December 3rd 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs Fuyu Persimmons
 (not certified organic)

1 bu Cilantro

½ lbs Mei Qing Choi

1 lb King Richard Leeks

¾ lb Arugula

1 White Daikon Radish

2 Acorn Squash

Box Notes: The Fuyu Persimmons are from Frank Espriella’s orchard in Guinda. We feature the persimmons every year that he has a good fruit set. They are not certified organic. He doesn’t use synthetic sprays or fertilizers but opts to not get certified as his operation is so small. The Fuyu is the type of persimmon that is eaten when firm, like an apple.

Field Notes: We are up to 3 inches from the recent storms! This has provided so much relief to everyone working on the farm with the improved air quality. And the plants are thriving better now too with their leaf surfaces cleared of fine ash soot. We’re hoping for steady rain throughout the winter and spring months.

December Delivery Schedule:

The farm will be closed from December 23rd through January 1, 2018. There will be no regular CSA deliveries the last week in December and the first week in January. You may pick up a veggie box at the farmer’s markets and we’ll adjust your account balance. Veggie box deliveries will return the week of January 7th 2019.

      We will be at the Farmers Markets on the following days at the end of December and in early January:

Saturday December 22: Berkeley Farmers’ Market on Center and MLK

Sunday December 23: Sacramento Sunday Farmer’s Market on 8th under the freeway

Thursday January 3: Berkeley Farmers’ Market on Rose and Shattuck

November 26th 2018

Box Contents:

1 ½ lbs Fuyu Persimmons
 (not certified organic)

1 bu Scarlet Queen Turnips

1 lb Baby Red Lettuce

 1 ¼ lb French Fingerling Potatoes

¾ lb Mixed Sweet Peppers

2 Delicata Squash

1 bu Red Russian Kale

Box Notes: The fuyu persimmons are from Frank Espriella’s orchard in Guinda. We feature the persimmons every year that he has a good fruit set. They are not certified organic. He doesn’t use synthetic sprays or fertilizers but opts to not get certified as his operation is so small. The fuyu is the type of persimmon that is eaten when firm, like an apple.

Field Notes: The rain finally came! We received about 1 inch of rain. It was a glorious rain that cleared the thick smoke from the air and refreshed all the leaf surfaces of the plants making better conditions for respiration and photosynthesis.

December Delivery Schedule:

The farm will be closed from December 23rd through January 1, 2018. There will be no regular CSA deliveries the last week in December and the first week in January. You may pick up a veggie box at the farmer’s markets and we’ll adjust your account balance. Veggie box deliveries will return the week of January 7th 2019.

      We will be at the Farmers Markets on the following days at the end of December and in early January:

Saturday December 22: Berkeley Farmers’ Market on Center and MLK

Sunday December 23: Sacramento Sunday Farmer’s Market on 8th under the freeway

Thursday January 3: Berkeley Farmers’ Market on Rose and Shattuck

Saturday January 5, 2018: Berkeley Farmers’ Market on Center and MLK

November 16th 2018

Box Contents:

1 ½ lbs Fuyu Persimmons
 (not certified organic)

1 bu Golden Beets

1 bu Sage

3 Pommegranates

1 Butternut Squash

½ lb Arugula

1 bu Curly Kale

Box Notes: We’re including some special items in this week’s box to help you celebrate Thanksgivings with your friends and family. We’re excited to share the (bunched) sage and our pomegranates. Rich fall flavors. We’re including a butternut squash in the box this week along hoping that you might enjoy making a butternut pie and let us know how it compares to the traditional pumpkin pie (many here think it’s even better). We’ll include a recipe below.

     The fuyu persimmons are grown by our neighbor Frank Espriella here in Guinda. They are not certified organic. He doesn’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides but opts to not be certified organic as he has a very small persimmon orchard. The fuyu persimmon is eaten firm, like an apple, no need to peel the skin.

Farmers Market Tomorrow 11/17/2018: From 9:00am—11:00am tomorrow Riverdog Farm will be at the regular location of the Saturday Berkeley market (Center st. @ MLK) to fulfill orders for chefs, CSA members and others who have placed orders with us. We’ll also be bringing eggs and a selection of meat items, so please do come out to shop even if you haven’t placed an order.

Field Notes: 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.

Thanksgiving Delivery Schedule

Tuesday 11/20:

All regular Tuesday, Thursday (except Berkeley Farmers Market) & Friday deliveries

Wednesday 11/21:

All regular Wednesday deliveries

Saturday 11/24 & Sunday 11/25:

Regular market pickup.

November 12th 2018

Box Contents:

2 lbs Fuyu Persimmons (not certified organic)

1 bu Red Beets

1 bskt Juliette Cherry Tomatoes

1 ½ lbs Yellow Finn Potatoes

Delicata Squash

¾ lb Sweet Peppers

Box Notes: We’re including more potatoes in this week’s veggie box so that you can stockpile them for the week of Thanksgiving. This Friday, we will email to you next week’s veggie box contents so that you can plan your holiday menu accordingly.

     The fuyu persimmons are grown by our neighbor Frank Espriella here in Guinda. They are not certified organic. He doesn’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides but opts to not be certified organic as he has a very small persimmon orchard. The fuyu persimmon is eaten firm, like an apple, no need to peel the skin.

Field Notes: Our region is experiencing smoky conditions from the Campfire in Butte County. Our hearts go out to all those who’ve lost homes, businesses and family members in the town of Paradise to the uncontrollable fires. We’re hoping that fire containment will happen as soon as possible and that the rebuilding will happen as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we hope that the support continues for the residents and the emergency responders.

One the farm, we had our first frost early last Saturday morning. This means that the end of tomato, pepper, and eggplant season is fast approaching. 

Holiday Hams are now available! The hams are from pastured hogs raised on a certified organic diet of pasture, produce culls from the farm, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins ice cream and grain. The hams are $11 per lb. They range in size from 6-12 lbs. The animals are certified organic but once processed, the meat is not certified organic because the smokehouse in Ft. Bragg is not yet a certified organic facility. Please contact Christian at csa@riverdogfarm.com to place your order. We have a limited supply so please reserve your order early.

Thanksgiving Delivery Schedule

Tuesday 11/20:

All regular Tuesday, Thursday (except Berkeley Farmers Market) & Friday deliveries

Wednesday 11/21:

All regular Wednesday deliveries

Saturday 11/24 & Sunday 11/25:

Regular market pickup.

November 5th 2018

Box Contents:

1 bskt Cherry Tomatoes

2/3 lb Arugula

1 hd Green Cabbage

1 bu Cilantro

 1 lb French Fingerling Potatoes

1 Butternut Squash

1 lb Purple Daikon Radish

Box Notes: Cool-weather cilantro is back in action. We harvested the first bunches for market over the weekend and now have enough to include in the veggie boxes this week. Now that the nights are cooler, it’s a good time to start turning on the oven in the evenings to bake squash or roast potatoes.

Field Notes: The dry weather has us staying on our toes with continued fall crop planting, cover crop seeding and the planting of the overwintered grain crops. We have started to harvest the root crops: beets, radishes, and turnips. We had our first beet bunches at market over the weekend so they will be making an appearance soon in the veggie boxes.

Holiday Hams are now available! The hams are from pastured hogs raised on a certified organic diet of pasture, produce culls from the farm, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins ice cream and grain. The hams are $11 per lb. They range in size from 6-12 lbs. The animals are certified organic but once processed, the meat is not certified organic because the smokehouse in Ft. Bragg is not yet a certified organic facility. Please contact Christian at csa@riverdogfarm.com to place your order. We have a limited supply so please reserve your order early.

Thanksgiving Delivery Schedule

Tuesday 11/20:

All regular Tuesday, Thursday (except Berkeley Farmers Market) & Friday deliveries

Wednesday 11/21:

All regular Wednesday deliveries

Saturday 11/24 & Sunday 11/25:

Regular market pickup.

Thursday market pickup members will need to select a one time alternate pickup time/location for that week.

I will send email reminders to all members whose deliveries will be affected by this.

October 29th 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb Early Girl Tomatoes

½ lb Arugula

1 hd Bok Choi

¾ lb Little Gem Lettuce

¾ lb Green Beans

1 lb Yellow Finn Potatoes

Box Notes: Amazingly enough, the green bean plants are continuing to produce delectable beans. And the Little Gem Lettuce season has returned! Please see the recommended recipe below from the farm for the best way to enjoy Little Gem Lettuce. The last planting of the tomatoes will continue to produce fruit until it frosts. The first frost usually happens between late October and Thanksgiving. During our 28 years of farming, we had a few years when the tomato harvest went through Thanksgiving! This is a rare occurrence. As the season goes along, the tomato fruit size becomes smaller and the flavor becomes concentrated.

Field Notes: On the farm this week: the leeks are sizing up and beautifully weed-free. The blue-green allium leaves of the leeks make a beautiful sea of green in the fields.

Wishing all a Happy Halloween this week! We are looking forward to the first annual tractor-pulled hayride through our little hamlet of Guinda for Halloween. The kids in the region will be in costume and the ride will go along the county roads stopping at homes to trick or treat.

Holiday Hams are now available! The hams are from pastured hogs raised on a certified organic diet of pasture, produce culls from the farm, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins ice cream and grain. The hams are $11 per lb. They range in size from 6-12 lbs. The animals are certified organic but once processed, the meat is not certified organic because the smokehouse in Ft. Bragg is not yet a certified organic facility. Please contact Christian at csa@riverdogfarm.com to place your order. We have a limited supply so please reserve your order early.

October 22nd 2018

Box Contents:

1 bskt Cherry Tomatoes

1 lb Globe Eggplant

1 head Escarole

1 head Green Cabbage

2 pieces Acorn Squash

½ lb Green Beans

1 lb Heirloom Tomatoes

Box Notes: This box shows why we love this warm October weather, which is giving us the exciting fall greens and squash, while still ripening up some fantastically flavorful tomatoes and eggplants. Escarole, a green from the chicory family (like endive and radicchio), is a favorite for cooking in a soup or sauté. The acorn squash has an excellent flavor and the seeds too are great to roast after they’re freed from the tissue connecting it to the flesh of the squash.

Field Notes: Thanks to everyone who came out for our Pumpkin Party. We had a great turnout and had to split the farm tour in two, a larger group of parents & kids and smaller group who went on a more detailed tour discussing our soil management and why the breeds of pigs on our farm are well suited to being raised on pasture. Both groups got to feed some pumpkins to the pigs. It was a beautiful day, warm enough day for a few visitors to jump in the creek.

Holiday Hams are now available! The hams are from pastured hogs raised on a certified organic diet of pasture, produce culls from the farm, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins ice cream and grain. The hams are $11 per lb. They range in size from 6-12 lbs. The animals are certified organic but once processed, the meat is not certified organic because the smokehouse in Ft. Bragg is not yet a certified organic facility.  Please contact Christian at csa@riverdogfarm.com to place your order. We have a limited supply so please reserve your order early.

October 15th CSA Newsletter

Box Contents:

1 bskt Shishito Peppers

1 lb Early Girl Tomatoes

3/4 lb Zucchini

1 bu Curly Kale

1 lb Yellow Finn Potatoes

2/3 lb Green Beans

Slicing Cucumbers

Box Notes: The fall sun has been strong in the afternoons but the rest of the daytime temperatures have been very mild and comfortable. We have been so excited to begin the Autumnal harvest of the leafy green crops: arugula, loose spinach, little gem lettuce, beets with their tops, turnips and tops, kales, and chards as well as the winter squash. It’s something new and different, an incredibly different taste sensation. Summer crops are still going strong. They will continue until the first frost sometime in November.

Field Notes: October and November are the months when we focus on getting as many overwintered crops into the ground as possible including the grains we grow for hog and chicken feed. It’s a scramble to beat the clock and have everything transplanted or direct seeded before the rainy season begins in earnest. There’s a hustle of activity prepping fields and planting them. We’ll plant the garlic cloves and onion starts in November.

Holiday Hams are now available! The hams are from pastured hogs raised on a certified organic diet of pasture, produce culls from the farm, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins ice cream and grain. The hams are $11 per lb. They range in size from 6-12 lbs. The animals are certified organic but once processed, the meat is not certified organic because the smokehouse in Ft. Bragg is not yet a certified organic facility.  Please contact Christian at csa@riverdogfarm.com to place your order. We have a limited supply so please reserve your order early.

Riverdog Farm Annual Pumpkin Party

Saturday October 20, 2018

12:00 to 4:00 pm

11905 State Route 16, Brooks CA 95606

Come to the farm, bring a potluck dish to share, enjoy farm-grilled pork sausages, take a

tour of the farm, feed the pigs, enjoy some Three Twins ice cream, and pick a pumpkin to bring home. We will provide grilled sausages and ice cold water. 

RSVP by 10/15/18 with the number attending: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

October 8th CSA Newsletter

Box Contents:

¾ lb Mixed Sweet Peppers

1 lb Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 Butternut Squash

1 Red Russian Kale

1 lb French Fingerling Potatoes

½ lb Green Beans

2-3 each Slicing Cucumbers  

Box Notes: Green beans have made a comeback! We planted some in mid-summer so they are just now becoming ready to pick. Late fall beans always have exceptional flavor so we hope you enjoy this autumnal surprise. We’re featuring butternut squash in this week’s veggie box. We grow about 10 winter squash varieties so that we can offer you a different type of squash each week throughout the winter months. The virtue of winter squash is that they store well, are packed with vitamins, and are a filling vegetable that can be adapted as dinner main and side courses or used as key ingredients in desserts.

Field Notes: We received about 1 ¼ inch of rain last week which was utterly glorious. It was a dramatic weather event with the bulk of the rain falling in about one hour last Wednesday afternoon. There were big black storm clouds loaded with precipitation in parts of the valley. Because of the fires, where the rain fell the most, it sheeted off the charred slopes and caused some flash flooding in the seasonal creeks that feed into Cache Creek. The watershed produced thick ash-laden water.

Holiday Hams are now available! The hams are from pastured hogs raised on a certified organic diet of pasture, produce culls from the farm, Cowgirl Creamery whey, Three Twins ice cream and grain. They are $11 per lb. They range in size from 6-12 lbs. The animals are certified organic but once processed, the meat is not certified organic because the smokehouse in Ft. Bragg is not yet a certified organic facility.  Please contact Christian at csa@riverdogfarm.com to place your order. We have a limited supply so place your order early.

Riverdog Farm Annual Pumpkin Party

Saturday October 20, 2018

12:00 to 4:00 pm

11905 State Route 16, Brooks CA 95606

Come to the farm, bring a potluck dish to share, enjoy farm-grilled pork sausages, take a

tour of the farm, feed the pigs, enjoy some Three Twins ice cream, and pick a pumpkin to bring home. We will provide grilled sausages and ice cold water. 

RSVP by 10/15/18 with the number attending: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

October 1st 2018

Box Contents:

1 lb Mixed Sweet Peppers

1 ¼ lb Early Girl Tomatoes

3 Delicata Squashes

½ lb Arugula

1 bu Tokyo Turnips

1 bu Collard Greens

Box Notes: The 2nd squash variety is making its appearance in the veggie box this week: the delicious delicata, a winter squash favorite with subtle sweet flavors and a pale yellow, creamy flesh. Also new this week are Tokyo turnips and collard greens. We’re pleased to be entering a new season with new items to offer to you. There will also be Fuyu persimmons this year as in past years from a neighboring farm.

Field Notes: Rain is expected this Tuesday! We have overcast weather today (Monday) so are very excited about the coming rain. While it will likely not be a substantial amount of rain, any amount of rain after 129 days of no rain is a welcome sight and the temperatures are much cooler so everyone on the farm is happier.

Upcoming new harvests include: Little Gem Lettuce (mini-romaines), spinach, other bunching green varieties including kale, chard, and mustard greens. The carrots and beets will return in November.

Riverdog Farm Annual Pumpkin Party

Saturday October 20, 2018

12:00 to 4:00 pm

11905 State Route 16, Brooks CA 95606

Come to the farm,

bring a potluck dish to share, enjoy

farm-grilled pork sausages, take a

hay ride tour of the farm, feed the pigs,

and pick a pumpkin to bring home.

We will provide grilled sausages and ice cold water.  

September 24th 2017

Box Contents:

¾ lb Mixed Sweet Peppers

1 ¼ lb Early Girl Tomatoes

2 ea Acorn Squash

¾ lb Arugula

1 hd Napa Cabbage

1 bu Parsley

Box Notes: This is the first week of winter squash! The acorn squash is always the first squash of the season because it ripens faster and we harvest it before the other varieties. The fall greens harvest is starting to flow in earnest. With arugula and Napa Cabbage in this week’s box, we have cabbage and little gem lettuce coming soon. The field of leeks was recently weeded and the crop is looking great. We’ll begin the leek harvest in December.

Field Notes: We are pleased to begin selling the straw from the grain we harvested this year. The timing of the straw sales is critical because we don’t want the beautifully baled and stacked straw to get wet in the first rains. This year, we have about 3000 bales of straw to sell. Today we sold 512 bales and soon we’ll sell the rest. One of the requirements for organic dairies is that the straw used for bedding has to be certified organic. Because our straw is CCOF certified organic, we are able to sell it to the organic dairies in northern CA.

Riverdog Farm Annual Pumpkin Party

Saturday October 20, 2018

12:00 to 4 pm

11905 State Route 16, Brooks CA 95606

Come to the farm,

bring a potluck dish to share, enjoy

farm-grilled pork sausages, take a

hay ride tour of the farm, feed the pigs,

and pick a pumpkin to bring home.

We will provide grilled sausages and ice cold water.  

RSVP by 10/15/18 with the number attending: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

September 17th 2018

Box Contents:

¾ lb Mixed Corno Di Toro Peppers

1 bu Basil

1 Yellow Canary Melon

½ lb Arugula

1 ¼  lb Yellow Finn Potatoes

1 bskt Cherry Tomatoes

1 lb Japanese Eggplant

Box Notes: Sweet peppers, basil, arugula and melons – it’s the time for the overlapping of seasons, when the deep colors and flavors of summer and fall become available all at once. It’s a feast for the eyes and appetites!

Field Notes: Mild weather has landed in the valley. Evenings have become chilly and the daytime temperatures are hovering around 85 degrees. The smoky air has finally cleared from the fires. We’re getting incredible night sky views with the planetary alignment of Venus, Jupiter, the moon, Saturn and Mars in an arc over the western horizon just after sunset. To learn more about this phenomenon, visit: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury.

     In this region, there are very few nighttime lights so the star and planetary visibility is vivid. The Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye and shooting stars happen with increasing frequency in August and September. Nighttime on the farm is a great time to witness the wonders of astronomy in our midst. 

Riverdog Farm Annual Pumpkin Party

Saturday October 20, 2018

12:00 to 4 pm

11905 State Route 16, Brooks CA

Come to the farm, bring a potluck dish to share, enjoy farm-grilled pork sausages, take a tour of the farm, feed the pigs, and pick a pumpkin to bring home.

RSVP to the farm by 10/15/18 with the number attending: csa@riverdogfarm.com.

September 10th CSA Newsletter

Box Contents:

¾ lb Yellow Bell Peppers

1 lb Early Girl Tomatoes

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

1 ¼ lb Black Beauty Eggplant

1 bskt Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

1 ¼ lb French Fingerling Potatoes 

Box Notes: Yellow is the theme of this week’s CSA box! The watermelon, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes will provide you with a healthy dose of vibrant yellow and all the vitamins associated with that hue. Even the inside of the French Fingerling potatoes have tones of yellow. We are pleased to be able to offer you potatoes in September. These spuds are from our spring planted potato crop. We had such a great yield this year that we still have a steady supply of the, a wonderful staple at the farmer’s markets and for the CSA that we don’t usually have this time of year.

Field Notes: It’s starting to feel like the seasonal transition time on the farm. We’re two weeks away from the Fall Equinox, the time of the year when the daylight and hours of darkness are equal, also known as the beginning of Autumn. The equinox is the beginning of shortening days and lengthening nights. The nighttime temperatures are much cooler and summer crops are slowing down. We’re seeding onions, carrots, beets, turnips, and as many root crops as we can. The greenhouse transplants of greens, cabbage, broccoli and fennel have been going into the fields and we’re seeding the next round of transplants into trays for greenhouse sprouting. The whole farm is looking forward to the rainy season to settle the ash dust in the air and regenerate vegetative growth in the hills post-fire season.

Upcoming Event:

Capay Valley Vision’s 18th Annual Taste of Capay

Sunday October 21, 2018 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Full Belly Farm, 16090 Road 43 Guinda, CA 95637. This event is a multi-course dinner featuring locally grown produce, wines and pastured meats. Event proceeds will support park improvements at local county parks in the rural region of Capay Valley. Tickets are $60 each or table of ten for $550. To order tickets visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-capay-tickets-48054012846.

September 3rd CSA Newsletter

Box Contents:

1 bskt Shishito Peppers

1 ¼ lb Early Girl Tomatoes

1 Orange Honeydew Melon

1  lb Armenian Cucumber

1 bunch Basil

¾ lb Red Onions

1 ½ lbs Yellow Finn Potatoes

Box Notes: The Shishito Peppers are a mild version of the Pimiento de Padron Peppers. They actually don’t have any spiciness. They are a fast cooking pepper, delicious heated in olive oil with salt on a skillet or on the grill until softened/wilted/slightly charred.  The Armenian cucumber is a very mild cucumber. The skin doesn’t need to be peeled. Unlike green slicing or pickling cucumbers, the Armenian cucumber doesn’t have any bitterness at any time during the growing season.

Field Notes: While most of the area fires are 100% contained, there was a flare up in Lake County last week that caused more smoke so we are still experiencing haziness and filtered light. Hopefully, the air will clear by next week. We didn’t get the annual August rain that usually surprises us the last month of summer. Looking forward to the rainy season that should begin in earnest in November. Carbon from the wildfire ash will fertilize the new plant growth in the hills. It should be a very verdant spring.

 Upcoming Event:
An annual event celebrating agricultural land preservation in Yolo County. Riverdog Farm will be there with a tomato tasting table.

For more info visit: http://theyololandtrust.org/a-day-in-the-country/

August 27th CSA Newsletter

Box Contents:

1 lb Yellow Bell Peppers

1 bkst Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

1 lb French Fingerling Potatoes

1 &1/4 lb Japanese Eggplant

1 Cantaloupe

3 Slicing Cucumbers

1 bu Italian Parsley

Box Notes: The melons are still at their peak of flavor and sweetness. A simple way to

enjoy the cucumbers and melons is: cut both into bite size pieces, toss together with chili,

lemon and salt. This is a quenching salad that satisfies your sweet and savory palettes all at

once. A quick thank you to the team at https://www.savorycafeonmain.com/

in Woodland for featuring our farm at their inaugural Dinner with a Farmer last Friday, a sold-out event. They created a delicious menu using produce and pastured meat from the farm. We’re looking forward to participating in more farm dinners with Savory Café in the future!

Field Notes: The greenhouses are full to the brim with fall and winter transplants: cabbage,

broccoli, fennel, lettuce, chicories, and kale. We have started moving the transplants into the

field as they size up. The overlapping summer harvest and prep for the fall/winter crops is

always a juggling act on the farm. While we harvest the peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and

melons, we are keeping the leeks and other alliums weed-free and preparing beds in the

fields to make space for the rows and rows of cooler weather crops. Luckily, our temperate

northern California climate has a very long growing season. This allows the farm to provide

year round employment and to have produce for the CSA and year-round farmer’s markets that we attend.

Webstore Highlights Open Webstore Here

Jalapeños (red, green or mixed) -- 10 lb case for $32.00

Genovese Basil -- 24 bunches for $30.00

August 20th

Box Contents:

1 ½ lbs Variety of Tomatoes

1 bu Basil

1 ½ lbs Globe Eggplant

1-2 Charentais Melons

1 lb Yellow Baby Watermelon

1 ½ lbs Red Onions

¾ lb Mixed Sweet Peppers

Box Notes: The Charentais melons tend to split in the field when they are ripe. This doesn’t mean that they are overripe but instead indicates that they are at the peak of ripeness. Late August and September are pepper months on the farm. We are harvesting many varieties and featuring them in the veggie boxes almost weekly. Here are a few ideas for upping your pepper consumption while they are in season: thinly slice and sauté with garlic and onions for a veggie side dish for lunch or dinner, stuff with rice, herbs, ricotta cheese and ground lamb/beef/pork for baked, stuffed peppers, roast over an open flame indoors or outdoors and peel the charred skin to enjoy roasted peppers, chop into small pieces to add to a green salad, or just snack on them like you would an apple.

Field Notes: The nighttime temperatures have started to be cool, between 60 to 70 degrees. In August each year, we receive the first rains. Last week was very humid and cloudy so it was feeling like the first rain was coming but it hasn’t happened yet. It’s always a pleasant surprise to get rain in August after so many days of dry, warm weather. Then the real winter rainy season begins in earnest in November. This is when we feel a drastic change in the seasons with much cooler temperatures and the clouds reappear after their long hiatus.

Webstore Highlights   Open Webstore Here

Roma Tomatoes for Canning/Sauce
10 lb case for $32.50

Japanese Eggplant
10 lb case for $37.50

August 13th

1 ½  lb Mixed Heirloom Tomatoes

1 lb Dapple Dandy Pluots

2 Slicing Cucumbers

1 Da Vinci Melon (Tuscan variety)

½ lb Green Beans

1 lb Globe Eggplant

1 bskt Shishito Peppers

Box Notes: We are growing the Da Vinci melon variety for the first time this year. It’s a fragrant Tuscan type that has a sweet, dark orange flesh. It has been a customer favorite when we sample all of the melon varieties at the 4 farmer’s markets we attend each week. It’s ripe when firm and even when some of the stripes are still blue.  If you prefer a softer melon, you can let it sit out on your kitchen counter for a couple of days as it will continue to ripen. We have a bumper crop of green beans this year.  Use the shishito peppers like you would the pimiento de padrons, as a frying pepper. The shishito pepper is milder than the padrons but can be cooked the same way. Heat some olive oil in a skillet on medium heat, toss the peppers in the oil until they become limp and slightly browned/charred in some spots. Add salt and enjoy as an appetizer.

Field Notes: The smoke from the fires is subsiding. This week’s forecast is expected to hover around 100 degrees which, while still warm, is a big improvement over the 105/106 degree days we experienced in late July. 

Upcoming Event: We are proud to announce that we are being spotlighted as part of Savory Café in woodland’s first Dinner with a Farmer on Friday August 24th at 6:00 pm. Tim or Trini will be there representing our farm at this amazing six course farm to table meal.

You can purchase ticketsusing the link below.

www.savorysdinnerwithafarmer.bpt.me

August 6th

Box Contents:

1 bskt Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes

1-2 Walla Walla Onions

1-2 Charentais Melon

1 lb Sweet Peppers

½  lb Green Beans

1 lb Listada Di Gandia Eggplant

1 ½ lbs Carrots

Box Notes: The Charentais melon is our best tasting melon this week. We harvest all the melon varieties when they’re ripe. They continue to ripen off the plant but we like to harvest them at their peak of sweetness for the fullest flavor. The signs of ripeness for Charentais are:

1. The skin goes from blue green to cream colored, with some blue stripes still showing

2. The melon slips easily off the plant from the stem end

3. We sample some in the field to taste test their sweetness

These harvest techniques apply to all the melon types except the watermelon – the main difference in ripeness indicators with the watermelon is that the green curlique tendril on the other side of the stem starts to dry out, becomes brown. When the curlique is half dry, the melon is perfectly ripe!

Field Notes: Still smoky conditions in the Capay Valley. We’re monitoring the Calfire updates to have the current information about the fire’s status. Hoping for improved containment as soon as possible. 

New Webstore Items

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

Globe Eggplant ($30/25lb)                      

Green Beans ($40.00/10lb)

July 30th 2018

Box Contents:

¾ lb Green Beans

1 ½ lbs Brandywine Tomatoes

2 Slicing Cucumbers

1 Orange Honeydew Melon

1 bu Basil

1 lb Globe Eggplant

1 bskt Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

Box Notes: The veggie box this week represents the best of summer! Tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, basil, eggplant and melon: each peaking with flavor and juiciness. A simple summer sandwich is a great way to experience the flavors of the produce in this week’s box: thinly sliced cucumbers (leave the skin on), a slice of tomato, some feta cheese or other type of salty cheese, salt, pepper and avocado if you have it on hand. Voila! It’s summer held in between two pieces of bread.

Field Notes: Our region is experiencing thick smoke today from the Carr Fire near Shasta and the complex of fires in Lake and Medocino Counties. While the smoky air is no fun to work in, it’s creating the plus of lower temperatures by filtering the sunlight. Hopefully soon, the fires will be contained. We are feeling for those who’ve lost homes and family members to the firestorms. Having experienced the threat of the wildfire in the County Fire that started in Guinda, seeing the flames lapping nearby was unsettling enough. Our hearts go out to those in the path of the fires.

New Webstore Items

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

Boneless Loin Roast ($12/lb)

Orange Honeydew Melon ($26.00/30lb)

July 23rd

Box Contents:

1 ½ lbs Early Girl Tomatoes

1 Painted Serpent Cucumber

1 lb Mixed Peppers

1 Yellow Baby Watermelon

1 Musk Melon

¾ lb Green Beans

2 Jumbo Red Onions

Box Notes: The peppers are coming on with brilliant colors and we’re excited to share them with you. The green beans are another new treat in the box this week. This year we are growing these, cranberry beans and black eyes peas.

     The yellow baby watermelon and muskmelon are refreshing, sweet and crisp fruits. Great to share with friends on these summer days. The yellow baby was developed in Taiwan using a melon from New Hampshire and a melon from China. The painted serpent cucumber is originally from Armenia and is fantastic for slicing, putting in sandwiches and mincing/blending for sauces.   

Web Store Highlights

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

We’ve put several new varieties of organic melons on our webstore.
New pork shares are also available.

Place orders for any of our pastured pork or chicken via the web store.

We offer 6 types of seasoned sausage, ground pork, pork cuts, bacon, ham, pork bone broth, and whole pastured chickens.