Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Arugula, Green Beans, Corn, Grapes, Fuyu Persimmons, Zucchini, Rainbow Chard Medium: Arugula, Green Beans, Carrots, Corn, Peaches, Fuyu Persimmons, Potatoes, Zucchini, Rainbow Chard Large: Arugula, Green Beans, Carrots, Corn, Grapes, Peaches, Fuyu Persimmons, Potatoes, Zucchini, Rainbow Chard
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Arugula, Green Beans, Gypsy Peppers, Delicata Squash, Zucchini, Watermelon, Pluots Medium: Arugula, Green Beans, Red Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Delicata Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Pluots, Carrots Large: Arugula, Green Beans, Red Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Delicata Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Pluots, Carrots, Grapes
For decades, I have been the sole person at Terra Firma Farm who plants almost a dozen of the crops we grow: Arugula, Beets, Chard, Carrots, Corn, Lettuce, Peas, Spinach, and Winter Squash. These are crops that are "direct-seeded", meaning you plant the seeds in the ground rather than starts grown in a nursery -- for those crops, we use "transplanters" that mechanically plant the little plants fed into them by humans. On our [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Arugula, Green Beans, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Zucchini, Potatoes Medium: Arugula, Green Beans, Carrots, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Potatoes Large: Arugula, Green Beans, Carrots, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Potatoes
Last week the most reliable long-range weather models released their seasonal prediction for the coming winter's precipitation, and it's a doozy. Thanks to what is now being called the "Super El Niño", San Francisco and the area around I-80 could get as much as 200 percent of our average rainfall. You may have heard that Northern California won't be as wet Southern California, and that may end up being true: the projection is for [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Garlic, Grapes, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Pomegranate Medium: Carrots, Garlic, Grapes, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Pomegranate, Dino Kale Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Garlic, Grapes, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Pomegranate, Dino Kale
There is a very old adage that farmers tend to do well economically when there's a war on. Obviously not in the exact location where the war is being fought -- war is a disaster locally for anyone caught in the crossfire. But wars have historically meant an increase in demand for agricultural goods for farmers who were still in a position to grow and harvest their crops. On the flip side, during wars [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Cantaloupes, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Green Beans Medium: Carrots, Cantaloupes, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Green Beans, Cucumbers, Zucchini Large: Carrots, Cantaloupes, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Green Beans, Grapes
With a 25 year old roof on our house, and a record-strength El Nino winter on the way, my wife and I decided it was time for a new one. The roofing crews showed up this week. First, one crew tore off the old roof and hauled it away. Today, a second crew arrived with a specialized truck to unload all the materials onto the roof. Tomorrow, a third crew will come to install [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Carrots,, Cantaloupe, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Pluots Medium: Green Beans, Carrots, Grapes, Cantaloupe, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Pluots Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Grapes, Cantaloupe, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Pluots
There are tens of thousands of acres of strawberries planted every year in California -- although berries are technically a semi-perennial crop, they are grown here as annuals. Despite the scale of this task, though, it's an old-fashioned process, as no effective berry-planting machine has been invented. The plants themselves, called crowns, are leafless bundles of mostly roots that are grown in "nursery fields", dug up with specialized machines, and packed tightly into boxes. [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Garlic, Grapes, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Delicata Squash, Tomatoes Medium: Green Beans, Cucumbers, Garlic, Grapes, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Delicata Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes Large: Green Beans, Cucumbers, Garlic, Grapes, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Delicata Squash, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon
For several decades, "Reduce, Reuse & Recycle" has been a mantra for many people who hope to live in a more environmentally sustainable manner. But in the last few years, the 3 Rs have also been helpful in managing day-to-day finances in an economy built on low interest rates, disposable goods and cheap imports that has now turned inflationary. Humans have been recycling since before planned obsolescence took over, but farmers never stopped. [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Cucumbers, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes Medium: Green Beans, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes
The dressing in this recipe is delicious thanks to the juice from the tomatoes. Peel and trim 1 red onion. Cut in half, then slicely slice into half rounds to make 1/2 C. loosely packed. Place in a small bowl and cover with red wine vinegar (about 2 T.) Dice tomatoes to make 2 C. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt, then toss to combine. Boil 4 medium or 6 small [MORE ...]
We've had a fantastic stonefruit year at Terra Firma, and we've been harvesting lots of big, pretty, and very tasty fruit continuously since mid-April. But in other areas of Yolo County, just 30 miles to the north, farmers have almost no crop. Until two weeks ago, I had no idea what explained the difference. There are a number of factors that influence the annual production of deciduous fruit and nut trees. The first is [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Grapes, Peaches and or Nectarines, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes Medium: Green Beans, Grapes, Peaches and or Nectarines, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers Large: Green Beans, Grapes, Peaches and or Nectarines, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Cantaloupe or Watermelon
Today is the first day in August that the temperature here won't be close to or above 100. It's not unusual for us to have a week or ten-day long stretch of triple digits at Terra Firma, as we average about three full weeks of 100 degree weather every year. Our "preferred" timing for these hot spells is mid-June through mid-August, as most of the crops we grow during that period actually enjoy hot [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Red Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon Medium: Cantaloupes, Red Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes Large: Cantaloupes, Red Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Watermelon, Cucumbers, Tomatoes
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Red Beets, Carrots, Grapes, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes Medium: Red Beets, Carrots, Nectarines, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon Large: Red Beets, Carrots, Cucumber, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Carrots, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Cantaloupe, Tomatoes Medium: Green Beans, Carrots, Grapes, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Watermelon, Tomatoes Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Grapes, Peaches, GYpsy Peppers, Zucchini, Watermelon, Tomatoes
You can make this fast and tasty dish with pre-cooked, leftover Corn or with fresh. Use it as filling for tacos or quesadillas, add eggs to make a breakfast scramble, or simply serve it as a side-dish. Cut the kernels off 2 ears of Corn. Slice 1 red or yellow onion to make 1/2 C. Cut 2-3 Zucchini in half lengthwise, then cut into thin half rounds. Peel and mince 1 large clove of [MORE ...]
If you've ever travelled abroad, you may have visited countries where tourists are given the advice "Don't Drink the Water". I have a very distinct memory of traveling in Guatemala and getting violently ill despite being very careful to not drink anything except purified water. Then a friend asked: Did you eat any salad? And in fact I had. Americans take it for granted that the water they use to flush the toilet will [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Corn, Garlic, Grapes, Peaches, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers Medium: Corn, Garlic, Grapes, Peaches, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers Large: Corn, Garlic, Grapes, Peaches, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Gypsy Peppers, Cucumbers
Like a tomato tidal wave, the 2026 Heirloom Tomato Season is upon us. Last week, I included a short list of the heirlooms we are featuring this year and a brief description. This week, I am devoting the whole newsletter to the subject. "Heirloom Tomatoes" were originally defined as open-pollinated, non-hybrid (and thus non-GMO) tomato varieties that had been handed down over the years from gardener to gardener, farmer to farmer. They were everything [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Corn, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Heirloom Tomatoes, Grapes Medium: Corn, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes, Watermelon, Grapes Large: Corn, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes, Watermelon, Grapes
You may have been a little surprised to see the first peaches show up in your CSA boxes in mid-April -- so were we. 2026 saw the earliest-ever start to our peach season at Terra Firma. That was the result of the hot weather we experienced in March, which created near-perfect conditions for pollination and fast growth of the immature fruit. Combined with cold, foggy weather in December that ensured the trees had an [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Peaches, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes Medium: Green Beans, Carrots, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Peaches, Yellow Onions, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Nectarines, Peaches, Yellow Onions, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes
I've written in the past about how one of the fun and challenging parts of farming the way we do is finding new and better varieties of crops to grow. For most farmers, this mostly boils down for finding crops that grow well for them, produce the most income with the least expense, and meet the demands of their buyers -- who are usually not consumers. In fact, this rubric could be called "consumers [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Corn, Cucumbers, Nectarines, Zucchini, Strawberries, Tomatoes Medium: Corn, Cucumbers, Garlic, Nectarines, Zucchini, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelon Large: Corn, Cucumbers, Garlic, Yellow Peaches, Nectarines, Zucchini, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelon
Next week, many of us will mark the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence from England with a feast that looks nothing like the meal our revolutionary forebearers might have enjoyed on July 4th, 1777. Their spread likely featured era favorites such as Turtle Soup, Poached Salmon, and seasonal vegetables including boiled peas, cucumbers and potatoes. They didn't have hamburgers or hot dogs. Their corn would have been just a few feet tall [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Yellow Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Early Girl Tomatoes, Red Onions Medium: Carrots, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Yellow Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Early Girl Tomatoes, Red Onions Large: Red Beets, Carrots, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Yellow Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Early Girl Tomatoes, Red Onions
The epitaph I wrote last week for the Strawberries appears to have been premature. They made it through last week's wind and what turned out to be a five-day stretch of 100 degree temperatures. If they make it through the rest of June, they will officially snatch the title of "Longest Berry Season Ever" from the current record holder 2025. Other than the strawberries, though, we are in full "summer harvest" mode here -- [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Strawberries Medium: Green Beans, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Strawberries Large: Green Beans, Corn, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Black Prince Heirloom Tomatoes, Strawberries
We've had a long Strawberry season this year, but this week probably marks its conclusion. The phrase that comes to mind for me is "It could have been a contender" -- for the best ever. It started early with lots of promise, but experienced several setbacks: multiple periods of unseasonal wet weather followed by a potentially season-ending "injury" from a major wind event. The recovery took several weeks while the plants grew new leaves [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Apricots, Green Beans, Corn, Yellow Onions, Zucchini, Strawberries, Valencia Oranges Medium: Apricots, Green Beans, Corn, Yellow Onions, Zucchini, Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Valencia Oranges Large: Apricots, Green Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Yellow Onions, Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Valencia Oranges
We've got another milestone at Terra Firma Farm this week: our earliest ever harvest of Sweet Corn, on June 1st. That's a full week earlier than our previous record, set just last year. It's always our goal to have sweet corn to harvest in early June. But that means planting in early March, which is often impossible. Corn is planted "from seed", meaning the seeds are planted directly into the soil. We can't plant [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Apricots, Corn, Lettuce, Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Green Beans Medium: Apricots, Corn, Lettuce, Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Beans, Painted Serpent Cucumber Large: Apricots, Corn, Lettuce, Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Beans, Painted Serpent Cucumber
The town of Winters was built on apricots. At one point in mid 20th century, most of the farmland for miles around it were planted in apricot orchards. Thousands of people worked in the orchards during harvest season, and hundreds more worked in the various packing sheds in and around town. A portion of the crop was packed for the fresh market, and then loaded onto trains. A spur railroad line carried the crop [MORE ...]
This simple dessert puts the fruit front and center. Apricots are perfect here: not too juicy and not too sweet. This recipe is based on Alice Waters' from the Chez Panisse Cafe Cookbook. Make the dough for the tart the morning of the day you plan to make the tart, or the day before. Combine 2 C. all purpose flour with 1 teaspoon sugar. Cut 1 stick of cold salted butter into small pieces [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Apricots, Rainbow Chard, Lettuce, Peaches, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Garlic Medium: Apricots, Rainbow Chard, Lettuce, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Snap Peas, Fresh Garlic Large: Apricots, Rainbow Chard, Lettuce, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, English Peas, Snap Peas, Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Garlic
Heat the oven or grill to 425 degrees. Trim the ends of 1/2 lb. of Green Beans. De-stem 1 C. of cherry tomatoes, then slice in halves or quarters. Toss in a bowl with 1/4 t. salt. In a large bowl, mix together 2 T. soy sauce, 1 t. sesame oil, and 1 t. hot chili oil (or 2 t. sesame oil with 1 t. chili crisp). Add 1/2 t. black pepper and whisk [MORE ...]
2026 has been a goofy year for farming, and it has thrown us so many curveballs it's hard to keep track of them all. On a couple of them, though, we took wild swings and hit home runs. The hot, dry weather in March provided us with just about the perfect conditions for our first plantings of Tomatoes and Sweet Corn, which took off growing almost instantly and -- unlike the humans on the [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Green Beans, Potatoes Medium: Carrots, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Snap Peas, Zucchini, Strawberries, Green Beans, Cherry Tomatoes Large: Carrots, Lettuce, Nectarines, Peaches, Snap Peas, Zucchini, Strawberries, Green Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Potatoes
From an early age my parents taught me the importance of "variety" for fruits and vegetables. Not as in "eating a variety" of them, but rather, choosing the right variety. My dad's grandfather was fruit and vegetable farmer. He took us apple picking every year in the fall and we would pick several different varities. Cortland for pies and applesauce, McIntosh for eating fresh, McCoun for making cider. "Red Delicious" apples were not [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Baby Spinach, Fresh Yellow Onions, Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Sugan Snap Peas, Little Gem Lettuce Medium: Baby Spinach, Fresh Yellow Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Sugan Snap Peas, Little Gem Lettuce Large: Baby Spinach, Fresh Yellow Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Sugan Snap Peas, Little Gem Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes
California is home to the majority of certified organic farmland in the U.S., and has been since organic farms were first certified. There are multiple reasons why this is the case. The majority of all "specialty crops" -- fruits, vegetables and nuts -- grown in the U.S. were already grown here. The state has the biggest population in the country, making it an enormous market. But the single biggest reason why most of the [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Asparagus, Snap Peas, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Red, Strawberries, Butter Lettuce Medium: Asparagus, Snap Peas, Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Arugula, Red Oak Lettuce, Red Butter Lettuce Large: Asparagus, Snap Peas, Peaches, English Peas, Zucchini, Strawberries, Arugula, Red Oak Lettuce, Red Butter Lettuce
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Asparagus, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Sugar Snap Peas, Strawberries, Peaches Medium: Asparagus, Rainbow Chard, Cilantro, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Sugar Snap Peas or English Peas, Strawberries, Peaches Large: Asparagus, Rainbow Chard, Cilantro, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Mandarins, Sugar Snap Peas, Potatoes, Strawberries, Peaches
This is from the New York Times, all I added was the Spring Onions, which give it an extra flavor boost. Make sure to us puff pastry that is made only with butter. Heat the oven to 425. Trim 1 or 2 Spring Onions. Cut the leaves off the shanks and reserve them. Slice the shanks in half lengthwise and then thinly slice in half rounds. You want about a Cup. Chop the leaves [MORE ...]