May 14, 2018

Box Contents:

1 bu. Asparagus

1 bu. Carrots

¾ lb. Sugar Snap Peas

1 bu. Fennel

1-2 hds Bok Choy

1 bu. White Spring Onions

½ lb. Arugula

Box Notes: We hope everyone enjoyed Mother’s Day on Sunday. It was great weather for the Capay Valley Garden Tour. Many people visited the region to view the local flower gardens and farms. We even have a native plant nursery in Guinda. Chamisa Ridge was open last weekend for retail sales. New this week in the veggie box: spring fennel and snap peas! Asparagus may continue for about 2 weeks. Although delayed by the cool weather in March, it has been a great asparagus season.

Field Notes: The conditions have been perfect for transplanting and direct seeding of the fall crops. The organic triticale grain crop we grow for livestock feed is performing very well. We will harvest it in mid to late June. It’s taller than in previous years due to the steady rainfall and mild weather this spring. We also grow safflower as an organic feed crop. Growing our own grain helps reduce the cost of purchasing grain from Bar Ale in Williams.

Web Store Highlights: Check your inbox for this month’s web-store highlights newsletter!

Case quantity Vegetables available: Peas! Asparagus! Little Gem Lettuce! Loose Carrots and more. Don’t miss these sweet seasonal springtime sensations. Get them while you can!

Our pastured meats – chicken and pork – are also available via the web store. Riverdog Farm’s specialties include our pork sausage (many flavors), whole Poulet Rouge chickens, and bacon cured and smoked by Roundman’s Smokehouse in Ft. Bragg. We deliver our meat orders frozen to your CSA delivery site.

Capay Valley Wine Stroll

Sunday May 20, 2018 from noon to 3 pm

Visit the wineries of the region and taste some local wine.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1575645249209976/.

May 7, 2018

Box Contents:

1 bu. Asparagus

1 bu. Carrots

¾ lb. English Shelling Peas

½ lb. Arugula

1 bu. Dino Kale

½ lb. Little Gem Lettuce

1 bu. Tokyo Turnip

Box Notes: This is the first week for English Shelling Peas! This type of pea must be shelled, that is: remove the peas from the pod because the shells are too fibrous to eat. The spring bunched greens harvest has begun. Spring greens are seeded mid-winter in the greenhouse. We transplant them during dry windows in February and start the harvest in early May. This planting will be continually harvested until it warms up in late June. The Little Gem Lettuce season will last until early June. Tokyo Turnips have two short seasons during the year, now and in the fall. Enjoy the spring crops while they’re here. We’ll be swimming in heirloom tomatoes, peppers and melons sooner than you know. Our tomato season runs from early July until mid-November.

Field Notes: Mild spring temperatures and continued cloud cover have kept the days mild and idyllic for harvesting, growing, and field prep. It looks as though this weather pattern is shifting with highs this week in the upper 80’s and up to 94 degrees next weekend. Spring is a short lived season in the Capay Valley.

Web Store Highlights: Check your inbox for this months web-store highlights newsletter!

Case quantity Vegetables available: Peas! Asparagus! Little Gem Lettuce! Loose Carrots and more. Don’t miss these sweet springtime sensations, get them while you can. 

Follow this link to see whats new: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Upcoming Events:  

Capay Valley Mothers Day Farm and Garden Tour May 13th, 10am to 5 pm. $10 per adult, children 12 and under are free.

Visit the breathtaking gardens of the Capay Valley! Come join in the delight of spring flowers, strolling through many of the Valleys’ finest gardens. Talk to the gardeners themselves and learn the secrets of their success. New gardens have been added this year as well as several points of interest along the drive though the valley. Many of the gardens are also showcases for agricultural production in the Capay Valley. You are welcome to picnic in the gardens, box lunches will be for sale at the Guinda Grange Hall using local ingredients.

Follow this link to purchase tickets and learn more: https://www.thecapayvalleygardentour.com

Capay Valley Wine Stroll

Sunday May 20, 2018 from noon to 3 pm

Visit the wineries of the region and taste some local wine.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1575645249209976/.

April 30, 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb. Asparagus

½ lb. Purple Snow Peas

1 bu. Curly Kale

½ lb. Little Gem Lettuce

1 bu. Torpedo Onions

1 bu. Scarlet Queen Turnips

1 lb. Purple Daikon 

Box Notes: The Little Gem Lettuce has returned and it’s delicious! http://www.copperhilloliveoil.com/ makes very good flavored vinegars. My favorite is the pomegranate. The vinegar is a great ingredient for an olive oil/vinegar salad dressing especially on the Little Gem Lettuce: gem halves, pink lady apple slices, fresh mandarin oranges, grated parmesan, thinly sliced torpedo onions, salt and pepper. You’ll want to absorb any drops of dressing left on the plate with a chunk of bread.

This is also the first week for the torpedo spring onions. This is a mild tasting, light red onion that’s elongated, torpedo shape. They are wonderful grilled or thinly sliced on salads.

Field Notes: Cloud cover and a light rain on Sunday have kept the temperatures down the past few days. The hills are staying green longer than usual and the fields of bright yellow wild mustard growing throughout the county are tall and vibrant.

Upcoming Events:

The California Honey Festival in Woodland, Saturday May 5, 2018, 10 am to 5 pm: https://californiahoneyfestival.com/.

Capay Valley Mothers Day Farm and Garden Tour May 13th, 10am to 5 pm. $10 per adult, children 12 and under are free.

Visit the breathtaking gardens of the Capay Valley! Come join in the delight of spring flowers, strolling through many of the Valleys’ finest gardens. Talk to the gardeners themselves and learn the secrets of their success. New gardens have been added this year as well as several points of interest along the drive though the valley. Many of the gardens are also showcases for agricultural production in the Capay Valley. You are welcome to picnic in the gardens, box lunches will be for sale at the Guinda Grange Hall using local ingredients.

Follow this link to purchase tickets and learn more: https://www.thecapayvalleygardentour.com

A new springtime event in the valley:

Capay Valley Wine Stroll

Sunday May 20, 2018 from noon to 3 pm

Visit the wineries of the region and taste some local wine.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1575645249209976/.

Web Store Highlights:

Cases of Asparagus: 11 and 21 pound cases available. All asparagus $5/lb.

Loose Mixed Beets: 10 pound cases for $2/lb. and 25 pound cases for $1.50/lb. Great for juicing! Follow this link to shop the web store: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Spring Hams are available in the web-store:

Our pasture raised whole hams are bone in. Smoked and cured to perfection by Roundman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Hams are $11/lb. and range from 7-9 lbs.

When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible

April 23, 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb. Asparagus

1 bu. Red Spring Onions

½ lb. Snow Peas

1 bu. Oregano

1 bu. Red Russian Kale

1 bu. Carrots

1 bu. Tokyo Turnips

1 bu. Red Beets

Box Notes: Our carrots and spring onions were featured in a delicious venison stew at the Cache Creek Conservancy First Foods Dinner last weekend. The Conservancy, located between Woodland and Esparto, is a 130 acre nature preserve that has a tending and gathering garden where plants used by Native Americans are grown. The meal highlighted traditional, indigenous foods grown by our farm including: stinging nettles, dandelion greens, and onions. The Conservancy’s primary program is plant restoration of the lower part of Cache Creek. Along with vegetation restoration, the Conservancy has a tending and gathering garden and offers learning opportunities to school groups and the public about the ecology, culture, and history of the Cache Creek watershed.

Snow peas are making their first appearance! This means that the snap and shelling pea harvest will follow soon. The harvest of the spring planting of Tokyo turnips has begun, as well as spring planted bunching greens. We’re holding on to spring as long as we can. It’s the most beautiful season in our region: the hillsides are a lush green and the air is sweet with the scent of blossoms. We do need to be mindful of the return of the rattlesnake season. They are out in full force this year with many sightings already reported. Check out this short clip on Instagram of a rattlesnake in action that I saw on Saturday at: guindcornerstore. It was bit too close for comfort. 

Field Notes: Spring-to-summer is the feeling this week with cool evenings and very warm days with the highest temperatures coming close to 90 degrees. Some rain is forecasted for later this week, which we are looking forward to. The later it rains in the springtime the better for all the recently transplanted crops, keeping the dust down and keeping the temperatures cooler.

Upcoming Events:

The California Honey Festival in Woodland, Saturday May 5, 2018, 10 am to 5 pm: https://californiahoneyfestival.com/.

Capay Valley Mothers Day Farm and Garden Tour May 13th, 10am to 5 pm. $10 per adult, children 12 and under are free.

Visit the breathtaking gardens of the Capay Valley! Come join in the delight of spring flowers, strolling through many of the Valleys’ finest gardens. Talk to the gardeners themselves and learn the secrets of their success. New gardens have been added this year as well as several points of interest along the drive though the valley. Many of the gardens are also showcases for agricultural production in the Capay Valley. You are welcome to picnic in the gardens, box lunches will be for sale at the Guinda Grange Hall using local ingredients.

Follow this link to purchase tickets and learn more: https://www.thecapayvalleygardentour.com

Web Store Highlights:

Cases of Asparagus: 11 and 21 pound cases available. All asparagus $5/lb.

Loose Mixed Beets: 10 pound cases for $2/lb. and 25 pound cases for $1.50/lb. Great for juicing! Follow this link to shop the web store: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Spring Hams are available in the web-store:

Our pasture raised whole hams are bone in. Smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Hams are $11/lb. and range from 7-9 lbs.

When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

April 16, 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb. Asparagus

1 bu. White Spring Onions

½ lb. Loose Arugula

1 bu. Spinach

1.5 lb. Baby Orange Carrots

1 bu. Red Beets

1 lb. Leeks

Box Notes: This week’s box contents represent the best of springtime: spring onions, arugula, asparagus, and young carrots. Each crop has their own distinctive flavor and in our northern CA growing climate, the season is brief for these delectable vegetables. All of our spring crops prefer cooler temperatures. While we harvest the spring’s splendor, we watch the summer crops grow and tend to them giving them the attention they need to thrive for the next 7 months.

Field Notes: One of our favorite seed variety discoveries in recent years is the purple daikon. We grow it for spring, winter and fall harvest. It is a mild flavored radish with a purple hue. When we sample the purple daikon at market, it flies off the table, along with the carrots, black Spanish radish, and even the raw turnips. The April showers have continued to keep the soil moist and are hydrating the recent transplants reducing our need to irrigate.

On the meat front, we are experimenting with some chicken sausage recipes at our processors Manas Custom Meats in Esparto and Roundman’s Smokehouse in Ft. Bragg. As soon as the recipes come together, we will be offering pastured chicken sausage via our web-store. ETA on the chicken sausage availability is mid-May to early June.  

Upcoming Events:

The California Honey Festival in Woodland, Saturday May 5, 2018, 10 am to 5 pm: https://californiahoneyfestival.com/.

Capay Valley Mothers Day Farm and Garden Tour May 13th, 10am to 5 pm. $10 per adult, children 12 and under are free.

Visit the breathtaking gardens of the Capay Valley! Come join in the delight of spring flowers, strolling through many of the Valleys’ finest gardens. Talk to the gardeners themselves and learn the secrets of their success. New gardens have been added this year as well as several points of interest along the drive though the valley. Many of the gardens are also showcases for agricultural production in the Capay Valley. You are welcome to picnic in the gardens, box lunches will be for sale at the Guinda Grange Hall using local ingredients.

Follow this link to learn more: https://www.thecapayvalleygardentour.com

Web Store Highlights:

Cases of Asparagus: 11 and 21 pound cases available. All asparagus $5/lb.

Loose Mixed Beets: 10 pound cases for $2/lb. and 25 pound cases for $1.50/lb. Great for juicing! Follow this link to shop the web store: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Spring Hams are available in the web-store:

Our pasture raised whole hams are bone in. Smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Hams are $11/lb. and range from 7-9 lbs.

When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

April 9, 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb. Asparagus

1 bu. Red Spring Onions

½ lb. Loose Arugula

¾ lb. Napa Cabbage Rabe

1 lb. Cauliflower

1 bu. Purple Carrots

1 lb. Mixed Radish

Box Notes: We hope to feature the asparagus weekly through the end of May. With moderate spring temperatures forecasted for the next few weeks, the production should be steady daily. The cauliflower has returned. We planted a crop last fall and it’s ready to harvest now. The farm produces spring onions, white, red and torpedo. The season for the spring onions is from now until late May. For the spring onions we seed the onion starts, then transplant the starts when they have two small green leaves, and harvest the young onions before the tops dry and before the onion bulb becomes large. We also plant onion starts that are slated for harvesting as dry onions that we cure and sell for many months from July to September as the cured onions keep well and have a longer shelf life.

Field Notes: Tuleyome.org organizes hikes and volunteer days for trail maintenance in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument area, a beautiful wilderness area with public access just north of the farm. This Saturday, there will be a botanist-led wildflower tour of the region, starts at 10 am, meet at the Guinda Post Office. For more information, visit: tuleyome.org/events/.

Farm Dinners are scheduled at our neighbor’s Full Belly Farm once a month through the end of the year! They often feature Riverdog Farm’s pastured chicken and pork on the menus at their monthly farm dinners. To see the schedule and purchase tickets visit: http://fullbellyfarm.com/events/events-calendar/. This is a great way to visit the Capay Valley, immerse yourself in a delectable, 100% farm-sourced dinner and tour an organic farm.

Upcoming food event: The California Honey Festival in Woodland, Saturday May 5, 2018, 10 am to 5 pm: https://californiahoneyfestival.com/.

Spring Hams are available in the web-store!

Our pasture raised whole hams are bone in. Smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Hams are $11/lb. and range from 7-9 lbs.

When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

Don’t see a cut or roast you would like to purchase in the web store? Contact the office and let us know what you would like. We can accommodate custom orders given enough lead time. Just ask! 

April 2, 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb. Asparagus

1 bu. Spinach

¾ lb. Loose Arugula

1 lb. Cauliflower

1 bu. Red Carrots

1 bu. Red Beets

 1 lb. Leeks

Box Notes: Asparagus is in full swing. We sold 300 bunches at the Saturday Berkeley Farmer’s market and are harvesting more today. Each day, the spears grow about 5 inches so we harvest the asparagus daily. Hopefully, the spring pea harvest will begin in 2 weeks. Lettuce will be returning soon.

Field Notes: Because the weather has been so mild, we managed to transplant some of the tomatoes last week. We set up irrigation lines for frost protection in the event that the nighttime temperatures get close to 32 degrees. By running the overhead sprinklers during any waves of cold weather, the plants are protected from frost. The formation of ice creates a layer of protection on the plants. An ice coating is better than frost because the frost breaks the plant cells whereas the ice doesn’t. But as always this time of year, we hope that the nighttime temperatures will not get that cold. Our frost-free date is usually mid-May or the last full moon in May. Since the full moon in May this year is not until the 29th, we’re hoping it won’t become too chilly for the young plants. We’ll also be direct seeding sweet corn in the coming weeks.

Farm Dinners are scheduled at our neighbor’s Full Belly Farm through the end of the year! They often feature Riverdog Farm’s pastured chicken and pork on the menus at their monthly farm dinners. To see the schedule and purchase tickets visit: http://fullbellyfarm.com/events/events-calendar/.

Upcoming food event: The California Honey Festival in Woodland, Saturday May 5, 2018, 10 am to 5 pm: https://californiahoneyfestival.com/.

Spring Hams are still available in the web-store!

Our pasture raised whole hams are bone in. Smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Hams are $11/lb. and range from 7-9 lbs.

When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

Don’t see a cut or roast you would like to purchase in the web store? Contact the office and let us know what you would like. We can accommodate custom orders given enough lead time. Just ask!

March 26, 2018

Box Contents:

¾ lb. Asparagus

1 bu. Spring onions

¾ lb. Loose Spinach

1 lb. Cauliflower

1 bu. Yellow Carrots

1 bu. Chioggia Beets

 1 lb. Rutabagas

Last Call for ham orders for delivery before the holiday weekend. Limited availability, hams currently in stock range from 7 to 9 pounds. Follow this link to order yours today: Riverdog Farm Web-Store. More detailed instructions below.

Box Notes: The cauliflower is back! Roasted or pureed in soups, this winter/spring crop is a filling brassica staple that provides many of the same nutrients as broccoli. Popular now as a carb substitute, it’s surprising to see cauliflower in grocery stores as a vegetable “rice”. You can make your own cauliflower rice at home. Here is a link to the method, step by step: www.everydaymaven.com/how-to-make-cauliflower-rice

Field Notes: This week is expected to be in the mid to high 70s with nighttime lows in the mid 50s, perfect growing conditions for the asparagus, leafy greens and peas which are on the horizon to harvest. We are beginning to harvest spring onions and are continuing with the spring garlic harvest. The tomato starts have filled the green house here at the farm, leeks are sprouting at Headstart Nursery in Gilroy where we have them custom seed our leeks, and we are seeding the peppers in trays this week. Our target date for transplanting the first of four tomato plantings is mid to late April with a first tomato harvest date of early July.

Spring Hams available in the web-store! Please keep in mind that hams ship frozen and will need a few days to thaw.

A pasture-raised ham is the simplest way to please an Easter crowd. Coat the ham in a citrus glaze, loosely cover with foil and heat. Our hams are bone in, smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Limited availability. Hams are $11/lb, range from 7-9 lbs and ship frozen.

When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

Farm Dinners are scheduled at our neighbor’s Full Belly Farm through the end of the year! They often feature Riverdog Farm chicken and pork on the menus at their monthly farm dinners. To see the schedule and purchase tickets visit: http://fullbellyfarm.com/events/events-calendar/.

March 19, 2018

Box Contents:

¾ lb. Asparagus

1 bu. Collard Greens

¾ lb. Baby Arugula

1 bu. Purple Carrots

1 bu. Green Garlic

 ¾ lb. Purple Daikon

1 hd. Green Cabbage

1 bu. Cilantro

Box Notes: Asparagus is here! Last night a frost hit the asparagus pretty hard, but we were able to pull just enough for the csa boxes. We are hoping for warmer nights or it will be a very short asparagus season. The spring carrots have returned. You can expect carrots in each veggie box weekly for the next few months. The purple and yellow carrots are more of a cooking carrot, while the orange carrots are great eaten raw, grated on salads, or sliced into sticks for dipping in hummus. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and chopped garlic on top of the hummus for an added zing of flavor or incorporate into the recipe to augment the clove garlic. The purple daikon also works well as a hummus-dipping device.

Field Notes: About an inch of rain has landed over the course of storms last week. We’re hoping for enough rain before summer so that Clear Lake can release water for irrigation from Cache Creek this year. Indian Valley Reservoir also serves as a source of water for Cache Creek so based on its current water level, we know the water will flow in Cache Creek this summer. Cache Creek, that runs from the north to the south on the east side of the floor of the Capay Valley, is an essential source of water for the fields where we grow crops adjacent to the creek. Some of these fields don’t have wells so they rely on the surface water of Cache Creek for irrigation. It’s also a primary source of drinking water for the wildlife in the region. Many wildlife trails lead to the water during the summer because the water sources are limited in the hills. Some natural springs run year round so they provide some drinking water too.

Spring Hams now available in the web-store! Order Your Spring Ham no later than Sunday 3/25 for delivery the week before Easter. Limited availability. Please keep in mind that hams ship frozen and will need a few days to thaw.

A pasture-raised ham is the simplest way to please an Easter crowd. Coat the ham in a citrus glaze, loosely cover with foil and heat. Our hams are bone in, smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Limited availability. Hams are $11/lb, range from 5-9 lbs and ship frozen. When shopping the web store, keep in mind you order will ship with the next scheduled delivery. Follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa to purchase your spring ham. When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

March 12, 2018

Box Contents:

¾ lb. Baby Arugula

1 bu. Yellow Carrots

1 bu. Chioggia Beets

1 bu. Green Garlic

1 lb. Purple Top Turnips

2 hds. Napa Cabbage

2 hds. Batavia Lettuce

1 lb. Leeks

Box Notes: Spring is in the air around here! The native redbud that grows along the roads, field edges and in the hills is in full magenta bloom, the wild plums are showing their white flowers and the stone fruit orchards (apricots, peaches and plums) are revealing their pink and fuchsia blossoms. And the birds are chirping and singing, actively making their nests, feeding their offspring, and taking baths in any puddle they can find. The spring crops are making their appearance too: a new crop of arugula, green garlic harvested before the bulb divides into cloves, and lettuce for refreshing salads, all scrumptious produce to make your eating experience delightful.  The Napa cabbage is a quenching leafy green that makes great kimchi. When salt is added to the cabbage, the juices come out of the leaves creating a salt water bath for the leaves to ferment in. Add thinly sliced carrots, thinly slice beets, onions, whole chili peppers and green garlic to create a fabulous pickled vegetable side that can age in your refrigerator for weeks. For kimchi recipe ideas try: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-easy-kimchi-at-home-189390.

Field Notes: Rain is expected this week – hooray! We’ve had a cloudy, humid Monday that feels like rain is coming. Steady rain for the rest of this month may bring the Clear Lake water level to the point where water can be released to Cache Creek to assist farmers with their summer irrigation needs. We need at least 2 more inches of rain to bring the lake’s water level high enough for the Yolo Water Conservation and Flood District to plan the releases.

Spring Hams now available in the web-store!

A pasture raised ham is the simplest way to please an Easter crowd. Cote the ham in a citrus glaze, loosely cover with foil and heat. Our hams are bone in, smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Limited availability. Hams are $11/lb. range from 5-9 lbs. and ship frozen. When shopping the web store, keep in mind you order will ship with the next scheduled delivery. Follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa to purchase your spring ham. When ordering please select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

The next food-focused festival in Yolo County is the California Honey Festival in Woodland, on Saturday May 5, 2018 from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information visit: https://californiahoneyfestival.com.

March 5, 2018

Box Contents:

2 hds. Batavia Lettuce

1 lb. Leeks

1 bu. Collard Greens

1 bu. Red Beets

1 bu. Green Garlic

1.5 lb. Mixed Daikon Radish

2 hds. Bok Choi

1 Butterkin Squash

Box Notes: Asparagus is on the horizon! It should be making a slightly-later-than-usual seasonal appearance in the coming weeks. Its arrival has been delayed by the extremely cold nights we’ve been experiencing. Once it gets going, we will feature this delectable treat in the veggie boxes each week for about 1 ½ months. Also up ahead, late April/early May: snow, sugar and snap peas, more Tokyo turnips, a variety of lettuce heads, more Little Gem lettuce, and spring onions.

Field Notes: We received over 1 ½ inches of rain last week. This amount of rain helped moisten the soil and settle the dust. It also helped water in some of the recently transplanted crops including: fennel, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, chard, and lettuce. The air is so clear this week you can view Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and the snow covered Sierra Mountain range from Woodland and the Central Valley. There are very few times of the year when the air quality is this clear. It’s a great month for hiking in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region, a combination of federally managed Bureau of Land Management land, and Yolo County parks connected via pedestrian and equine trails. The wildflowers are beginning to make their first appearance with a great showing of Dutchman’s Pipe last week. For hiking trail access and maps visit: yolohiker.org. The best valley for wildflower viewing is Bear Valley in Colusa County, accessible by vehicle via Hwy 20 near Wilbur Hot Springs.

Spring Hams Now available in the web-store!

A pasture raised ham is the simplest way to please an Easter crowd. Cote the ham in a citrus glaze, loosely cover with foil and heat. Our hams are bone in, smoked and cured to perfection by Roundsman's Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Limited availability. Hams are $11/lb. range from 5-9 lbs. and ship frozen. When shopping the web store, keep in mind you order will ship with the next scheduled delivery. Follow this link: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa to purchase your spring ham. When ordering select the number of pounds you would like your ham to weigh and we will choose a ham as close to that weight as possible.

The next food-focused festival in Yolo County is the California Honey Festival in Woodland, on Saturday May 5, 2018 from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information visit: https://californiahoneyfestival.com.

February 26, 2018

Box Contents:

2 hds Batavia Lettuce

1 bu Cilantro

1 lb Leeks

1 bu Dandelion Greens

1 bu Spinach

½ lb Napa Cabbage Rabe

1 bu Collard Greens

½ lb Almonds

Box Notes: Every year, the last Sunday in February, the region celebrates the Almond Festival. This year was the 103rd festival. The timing of the event coincides with the trees being in full bloom. The white, sometimes pale pink almond blossoms made a spectacular showing this year. Thousands of people came to the valley to witness the beautiful springtime display of botanical wonder. Motorcycle riders, vintage car drivers, and families drive the long, scenic stretch of State Route 16 stopping at the small villages along the way to taste the flavors of the region. The Guinda Grange Hall sold almond blossom ice cream and almond rocha to raise funds for the renovation of their historic community hall, the Rumsey Hall offered wood-fired pizza featuring Riverdog Farm sausage, and the local volunteer fire departments features barbequed oysters on the half shell. It’s a fun day when visitors flock to the region, the attendance this year was exceptional. Looking forward to next year’s Almond Festival. Speaking of almonds, we included them in the veggie boxes this week. Lightly toasted on a skillet at a low temperature, these nuts are a nutritious, protein-rich snack.

The next food focused festival in Yolo County is the California Honey Festival on Saturday May 5, 2018 from 10 am to 5 pm. For more information visit: https://californiahoneyfestival.com.

Loaded with a variety of greens, the veggie boxes this week feature greens from several different plant families: lettuce and dandelion greens (Asteracea), spinach (Amaranthaceae), Napa cabbage and Collards (Brassicaceae). Each type imparts a different flavor. They can be combined, cooked together or cooked solo.

Field Notes: Despite nighttime temperatures in the low 20s the past week, the crops are holding on, even the tiny, recently pollinated almonds are managing to stay attached to the branches. We got a light rain Sunday night and are hoping for a steady amount of rain in March/April to make up for the dry February.

Spring Hams Now available in the web-store! $11/lb. Hams range from 6-8.75 lbs. Our hams are smoked and cured at Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Limited supply. Contact the office if you would like to reserve your Easter Ham at csa@riverdogfarm.com

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light! We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs.  We are happy to announce that we have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Sign on to your member account to add an egg subscription. Click the “Change” text located next to your current subscription, in the Summary Box. From there you can select an egg subscription. Please contact the office with any questions. 

February 19, 2017

Box Contents:

2 hds Batavia Crisp Lettuce

1 bu Green Garlic

1 bu Chioggia Beets

1 bu Dandelion Greens

1 lb. Mixed Roots (assorted radishes)

1 lb. Leeks

1 hd Red Cabbage

1 Butterkin Squash 

Box Notes: We welcome the arrival of green garlic and dandelion greens! Use the green garlic as you would dry garlic or garlic gloves, just slice like a scallion and sauté until translucent or add to raw to salad dressing. The green garlic adds the delicious flavor of allium-y springtime to cooked greens, frittata, or soup. The green garlic and the leeks can be sautéed together to create a flavor base for most savory dishes. The winter squash is winding down, savor it while you can as, after it’s done in about 2 weeks, it won’t be back until late fall.

Field Notes: Unexpected cold snaps have hit the valley. Last night we had a low of 25 degrees and the same is forecasted for tonight. Although we’ve had sunny warm days that have been unusual for February, the cold nighttime temperatures have delayed the asparagus season. We were expecting the asparagus to start sooner since we’ve had mild weather for all of February. Fingers crossed for the first spears to appear within the coming week.

Spring Hams Now available In the web-store! $11/lb. Hams range from 6-8.75 lbs. Our hams are smoked and cured at Roundman’s Smokehouse in Fort Bragg. Limited supply. Contact the office if you would like to reserve your Easter Ham at csa@riverdogfarm.com

Wild Stinging Nettles are now for sale in the web-store: 1# for $10 or 3# for $25. Nettles are renown for their many health benefits. Follow this link to learn more: https://draxe.com/stinging-nettle/. The leaves can be used in place of cooked spinach in most recipes, but be careful when handling them when raw (use gloves), they do sting! Once blanched the plant looses its sting but retains its many health benefits 

Capay Valley Almond Festival

Sunday February 25, 2018

This festival is a 6 hamlet celebration of the almond blossom season in the Capay Valley. Starting in Madison, driving along State Route 16, going about 20 miles up to Rumsey, you can view the orchards in bloom and stop to enjoy the music and food along the way.

The Rumsey Hall, a historic community hall built in 1906 at the northern end of the valley, serves wood-fired pizza, pork sliders and beer and features live music.

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light! We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs.  We are happy to announce that we now have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Sign on to your member account to add an egg subscription. Click the “Change” text located next to your current subscription, in the Summary Box. From there you can select an egg subscription. Please contact the office with any questions.

February 12, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Blue Heron Navel Oranges

2 hds Batavia Crisp Lettuce

1 lb. Mixed Roots

½ lb. Mei Qing Choi Raab

1 hd Fennel

1 bu Spinach

1 hd Cabbage

1 bu Cilantro

Box Notes: The mixed roots are a combination of turnip varieties and rutabagas. Dice the roots into one-inch cubes, coat with olive oil and a dash of salt, these make scrumptious roasted roots. Roast at 375 degrees for about an hour until the roots are soft all the way through with a golden outer edge, tossing occasionally with a spatula so each side has a chance to become golden. Camino, one of our longtime restaurant produce buyers in Oakland, cuts the rutabagas into french fry sticks and roasts them in a similar way.

This is the last week delicious oranges will be included in your CSA box. The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. Blue Heron Oranges are still available for purchase on the web store: 10 lbs. for $20 or 20 lbs. for $40! Follow this link to add a case or two to your next delivery (while supplies last): https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa.

Field Notes: We have been harvesting wild stinging nettles from under the oak trees growing near the banks of Catch Creek for sale to our Bay Area restaurant customers. We would like to extend this spring time specialty to you, our CSA members! Wild Stinging Nettles are now for sale in the web-store: 1# for $10 or 3# for $25. Nettles are renown for their many health benefits. Follow this link to learn more: https://draxe.com/stinging-nettle/. The leafs can be used in place of cooked spinach in most recipes, but carful when handling them when raw, they do sting! Once blanched the plant looses its sting but retains its many health benefits

Capay Valley Almond Festival

Sunday February 25, 2018

This festival is a 6 hamlet celebration of the almond blossom season in the Capay Valley. Starting in Madison, driving along State Route 16, going about 20 miles up to Rumsey, you can view the orchards in bloom and stop to enjoy the music and food along the way.

The Rumsey Hall, a historic community hall built in 1906 at the northern end of the valley, serves wood-fired pizza, pork sliders and beer and features live music.

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light! We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs.  We are happy to announce that we now have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Sign on to your member account to add an egg subscription. Click the “Change” text located next to your current subscription, in the Summary Box. From there you can select an egg subscription. Contact the office with any questions.

February 5, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Blue Heron Navel Oranges

¾ lb. Little Gem Lettuce

½ lb. Romanesco

1 bu. Red Chard

1 hd. Napa Cabbage

1 lb. Leeks

1 Spaghetti Squash

Box Notes: Romanesco, a feast for the senses is a vivid green color and boasts fractal patterns that wow all that see them, it is a farmer’s market favorite and kids love it. The flavor is similar to cauliflower, delicate and nutty. The texture of Romanesco is crunchy and holds its shape and chartreuse color when cooked. Use in place of any of cauliflower or broccoli in your favorite recipes. Please note we have been struggling with aphids in our brassica crops lately, so if you see any small bugs near the stalk, don’t worry they wash off easily.

We are nearing the end of our winter squash storage. Winter squash may not last as long at room temperature as they did in the late months of fall. Use them soon, or store in the refrigerator.

The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. Correction: We will include oranges in the weekly veggie boxes through the middle of February. This year Blue Heron’s citrus yield was lower than last year, tho the fruits themselves were larger. Making for a shorter harvest season than usual. Blue Heron Oranges are now available for purchase in the web store: 10 lbs. for $20 or 20 lbs. for $40! Follow this link to add a case or two to your next delivery: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa.

Capay Valley Almond Festival

Sunday February 25, 2018

A 6 hamlet celebration of the almond blossom season in the Capay Valley. Starting in Madison, driving along State Route 16, going about 20 miles up to Rumsey, you can view the orchards in bloom and stop to enjoy the music and food along the way.

The Rumsey Hall, a historic community hall built in 1906 at the northern end of the valley, serves wood-fired pizza, pork sliders and beer and features live music.

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light, literally. We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs!  We are happy to announce that we now have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Instructions below.

• If you would like to add eggs to your weekly or bi-weekly CSA delivery follow this link to log on to your member page: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa
• Once signed on, click the “Change” text next to your current Subscription located inside the Summary Box near the top right of your member page.
• Next click the “Options” tab (at the top next to Shares) and select the number of egg dozens desired and your corresponding csa delivery schedule.

January 29, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Blue Heron Navel Oranges

1 hd. Fennel

2 hds. Batavia Lettuce

1 bu. Green Mustard

1 hd. Green Cabbage

1 bu. Red Beets

1 Butternut Squash

Box Notes: Cabbage season is upon us. Add cabbage chopped into chunks to soup broth, finely slice as a topping on posole, make slaws, make rice/beef stuffed cabbage leaves or enjoy in a salad combined with the Batavia lettuce and fennel. We’re gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day when corned beef and cabbage is a celebrated spring dish. We are experiencing a gap in our orange carrots harvest but they will be back!

The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. Correction: We will include oranges in the weekly veggie boxes through the middle of February. This year Blue Heron’s citrus yield was lower than last year, tho the fruits themselves were larger. Making for a shorter harvest season than usual. Blue Heron Oranges are now available for purchase in the web store: 10 lbs. for $20 or 20 lbs. for $40! Follow this link to add a case or two to your next delivery: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa.

Capay Valley Almond Festival

Sunday February 25, 2018

A 6 hamlet celebration of the almond blossom season in the Capay Valley. Starting in Madison, driving along State Route 16, going about 20 miles up to Rumsey, you can view the orchards in bloom and stop to enjoy the music and food along the way.

The Rumsey Hall, a historic community hall built in 1906 at the northern end of the valley, serves wood-fired pizza, pork sliders and beer and features live music.

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light, literally. We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs!  We are happy to announce that we now have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Instructions below.

• If you would like to add eggs to your weekly or bi-weekly CSA delivery follow this link to log on to your member page: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa
• Once signed on, click the “Change” text next to your current Subscription located inside the Summary Box near the top right of your member page.
• Next click the “Options” tab (at the top next to Shares) and select the number of egg dozens desired and your corresponding csa delivery schedule.

January 22, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Blue Heron Navel Oranges

1 lb. Yukon Gold Potatoes

2 hds. Romaine

1 bu. Spinach

½ lb. Arugula

1 lb. Broccoli

1 lb. Leeks

Box Notes:

This time of year, the potatoes start to sprout. They can be cut in half and planted if you have garden! Don’t worry about the sprouts for eating, just rub them or cut them off while washing them. They still taste great fried, steamed, roasted, or in soup.

The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. We will include oranges in the weekly veggie boxes through the end of February. Blue Heron Oranges are now available for purchase on the web store: 10 lbs. for $20 or 20 lbs. for $40! Follow this link to add a case or two to your next delivery: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa. 

Field Notes:

We are continuing to harvest carrots, greens, leeks, fennel, lettuce, and brassicas. The overcast days help the soil retain moisture. Over the weekend, we had some sub 30 degree mornings. 

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light, literally. We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs!  We are happy to announce that we now have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Instructions below.

• If you would like to add eggs to your weekly or bi-weekly CSA delivery follow this link to log on to your member page: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa
• Once signed on, click the “Change” text next to your current Subscription located inside the Summary Box near the top right of your member page.
• Next click the “Options” tab (at the top next to Shares) and select the number of egg dozens desired and your corresponding csa delivery schedule.

Eggs will be located in a box at your pick up location separate from your veggie box. Please only take eggs if they are listed next to your name on the sign in sheet. Each egg dozen will be labeled with the member’s name that they belong to. Please pay attention at pick up time and do not take eggs unless they have your name on them. If there is a problem with your subscription, or there has been some kind of mix up contact the office right away. Enjoy!

January 15, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Blue Heron Navel Oranges

1 bu. Rapini

3/4 lb. Little Gem Lettuce

2 lb. Purple Daikon

1 hd. Escarole

1 lb. Broccoli

1 Butternut Squash

Box Notes:

The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. We will include oranges in the weekly veggie boxes through the end of February. Blue Heron Oranges are now available for purchase on the web store: 10 lbs. for $20 or 20 lbs. for $40! Follow this link to add a case or two to your next delivery: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa.

Field Notes:

We received about 3 inches of rain during the last storm. The soil has absorbed the rainfall quickly so we are hoping for more this week. There has been a steady cloud cover that helps the soil retain the moisture and keeps the plants hydrated longer. The greenhouse is filled to the brim with fennel, kale, chard, and napa cabbage starts. The plants are sizing up and getting close to being big enough for transplanting. We will do the transplanting during a window of dryness before the end of January. Visit the farms Instagram account to view our winter projects including the very full greenhouse here: riverdogfarm.

Egg Subscriptions Now Available!

At long last, we are beginning to see the light, literally. We have been suffering a shortage of eggs here at the farm for some months now. Because of the lengthening light hours in the day our egg layers are beginning to produce more eggs!  We are happy to announce that we now have enough eggs to offer our csa members the option of adding eggs to your CSA subscription. Instructions below.

• If you would like to add eggs to your weekly or bi-weekly CSA delivery follow this link to log on to your member page: https://csa.farmigo.com/account/riverdogfarmcsa
• Once signed on, click the “Change” text next to your current Subscription located inside the Summary Box near the top right of your member page.
• Next click the “Options” tab (at the top next to Shares) and select the number of egg dozens desired and your corresponding csa delivery schedule.

Eggs will be located in a box at your pick up location separate from your veggie box. Please only take eggs if they are listed next to your name on the sign in sheet. Each egg dozen will be labeled with the member’s name that they belong to. Please pay attention at pick up and do not take eggs unless they have your name on them. If there is a problem with your subscription, or there has been some kind of mix up contact the office right away. Enjoy!

January 8, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Navel Oranges

2 Leeks

¾ lb. Arugula

1 lb. Watermelon Daikon

1 lb. Bok Choy

1 bu. Yellow Carrots

1 lb. Broccoli

Box Notes: The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. We will include oranges in the weekly veggie boxes through the end of February. 10 and 20 pound cases of Blue Heron Oranges are now available for purchase in the web store! Follow this link to add a case or two to your next delivery: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa

Watermelon Daikon is one of the farmer’s market customer favorites. When we sample them, customers are surprised about their sweet mild flavor and intense magenta color. Thinly sliced or grated for salads, these radishes are a surprising treat. No need to peel the white outer layer of skin. The entire radish is edible.

Here’s a tidbit from http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Watermelon_Radish_1788.php: “Watermelon radish originated in China where it was known as Shinrimei radish. In America, its official name in seed catalogs was originally Red Meat radish. Once it caught on as a popular farmer’s market item for marketing reasons vendors began to sell it under the name Beauty Heart or Watermelon radish. It is still however listed most often in seed catalogs under the name Red Meat radish.”

Field Notes: The rainfall has been steady since Sunday night. The watershed, ditches and puddles are filling up quickly. In Guinda, we’ve seen about a ½ inch. Keep it coming!

2018 CSA Policy and Payment Changes

As you are well aware, 2017 brought many changes to the Riverdog Farm CSA. We are thrilled with the new CSA software and hope it has simplified your membership as much as it has for us here at the farm.

Do to the amount of change we have undergone this past fall we have some policies we would like to go over with you. Thank you for reading the following items as they directly affect you and your CSA membership. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

-Deliveries will continue without receipt of payment. If you would like to suspend or hold your deliveries for any amount of time you must do so via your member profile page or by contacting the office. There are 3 available fields for holding multiple date ranges and a permanent hold option for semi-permanent or permanent holds. If you are enrolled in an auto payment plan and would like to permanently hold deliveries you must also remove the auto payment details to avoid being charged after suspending deliveries.

-Payment required reminders will be sent when your account drops below $24. Please respond to these reminders by making payment, or emailing the office to let us know payment is on the way.

-Automatic Payment Plans: If you have selected an auto payment plan you will be charged for the number of deliveries according to your payment plan. The “Monthly” payment plan will charge your account after every 4 deliveries, the “Quarterly” payment plan will charge your card after you have received 13 deliveries and the “Annual” payment plan will charge your account after 51 deliveries. This system accounts for any skipped deliveries or bi-weekly delivery schedules.

-Pick up instructions: Please sign your name next to your printed name on the sign-in sheet located on the clipboard near your csa box every week when you pick up your order.  This is our only means of tracking down members who have forgotten to pick up their box. Your name will be printed on the sing in sheet if we delivered a box for you. If your name is not on the sheet, a box was not delivered for you, if this occurs contact the office right away. If you happen to take a box with out being on the delivery list, it creates much disappointment and confusion.

-Altering your delivery schedule: If you would like to hold a csa delivery or would like to add items to your weekly delivery via the web store you must make any changes to your delivery schedule 48 hours prior to your delivery day.

January 2, 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs. Navel Oranges

2 Leeks

¾ lb. Arugula

1 bu. Scarlet Queen Turnips

1 bu. Rapini

1 bu. Carrots

1 hd. Cauliflower

1 bu. Red Beets

Happy New Year from the farm! Wishing you all a healthy, happy 2018!

As you are well aware 2017 brought many changes to the Riverdog Farm CSA. We are thrilled with the new CSA software and hope it has simplified your membership as much as it has for us here at the farm.

Do to the amount of change we have undergone this past fall we have some policies we would like to go over with you. Thank you for reading the following items as they directly affect you and your CSA membership. As always, please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

-Deliveries will continue with out receipt of payment. If you would like to suspend or hold your deliveries for any amount of time you must do so via your member profile page or by contacting the office. There are 3 available fields for holding multiple date ranges and a permanent hold option for semi-permanent or permanent holds. If you are enrolled in an auto payment plan and would like to permanently hold deliveries you must also remove the auto payment details to avoid being charged after suspending deliveries.

-Payment required reminders will be sent when your account drops below $24. Please respond to these reminders by making payment, or emailing the office to let us know payment is on the way.

-Automatic Payment Plans: If you have selected an auto payment plan you will be charged for the number of deliveries according to your payment plan. The “Monthly” payment plan will charge your account after every 4 deliveries, the “Quarterly” payment plan will charge your card after you have received 13 deliveries and the “Annual” payment plan will charge your account after 51 deliveries. This system accounts for any skipped deliveries or bi-weekly delivery schedules.

-Pick up instructions: Please sign your name next to your printed name on the sign in sheet located on the clipboard near your csa box every week when you pick up your order.  This is our only means of tracking down members who have forgotten to pick up their box. Your name will be printed on the sing in sheet if we delivered a box for you. If your name is not on the sheet, a box was not delivered for you, if this occurs contact the office right away. If you happen to take a box with out being on the delivery list, it creates much disappointment and confusion.

-Altering your delivery schedule: If you would like to hold a csa delivery or would like to add items to your weekly delivery via the web store you must make any changes to your delivery schedule 48 hours prior to your delivery day.

Box Notes: The navel oranges are from Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. They are CCOF certified organic. This week’s veggie box contents reflect California’s winter crop harvest: roots, brassicas, and greens! All of the varieties are frost hardy and have flavors that become sweetened by frosty nights. The turnip and beet greens are good to eat too, even the cauliflower greens are edible and delicious!

Field Notes: Over the holidays, we didn’t see any rainfall so the irrigation crew worked diligently to keep the crops watered. While other parts of the US had record low temperatures, we had average lows in the high twenties and low thirties. The daytime temperatures have been warm and sunny with some days slightly overcast. The super moon was a great harbinger of the New Year, complete with a colorful aura or moon halo to ring in 2018.