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.