October 10, 2022

Box Contents:

0.5 lb Green Beans

1 pt Cherry Tomatoes

1 bu Dino Kale

1 bu Parsley

2 pcs Globe OR Rosa Bianca

1 lb Mixed Squash

1 bu Toyko Turnips

2 pcs Acorn Squash

Farm notes: As promised another round of greens, well really two! Dino Kale, aka: Cavolo Nero, Lacinato, and many more, is a robust and favorite green for salads or cooked dishes. The Tokyo Turnip greens are stronger and much more delicate; use them quickly! They cook down a lot, so don’t be afraid of their initial volume. My favorite approach is to throw them on top of sausage and chops as they’re cooking to catch all of that extra flavor. Where they droop into the fat they crisp up deliciously!

As the days grow shorter and the nights a little cooler we normally expect ground water levels to begin to rise, even before the rains hit.   We are seeing this on our deeper wells but not the less than 100’ deep wells that seem more tied to Cache Creek. Summer Squash and cucumbers are holding up beyond expectations but we are really feeling the shadow of the last month’s heat on tomato production; flowers are sterilized by the extreme heat leading to poor fruitset.  We have oceans of tomato flowers now, but only the fastest moving cherry toms will win the race against Winter.  Tuesday we will set our almost last transplants of 2022, a bounty of different chicories for February and March if the Winter is not too cold.  Enjoy these beautiful Fall days, we certainly are!   Riverdog Tim

Don’t forget to RSVP for the Pumpkin Party on Saturday 10.22.22!

Potluck Pumpkin Party coming up in just 2 Saturday’s on October 22nd from Noon to 4!    Please RSVP so we have some idea of what to plan for:  csa@riverdogfarm.com.   Bring your family and friends for a mellow walking tour of the farm and a chance to meet the families who grow your food.   Hope to see you here!

Riverdog Farm’s Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA), is based on a mutually beneficial relationship between the farm and the people who consume our food. Because our farm supports 50 families through year-round employment, the financial support of our CSA program is critical to our success throughout the seasons. CSA is also an integral way for the farm to personally connect to the people who eat our food. We truly thank you for your support!

Riverdog Farm is always accepting new CSA members. Encourage family, neighbors, friends and colleagues to sign-up for the Riverdog Farm CSA. You can create an account for the member and pay the balance with a check sent to the farm or credit card. Print or email the “WELCOME” email or mail your generous gift to the recipient.

Riverdog Farm has an Instagram account. Find us via our Instagram handle: riverdogfarm. Like us or tag us with all of your yummy Riverdog CSA dishes. We share images of crops, farming, re-posts of your farm fixin’ photos and videos. Check out the account for Farmers Market and CSA updates.

Site hosts: Please email the CSA manager by the morning following the delivery day about any unclaimed CSA boxes. This way, we can contact CSA subscribers with a reminder email to pick up their CSA orders.

******As a courtesy to your Site Host - DO NOT PICK UP YOUR ORDER PAST THE DELIVERY TIME IN THE EVENING.****** Thank you.

Webstore Features:

·        NEW Pastured Pork Shares

·        Pork Loin Roasts – delicious bone in, skin on pork.

·        Pastured pork and lamb orders are delivered frozen to your delivery site or to one of the 4 weekly farmers markets nearest you.

·        Smoked/Cured Hams: Order pastured hams for any celebration by adding the one you want to your account or by emailing csa@riverdogfarm.com

·        Pasture Raised ½  Smoked Chickens - Plain or Cajun style seasoning

·        Variety of Sausages- check webstore for availability

·        Raw Mission Almonds by the 1 lb and 5 lb bag

·        Vegetable items are available by the case or half case.

·        Visit: https://csa.farmigo.com/store/riverdogfarmcsa to place your orders. Please place your orders by noon, 2 days before your delivery day to ensure same week delivery.

Please check your CSA account for the most up-to-date information such as your next CSA delivery date and payment status.

Frog Hollow Farm Fruit Boxes are available to add to your subscription:

$33.25 per fruit box subscription and $35 for a one time box. Email the CSA manager at CSA@riverdogfarm.com to get a box. ALL orders need to be in by Monday morning at 8AM – that is when FROG HOLLOW box numbers are finalized and sent. See Frog Hollow info below to learn more about their fruit boxes.

Refunds and Cancellations:

* YEARLY subscription that needs to end early will be charged at the $30 box price for boxes already delivered (not to exceed the original purchase price) and the balance may be refunded back to the card of original purchase or a check will be sent to the Member. We ask that you use your balance the best you can.

* MONTHLY subscribers –Finish your subscription commitment. If your balance does not reach $0, then the remaining amount – below $29 - may be refunded back to the credit card or in the form of a check. You can also choose to donate your remainder to the farm. When your balance reaches $0, then you have fulfilled your subscription commitment and your account will automatically go to “permanent hold” status.

* You are able to re-subscribe at any time. Just go to “MANAGE PAYMENTS” and add a payment to your balance to become an active member again. Subscribers who are set up for recurring payments need to turn off recurring payment in order to make any cancellations to your account. You MUST do this on your account before your account reaches $30 or less to receive a refund or cancel your account.

• PLEASE note if your subscription has recurring payments. This can affect the amount of deliveries you are expected to receive. Such as; 4 week delivery plans with some months having 5 weeks.

•Your subscriptions and pre-payments are greatly appreciated. To make this CSA program successful, we count on your advance payment to plan our seed ordering, planting seasons and harvest amounts.

•To ensure that your subscription continues uninterrupted, please make sure your payment is up current on your CSA account. You may also put your account on a DELIVERY HOLD if you will be gone for 1 delivery or periods of time. Your balance will be the same when you return.

•For any changes you need to make to your account, the cut off time is 12:00 NOON, 2 days before your delivery day. Remember to make any changes to your account such as payment renewal, webstore orders or delivery holds by 12:00 NOON, 2 days before your delivery day. Thank you!

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please pick up your veggie box on your delivery day so that it stays fresh and we can ensure quality. During the hot days of summer, the earlier you are able to pick up the better. You can check with the office for average drop off times.

**Riverdog will not give refunds for any missing items/quality issues for pickups made the day after delivery day**

CSA site hosts may donate any unclaimed items after 24 hours (3pm following the day of original pickup time) unclaimed/forgotten orders may no longer be available and the subscriber absorbs the subscription cost for that week’s order.

Missing items/quality issues must be emailed same day of pick up day for refund consideration. Please include a photo of any quality issues. We appreciate your feedback.

Reminder: A/B delivery schedules are every other week. They aren’t always 1st/3rd or 2nd/4th weeks due to some months having 5 weeks. Make sure your name is on the list AND you only take the items listed next to your name. Call or email with any issues regarding this policy.

The weekly box contents are subject to change (from the box contents listed in the weekly newsletter). We include a list of box contents in the newsletter to give you an idea of what to expect but it may differ from what is packed. Crop quality, daily yields and weather conditions will determine final box contents and what is sent each week.

Give your account 48 hours to update when making changes. For example, when changing your account status from permanent hold to active by charging your credit card, the process may take up to 48 hours to update. The auto-pay option button is at the bottom of your account page. Please click it for auto-renewal of your CSA subscription and to ensure uninterrupted weekly veggie box deliveries.

The Frog Hollow fruit box is available to add to your CSA account. Due to logistics, the Frog Hollow Fruit Boxes are only available to the Wednesday/Thursday/Friday subscribers. CSA subscribers who pick up on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays, at the Berkeley farmers markets may purchase directly from Frog Hollow. 12:00 pm Sunday is the deadline to change your account for the fruit box. If you enter a hold any time after that, we can cancel delivery of the box, but your account may still be charged the full amount for the fruit box. Frog Hollow CSA boxes come with 3-4 varieties of seasonal tree-ripened, exceptionally tasty stone fruits. As part of their commitment to sustainability, Frog Hollow works hard to avert food waste. You can expect to see ripe, cosmetically imperfect fruit and small or large pieces of fruit in the fruit boxes. These characteristics should not affect the deliciousness of what you receive. Visit their web site to learn more about their CSA program, farm philosophy, fruits and recommendations: www.froghollow.com

Reminder: So that your subscription continues uninterrupted, please make sure your credit card on file is up to date on your CSA account. For those who need to end the CSA subscription before your balance is at $0, email the farm to request cancellation. You may put your account on a DELIVERY hold if you will be gone for periods of time.

For any changes you need to make to your account, the cut off time is 12:00 NOON, 2 days before your delivery day Remember to make any changes to your account such as payment renewal, webstore orders or delivery holds by 12:00 NOON, 2 days before your delivery day. Thank you!