rosemary

2 lbs. Yellow Finn Potato

2-3 hds Broccoli

1 Sugar Pie Pumpkin

Happy Thanksgiving from our farm family to yours. We are grateful this holiday season for your continued support and involvement in our farm as members of the CSA. As the light hours continue to diminish we are reminded that this is a time to seek warmth and light indoors. We hope our vegetables will fill your homes this week with the flavors and scents of the season.

Box Notes: Yellow Finn Potatoes have a moderate starch content and boast a rich buttery flavor. They are ideal in roasts or gratins. When mashed they can become sticky if over worked, so if you plan to mash them be sure to do so minimally. We welcome back our favorite lettuce the Little Gem! Little Gem lettuce is a cross between butter and romaine lettuces. It is a delightful, refreshing, sweet and tender salad green that barley needs dressing.

Riverdog Farm Holliday Delivery Schedule:

This week The farm will be closed on Thursday November 23rd.

-Thursday 11/23 and Friday 11/24 Deliveries will be made on Tuesday 11/21

-Members who receive boxes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday: your schedules will be not be effected by the holiday.

Please make a note of the December Holiday delivery schedule on your calendar: The farm will be closed from Sunday December 24th-Jaunary 2nd for our annual holiday break. There will be no CSA deliveries 12/24/17-1/2/18. Deliveries will resume on Wednesday 1/3/18.

Christmas Hams will be available for reservation in the web store next week starting on 11/27. Limited availability. Please specify desired weight and delivery date at check out. Hams are $10/lb and require a $15 deposit.

Riverdog hams are smoked over apple and alder wood chips by Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. They range form 3.5-7 lbs. and contain no added nitrates. Our certified organic hogs live on 50 acres of organic pasture and enjoy an all organic diet that consists of our vegetable culls, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins Ice Cream, foraged black walnuts, acorns, grasses, farm grown grains and certified organic feed. Riverdog Farm hogs are certified organically raised animals by CCOF. Our meat is processed at non-certified organic USDA facilities therefore; the pork is not certified organic.

November 13, 2017

November 13, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents

1 lb. Fuyu Persimmons (not certified organic)

1 lb. Pomegranates

1 bu Red Beets

1 lb. Broccoli

1 Globe Eggplant

1 bu Gold Chard

1 Butternut Squash

Box Notes: The Fuyu Persimmons are grown by our neighbor Frank Espriella here in Guinda. He has spent over 20 years developing his specialty persimmon orchard. They are not certified organic but are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This type of persimmon can be eaten when firm, like an apple. No need to peel the skin.

Next week we will be adding extra vegetables to the CSA box as a token of our gratitude to all of our CSA subscribers. We hope this small gift will bring extra abundance to your holiday tables. Thank you for your support and we hope you enjoy the holiday.

Riverdog Farm Holliday Delivery Schedule:

The week of Thanksgiving: All CSA Members who are scheduled to receive boxes Thursday 11/23 and Friday 11/24, your boxes will be delivered to your regular pick up site on TUESDAY 11/21.

Please make a note of next week’s delivery scheduling change on your calendar.

The farm will be closed on Thursday November 23rd. Also, the farm will be closed from Sunday December 24th-Jaunary 2nd for our annual holiday break. Thank you!

Thanksgiving hams are nearly sold out (only 2 left!). If you would like to order a Riverdog Ham for the Christmas Holiday, you may do so via the web store after 11/27.

Limited availability. Hams are $10/lb. We require a $15 deposit per reservation; this cost will be deducted from the total amount due for your ham. You will be charged the reminder due once your ham has been weighed, packaged and delivered. Thanksgiving Ham deliveries will be made the weeks of November 12th and November 19th. Christmas hams will be delivered the week of December 11th and December 18th.

When checking out, please specify your desired delivery date and ham weight. We will get as close as we can to your desired weight, but final weights will not be exact. If you would like to reserve a ham for the Christmas Holliday, they will be available for reservation after November 27th.

November 06, 2017

November 6, 2017

November 06, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

Box Contents

2-3 Pomegranates

¾ lb. Jimmy Nardello Peppers

1 lb. Green Beans

1 lb. Broccoli

1 pint Mixed Medley Cherry Tomatoes

1 bu. Curly Kale

1 Spaghetti Squash

Box Notes: This week we are happy to include fall green beans in your CSA box! We will only harvest green beans for a short period of time but hope you will enjoy the fall treat. Also in the box this week are the fantastically sweet Jimmy Nardello peppers. This pepper is a sweet Italian fryer. They are delicious cooked or raw, blistered in a hot skillet and stuffed in a burrito, as a main ingredient in a salad or on top crostini with a bit of cheese. See recipe below.

Thanksgiving Holiday Delivery Schedule: All CSA Members who are scheduled to receive boxes Thursday 11/23 (Thanksgiving) and Friday 11/24, your boxes will be delivered to your pick up site on TUESDAY 11/21

Reserve your Thanksgiving Ham today!

Riverdog Hams are smoked over apple and alder wood chips by Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. They range form 3.5-7 lbs. and contain no added nitrates. Our certified organic hogs live on 50 acres or organic pasture and enjoy an all organic diet that consists of our vegetables, Cowgirl Creamery Whey, Three Twins Ice cream, foraged black walnuts, acorns, grasses, farm grown grains and organic feed. Riverdog Farm hogs are certified organically raised animals by CCOF. Our meat is processed at non-certified organic USDA facilities, and therefore, the pork is not certified organic.

Deliveries will be made the weeks of November 12th and November 19th.

CSA members can reserve their Thanksgiving Ham by following this link to the web store: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

The Holiday Ham Deposit can be found under the Sausage, Bacon and Ham heading.

When checking out, please specify your desired delivery date and ham weight. We will get as close as we can to your desired weight but final weights will not be exact.

If you would like to reserve a ham for the Christmas Holliday, they will be available for reservation after November 27th.

October 30, 2017

October 30, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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

October 23, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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.

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

October 16, 2017 Veggie Box News

October 16, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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

October 09, 2017

October 9, 2017

October 09, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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:

-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.

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 02, 2017

October 2, 2017

October 02, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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:

-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.

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

September 25, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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.

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

September 18, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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

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

September 11, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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 04, 2017

September 4, 2017

September 04, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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

August 28, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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.

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 28, 2017

August 21, 2017

August 28, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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.

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.

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

August 14, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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.

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.

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 07, 2017

August 7, 2017

August 07, 2017/ Riverdog Farm

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.

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.

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.