My dear community members,

Our CSA box is kind of like a healthy alternative trick or treat bag this week, loaded with all the best sweets. We are picking our melons tomorrow but won’t know which we’ll put in the boxes until Wednesday morning once we sort them out. I hope you get a chance to slow down and enjoy the flavors of summer that are coming straight off the farm.

Updates on two drop locations:
*Adams Elementary School is being relocated to one of our other locations, per request, this week and possibly next. The auditorium is being cleared of rodents. We hope to resume next week but will keep you updated here on the blog.

*UCSB – We are having issues with non-members opening up boxes and/or taking whole boxes. We are going to try and deliver around the corner from our usual spot to see if that helps. We will send you a more specific detailed email if you pick up here. If you can offer a suggestion for a better spot, we’re all ears!

If you’ve moved to a different pickup location because of either of these two issues, and wish to return – you will need to log into your account to update your location.

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
STRAWBERRIES
BLACKBERRIES or RASPBERRIES
CANTELOUPE (could be canary or galia)
GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
GREEN ZUCCHINI
MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES
HEIRLOOMS TOMATOES
LUNCHBOX PEPPERS (super sweet)
HASS AVOCADOS
CARROTS
BIG BOX ADD: BASIL, RED BUTTER LETTUCE, SPAGHETTI SQUASH, STRAWBERRIES, RED BELL PEPPERS

FRUIT EXPANSION: BLACKBERRIES or RASPBERRIES and STRAWBERRIES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: RED BUTTER

JUICE FEAST:
STRAWBERRIES
BLACKBERRIES or RASPBERRIES
CARROTS
CILANTRO
LACINATO KALE
CELERY
CUCUMBERS
RED BELL PEPPERS
CANTELOUPE
Continue reading →

My dear community,

A few quick notes for this week:

*If you received a CSA box last week with an orange kabocha squash it needs about 2 more weeks to cure (NOT in the refrigerator). These squash were picked a little prematurely without my knowledge, but will surely ripen in a matter of weeks.

*We are in the process of putting Bragg cookbooks in all the boxes. They are gifts from Patricia Bragg and hopefully will inspire some delicious things. She’s written 10 different cookbooks – so look forward to a few more.

*We’ve been picking peppers we’re unable to use in the boxes and feeding them to the animals. Don’t be surprised to see red yolks in our eggs this week- a testament to the freshness and the direct product of what the chickens eat. The goats and pigs especially love the peppers and I was surprised to even see the geese going for them. Everyone eats well on the farm! We are anticipating some new kids in the near future as well and I hope to start making goat cheese and my dream- goat milk ice cream.

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
RED LEAF LETTUCE
MIXED POTATOES
RED BELL PEPPERS
WATERMELON – MIGHT HAVE A YELLOW SKIN
BLACKBERRIES or RASPBERRIES
CHERRY TOMATOES
COLLARD GREENS
RED TOMATOES
LEMON CUCUMBERS
BIG BOX ADD: HASS AVOCADOS, BROCCOLI, CARROTS, ANAHEIM PEPPERS, GREEN ZUCCHINI

FRUIT EXPANSION: BLACKBERRIES and STRAWBERRIES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: LITTLE GEM LETTUCE

JUICE FEAST:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
RED BELL PEPPERS
WATERMELON
BLACKBERRIES or RASPBERRIES
COLLARD GREENS
CUCUMBERS
CELERY
LACINATO KALE
STRAWBERRIES

Continue reading →

My dear community,

Sometimes things seem to happen all at once – in this case summer bounty has arrived in abundance. We go from picking the first box of melons to watching mountains of them quickly reach the sky in the morning pick. We go from looking for an eggplant for dinner to realizing we actually need to pick, and suddenly we’ve packed 100 boxes full of eggplants. Sweet peppers vibrantly confetti the ground as far as the eye can see. Stone fruit ripens with little more than a day’s notice. It all goes by in a blur so I’m trying to take moments to really savor it.
Check out our recipes below to dig into your orange kabocha (darker in flesh color and richer in flavor than butternut)- one of my favorite squashes. Hope you enjoy it too.

Be gentle with yourself. Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES
YELLOW GRAPE TOMATOES
CANTELOPE
BROCCOLI
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
RED BELL PEPPERS
GREEN ZUCCHINI
ORANGE KABOCHA SQUASH
BIG BOX ADD: RED LEAF LETTUCE, GREEN BEANS, CARROTS, HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, BLACKBERRIES

Fruit Expansion: BLACKBERRIES and STRAWBERRIES
Lettuce of the Week: Red Leaf

JUICE FEAST:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
CELERY x2
CANTELOPE
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
RED BELL PEPPERS
BLACKBERRIES
CILANTRO
LACINATO KALE

Continue reading →

My Dear Community members,

What does a farm mean to you? According to Merriam-Webster, it’s: “a piece of land used for growing crops or raising animals.” I think it should be and, not or. I like to believe Old MacDonald was a permaculturist. We care and tend to and give our energy to the crops and animals, and they give energy to us in cycles. I believe animals give a kind of energy to the land that nothing else does. They eat all the produce that can’t be sold and turn it into a different kind of food. Their poop gives back vital nutrients to the land (in the form of compost of course). I’m working on portable chicken coops that can move through our new orchards. They haven’t roamed completely free in the fields because they go straight for the good stuff. Moving them through the orchards will be a huge benefit to our system. After watching a pig get slaughtered this weekend for human consumption I feel an even stronger personal connection to my food. I don’t even want to eat pork anymore. I realize that if I want to have meat in my life I HAVE to know where it comes from. The CSA has given me the opportunity to reinvest into the farm. Regenerative agriculture is my passion and I’m dedicated to figuring out how we can continue to move to a closed loop system.

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
RED LEAF LETTUCE
WATERMELON – OR canteloup – depends on the harvest tomorrow
GREEN ZUCCHINI
CELERY
LACINATO KALE
PINK HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
STRAWBERRIES
HASS AVOCADOS
BLACKBERRIES
BIG BOX ADD: LUNCHBOX PEPPERS, GREEN LEAF, CUCUMBERS, ONIONS, BROCCOLI

FRUIT EXPANSION: PEACHES and BLACKBERRIES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: ROMAINE

JUICE FEAST Contains:
CARROTS x2
ROMAINE LETTUCE
WATERMELON
CELERY
LACINATO KALE
STRAWBERRIES
BLACKBERRIES
CUCUMBERS
GOLDEN DORSET APPLES from GIVENS ORCHARD
Continue reading →

My dear community members,

I just gotta say, I love vegetables. I love the cycle of vegetables. After spending a lot of time in the field, I’m grateful for the hard working people who spend countless hours out in the HOT sun to get us our food. They are the backbone of our operation. Here are some updates on our farm happenings this past week:

*countless hours spent in the field keeping weeds at bay (or trying our best)
*picking stone fruit off the trees (for the farmstand and CSA) and off the ground (for the chickens and pigs)
*harvesting fresh veggies like crazy as they seem to grow overnight in the summertime
*the first corn and melon varieties are ready. Corn is is available in our CSA store and farmstand until we have enough to put in all the boxes. Melons will follow shortly, probably next week.
*scoping out spots for fall crops and planting halloween pumpkins this week

All the plants are huge, the harvests are crazy, the farmers are sweaty and everyone is up to their ears in fresh vegetables.

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
RED TOMATOES
BLACKBERRIES
STRAWBERRIES
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
YELLOW CROOKNECK SQUASH
GREEN BEANS
DELICATA SQUASH
RED CARMEN PEPPERS
BIG BOX: HEIRLOOM TOMATOES, RED LEAF, LACINATO KALE, BASIL, CAULIFLOWER from SUNRISE ORGANICS

FRUIT EXPANSION: STRAWBERRIES or BLACKBERRIES and PEACHES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: RED LEAF

CSA Contains:
CARROTS x2
LACINATO KALE
CELERY
BLACKBERRIES
STRAWBERRIES
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLES from GIVENS ORCHARD
ITALIAN PARSLEY
GREEN CURLY KALE

Continue reading →

My dear community members,

In light of the struggles that COVID has created financially within our community, I have looked into and we are now able to accept WIC. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this matter.

July snuck up on me this year. All of a sudden I found myself frantically picking peaches before the birds figured out they were ripe and watching cornstalks and watermelon vines as if it would help them hasten their growth. It’s the month of plenty, when we harvest 7 days a week and as CSA shares take on all the colors of the rainbow as we challenge ourselves to grill everything in the box.

I’m heartened to know that thousands of families are eating from local farms this year, many for the first time. If you are new to us, thank you for giving us a try. We are here amidst tomatoes and zucchini ready for you. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by this community and am forever grateful for your support.

We are still experiencing a learning curve with our stone fruit. Picking and packing stone fruit is a bit tricky and it got the best of us this week. Please enjoy the strawberries as what’s left of our stone fruit is going into the fruit expansions.

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
RED TOMATOES
STRAWBERRIES
BLACKBERRIES
MINI SWEET PEPPERS
CUCUMBER
GOLD or GREEN ZUCCHINI
ITALIAN PARSLEY
BROCCOLI
BIG BOX ADD: RED LEAF LETTUCE, BUNCHED SPINACH, STRAWBERRIES, SWEET YELLOW ONIONS, MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES

FRUIT EXPANSION: PEACHES and SANTA ROSA PLUMS
LETTUCE of the WEEK: RED BUTTER

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
STRAWBERRIES
BLACKBERRIES
CELERY
CUCUMBER
BUNCHED SPINACH
ITALIAN PARLSEY
LACINATO KALE

Continue reading →

My dear community,

Part of running the CSA is being flexible with the farm- veggies don’t ripen on our schedule. We are still solidifying the box this week as we wait to see if a tractor part comes in. Our potato digging has been on hold in anticipation.

I’ve been thinking about climate change and politics and science aside, I can tell you from my perspective things have definitely changed, and that change makes our work ever more difficult and ever more important. I appreciate your support of local farms however that looks for you. You can find us at local grocery stores, especially one location operations, farmers markets and of course this CSA program which inspires me to be a better farmer every week. It drives me towards regenerative agriculture figuring out every way I can leave this land a little better off for the next generation. The CSA is a passion project and I’m thankful every week for everyone who takes the time to cook a little more at home and try new foods that they might not otherwise pick.

Be good to each other.

CSA contains:
CARROTS
RED LEAF LETTUCE
RED TOMATOES
CUCUMBERS
MIXED POTATOES
GREEN ZUCCHINI
CELERY
RED RADISHES
HASS AVOCADOS
STRAWBERRIES
BIG BOX: CARROTS, CAULIFLOWER, ROMAINE LETTUCE, LACINATO KALE, STRAWBERRIES

FRUIT EXPANSION: BLACKBERRIES & STRAWBERRIES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: GREEN LEAF

JUICE fEAST:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
STRAWBERRIES
CUCUMBERS
LACINATO KALE
CELERY X 2
ITALIAN PARSLEY
BUNCHED SPINACH x2

Continue reading →

My dear community members,

With June solstice behind us, as gloomy as the weather predictably was, we are happy to welcome summer! As I navigate each new moment, I’m gaining a better understanding of what showing up and supporting truly means as it applies to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and every other beautiful way we differ as humans on this shared special planet. Regardless of any of our differences, there is a place for each of us in this world and around my table. In the best way I know how (through food), I celebrate life this week with a box of epic food. From the pages of the seed catalogues, hand planted, raised, and hand picked especially with you in mind, to packing your box, it makes me so happy to get this produce to your table. Hopefully you get to try something new, vegetables you may not have purchased otherwise and create something nourishing for you and your loved ones.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

-James Baldwin

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
GREEN LEAF
STRAWBERRIES
RED TOMATOES
RADISHES
GREEN BEANS
GREEN ZUCCHINI
RED ONIONS
ACORN SQUASH
COLLARD GREENS
BIG BOX: CARROTS, RED BUTTER LETTUCE, CUCUMBERS, BROCCOLI, HASS AVOCADOS

Fruit Expansion: Yellow Peaches from Givens Orchard & Strawberries
Lettuce of the Week: RED LEAF

Juice Feast:
CARROTS x2
CUCUMBERS
CELERY x2
LACINATO KALE
FUJI APPLES from CUYAMAMA ORCHARDS
STRAWBERRIES
ITALIAN PARSLEY
COLLARD GREENS

Continue reading →

My dear community members,

Throughout these last 3 months of pandemic uncertainty coupled with a racial justice movement and other pressing social and global issues we feel a magnifying glass all around us. Through such immense collective pain, reflecting on what we’re grateful for can help us remain grounded and aligned with the reality we no longer have to imagine, but rather, have an opportunity to co-create. Share with me what you’re gratfeul for during this time we’ve been gifted. I’m grateful we’re shifting away from the actions of the mind and into the actions of the heart. I’m grateful to share the bounty of our farm. I’m grateful to be able to facilitate this program and in turn I’d like to give back to more organizations that support black communities so we can rise up together. The CSA program has already been donating monthly to an organization called Lunch on Me. It’s a non-profit dedicated to ending starvation while providing opportunities to enrich the mind, body and spirit of L.A.’s homeless community. If you have any other organizations you’d like us to consider please share.

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
RED LEAF LETTUCE
RED CHERRIES TOMATOES
LACINATO KALE
MIXED POTATOES
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
ITALIAN PARSLEY
YELLOW SPRING ONIONS
STRAWBERRIES
WHITE NECTARINES from FRUIT FAIRY FARMS
BIG BOX ADD: CARROTS, GREEN ZUCCHINI, ROMAINE LETTUCE, HASS AVOCADOS, RED TOMATOES

FRUIT EXPANSION: STRAWBERRIES and WHITE NECTARINES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: GREEN LEAF

JUICE FEAST:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
CELERY x2
LACINATO KALE x2
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
ITALIAN PARSLEY
STRAWBERRIES
WHITE NECTARINES from FRUIT FAIRY FARMS
Continue reading →

My dear community members,

As our new member rush has slowed down and we’ve hit our new stride with the CSA, we are able to extend our store hours to midnight on Sunday. We continually try to accommodate all orders and always encourage eating more fruits and vegetables. Speaking of hitting a stride, tomatoes are coming in strong and I’m happy to introduce Mountain Magic tomatoes to anyone who hasn’t had them. They are a smaller, full bodied tomato with an incredible flavor. One of my favorites and a specialty of the farm. Roast them with green beans tossed in olive oil, salt, pepper and sprinkle with parmesan cheese for an easy and quick side dish.
Aside from everything else that’s happening out there, we’ve been working overtime here on the farm to keep up. Weeds seem to pop up overnight and we are picking zucchini 4 days a week. Blackberries have set hard and we are anxiously awaiting for them to ripen and for raspberries to catch up. Green peppers have just started to roll out (which means the sweet peppers are on the horizon) and melon vines are starting to stretch across the field. Lots of summer produce is on the horizon. It’s hard to believe summer is almost here.

“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and test of our civilization.”

-Mahatma Ghandi

Be good to each other.

CSA Contains:
CARROTS
RED BUTTER LETTUCE
STRAWBERRIES
CUCUMBERS
GREEN BEANS
GREEN ZUCCHINI
MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES
CELERY
CILANTRO or BASIL
YELLOW SPRING ONIONS
BIG BOX: CAULIFLOWER, RED LEAF LETTUCE, GREEN KALE, RED BEETS, HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

Lettuce of the Week: Romaine
Fruit Expansion: Strawberries and Blackberries

JUICE FEAST:
CARROTS
ROMAINE LETTUCE
STRAWBERRIES
CUCUMBERS
CELERY x2
CILANTRO
GREEN KALE x2
RED BEETS

Continue reading →