Friday marks the official start of Autumn, and by next week the nights will be longer than the days. In recent years, this change was hardly noticeable here with the seemingly endless summer weather lasting well into October and even November. But beginning this week last year -- when we had a soaking rain just prior to the Equinox -- something changed. And if anything, fall seems to have already started this year. Believe [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Carrots, Pluots, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon Medium: Green Beans, Carrots, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Dino Kale, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Grapes, Dino Kale, Yellow Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Pluots, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon
Yesterday was my birthday, 57 to be exact. I wouldn't normally mention that in the newsletter, but this year marks a full thirty years that I have been farming, all of them right here. I moved from New York to California in September of 1992, and moved to Winters after spending six months in San Francisco. And while when I arrived here I had already lived 27 years, the reality is that almost the [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Red Grapes, Piel De Sapo Melon, Red Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Early Girl Tomatoes, Zucchini Medium: Carrots, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Piel De Sapo Melon, Red Onions, Yellow Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Delicata Squash, Early Girl Tomatoes, Zucchini, Red Beets Large: Carrots, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Piel De Sapo Melon, Red Onions, [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Basil, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Yellow Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Early Girl Tomatoes, Green Beans Medium: Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Yellow Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Green Beans Large: Cucumbers, Grapes, Yellow Onions, Yellow Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Watermelon, [MORE ...]
Terra Firma Farm is technically located in Winters, which is a town in Yolo County. But most of the land we farm as well as our packing facilities reside in Solano County, just south of Putah Creek from Winters proper. We started out farming exclusively in Yolo County, but over the years we have moved about 80% of our production over the county line. We like it here. Solano County is actually part of [MORE ...]
This is a vegan Nicoise-type salad with boiled potatoes, but the green beans are roasted with garlic. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Wash 1 lb. of Potatoes and drop into the water whole. Boil for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes can be pierced with a knife. Prepare a cold-water bath. When the potatoes are done, drain, rinse and then plunge into the cold water. When they are cool, dice [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Garlic, Summer Royal Grapes, Yellow Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes Medium: Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Garlic, Summer Royal Grapes, Melon or Watermelon, Yellow Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes Large: Green Beans, Painted Serpent Cucumbers, Garlic, Summer Royal Grapes, Melon or Watermelon, [MORE ...]
One of the frustrations of CSA farming is the mismatch between supply and demand in the summer. Most years, the peak production of summer crops like tomatoes and peaches falls almost exactly during the long summer break when most kids are out of school and families tend to leave town. Like most CSAs, Terra Firma sees a seasonal dip in the number of subscribers receiving boxes every summer, and a corresponding increase when schools [MORE ...]
Box Contents 8/16/23 – 8/18/23 Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Cucumbers, Grapes, Peaches, Red Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes Medium: Basil, Cucumbers, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Red Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes Large: Basil, Cucumbers, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Red Onions, Gypsy Peppers, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes
For six months of most years, California is a very dry place. Sometimes our climate is called "Mediterrean", but that's a misnomer because many places adjacent to that body of water actually get regular summer rainfall. In the Golden State outside of the mountains, we get an average of close to zero. So how can it be that California produces more agricultural bounty than any other state in the U.S. ? As so many [MORE ...]
With three sweet items in this salad, you don't want to use sweet vinegar. Lime juice, mint and feta provide a nice contrast that will keep this from being cloyingly sweet. Alternately, you could go with cilantro, Tajin and Cotija cheese for a Mexican vibe. You can use watermelon or any muskmelon for this recipe. Bake 3 beets at 350 in foil or boil them until fork-tender. Allow to cool, then peel and cut [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Red Beets, Corn, Melon, Yellow Onions, Zucchini, Tomatoes Medium: Red Beets, Corn, Melon, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers Large: Red Beets, Corn, Melon, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Cucumbers
A few years back, during the height of the drought, it seemed that everyone knew that farmers in general -- and almond farmers in particular -- were using too much of California's water. Fast forward to 2023. The drought is over, having been spectacularly eradicated by one of the wettest winters in our state's history, and thousands of acres of almond orchards in the "driest" part of the Central Valley are under the water [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Nectarines, Peaches, Zucchini, Tomatoes Medium: Green Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Garlic, Nectarines, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes Large: Green Cabbage, Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Garlic, Melon, Nectarines, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes
If watermelons and sweet corn are the symbols of July at Terra Firma, then Melons are a sure sign of August. Melons, also known as Muskmelons, are part of the extended family that includes not just watermelons but cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash and pumpkins. Botanically, they are most similar to cucumbers as they share similar-looking seeds, flowers and leaf shapes. While most supermarkets in the U.S. sell only cantelopes and honeydew, there are [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Basil, Corn, Melon, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Tomatoes Medium: Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Melon, Red Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes Large: Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Melon, Red Onions, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Potatoes
Watermelons and Muskmelons are two of our most important summer crops here at Terra Firma. Both crops like hot weather more than anything else we grow; the hotter it gets, the bigger and more lush the plants get, and the better the melons taste. Our muskmelon season is fairly short, primarily late July and August. And while we grow several varieties -- cantelopes, orange honeydew, Galia and Piel de Sapo -- you will likely [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Gold Beets, Corn, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes, Early Girl Tomatoes, Watermelon Medium: Gold Beets, Corn, Cucumbers, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes, Early Girl Tomatoes, Galia Melon, Large: Gold Beets, Corn, Cucumbers, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes, Early Girl Tomatoes, Galia Melon, Gypsy Peppers
Small: Carrots, Corn, Garlic, Melon, Potatoes, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes Medium: Basil, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Garlic, Melon, Potatoes, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes Large: Basil, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Garlic, Melon, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Heirloom Tomatoes
This is a Thai-style composed salad with both cooked and raw ingredients. Marinate 12 oz of firm or very firm Tofu with 1 T. soy sauce and 1 t. hot sesame oil for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, trim 1/2 lb. of Green Beans. Toss with 1 T. olive oil and 1/2 t. salt and roast in a cast iron skillet in the oven at 450 or on the grill. (Alternately, you can parboil the beans [MORE ...]
If you consume any media at all, you have probably heard about the devastating floods on the East Coast and the unrelenting heat in Arizona, Texas and other southwestern areas. We have been pretty lucky in California this summer to mostly avoid extreme weather lately, but we did have two days of near-record heat here in the Sacramento area over the 4th of July weekend. Saturday it hit 108 and Sunday was 109. That [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Corn, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Red Onions Medium: Green Beans, Corn, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Black Prince Heirloom Tomatoes, Red Onions Large: Green Beans, Corn, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Early Girl Tomatoes, Black Prince Heirloom Tomatoes, Red Onions, Cucumbers
Sweet Corn is the quintessential 4th of July food, and as I mentioned last week, we take a lot of pride in harvesting it before July 4th each year. Ideally in time to get our CSA subscribers in time for the holiday. This year the timing of the calendar and the holiday meant that that didn't happen. Instead, you're getting corn today, July 5th (or later). Turns out it's not really that easy to [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Corn, Cucumbers, Onions, Yellow Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes Medium: Corn, Cucumbers, Onions, White Donut Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon Large: Corn, Cucumbers, Nectarines, Onions, White Donut Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Watermelon
One of the most common questions we get at Terra Firma is "Do you rotate your crops?". I understand why people ask the question, especially since the media so often uses the term "monoculture" when they are talking about agriculture. But for us, it's roughly akin to asking the average person if they eat, sleep and breath. Here's a fact that might surprise you: almost all farmers in California rotate their annual crops. (Perennial [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Green Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Garlic, Nectarines, Zucchini, Strawberries Medium: Green Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Garlic, Nectarines, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Strawberries Large: Green Beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, Garlic, Nectarines, Peaches, Gypsy Peppers, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Strawberries
Today is the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice. Beginning tomorrow, the days will begin getting shorter and the nights longer. But on the farm, it feels like it's still May. In fact, this week's CSA box list is almost identical to a box we would normally pack on May 20th instead of June 20th. The peach varieties we are harvesting this week usually ripen in May. And while our strawberries and [MORE ...]
This is one of the best ways to enjoy newly harvested root vegetables and new-crop garlic. Cooking the beets and potatoes separately is a must although the method is the same. To make the aioli: Separate the cloves from 1 head of garlic -- 12 small cloves or 6 large ones -- and then peel them. Chop the garlic roughly, then add along with 1/2 t. salt to a mini-food processor (or use a [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Strawberries Medium: Bunched Red Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Nectarines, Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Strawberries Large: Bunched Red Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Nectarines, Onions, Peaches, Potatoes, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Strawberries
In the March 22nd newsletter, I told you how we had been forced by the endless wet weather that month to hand-plant our entire first planting of tomatoes. The first of those tomatoes make their appearance in your boxes today...taaaadaaa. Looking back now at that newsletter, I realize how many important details I left out that illustrate how desperate we were to get the tomatoes planted. Of course both of the days we were [MORE ...]
Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Cucumber, Nectarines, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries Medium: Cucumbers, Nectarines, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Baby Spinach, Zucchini, Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes Large: Carrots, Cucumbers, Nectarines, Yellow Onions, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Baby Spinach, Zucchini, Strawberries, Cherry Tomatoes
For many Californians, including many TFF subscribers, June can be a gloomy time with chilly wind, fog or marine layer clouds blocking the sun. In contrast, June on the farm is normally the sunniest month of the year. Although we occasionally see glimpses of it, the fog never makes it to our location. And the long days before and after the Summer Solstice mean the sun is at its highest point and the days [MORE ...]
This is one of the easiest, most delicious desserts you can make. Most of the sugar comes from the fruit. I added a little lemon juice, but you can leave it out if you like things purely sweet. Preheat the oven to 400. Butter a 9" square brownie pan or round pie pan. Peel 1 pound peaches and then cut them into chunks (If you use Nectarines, don't peel them). Discard the pits. Remove [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Asparagus, Carrots, Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Snap Peas, Garlic Medium: Asparagus, Carrots, Nectarine, Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Snap Peas, Garlic Large: Asparagus, Carrots, Painted Serpent, Nectarine, Peaches, Zucchini, Strawberries, Potatoes, Snap Peas, Garlic
You might remember that for Terra Firma, last year was "the Year of No Peaches". A days-long hard freeze in February of 2022 wiped out almost our entire crop of "Stone Fruit" : Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines. Stone fruit is one of our farm's cornerstones. We grow 30 varieties that generally ripen over a five month season. Since we started growing Peaches in 2006, we've never lost the entire crop like we did last [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Lettuce, Onions, Shelling Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries Medium: Asparagus, Lettuce, Onions, Shelling Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Peaches, Large: Asparagus, Carrots, Lettuce, Onions, Shelling Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Peaches, Snap Peas
Farming is expensive. It takes lots of money and equipment to prepare the soil and plant crops. Believe it or not, many farmers of the most commonly grown crops in the U.S. can't even afford the equipment to harvest them. They pay a contractor harvester to do so. And only a tiny number of farmers actually transport their crops to market. The big trucks required are a huge investment. So by default or by [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Lettuce, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Spring Onions Medium: Carrots, Lettuce, Peas, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Spring Onions Large: Asparagus, Carrots, Lettuce, Peas, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Zucchini, Strawberries, Arugula
You've probably had dreams where you are racing -- to catch a flight, or finish a project, or get to an event -- but things keep popping up to keep you from getting there. You wake up in a panic when you miss your flight, deadline, meeting, etc. In Terra Firma's stress dream, now reality, we are finally getting caught up with our spring preparations to-do list for April 15th. But then we look [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Asparagus, Cilantro, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Snap Peas, Strawberries Medium: Carrots, Cilantro, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Snap Peas, Potatoes, Spinach or Arugula, Strawberries Large: Asparagus, Carrots, Cilantro, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Snap Peas, Potatoes, Spinach or Arugula, Strawberries
Strawberry season starts this week! Two things immediately jump out about this year's berries. First, they are late -- very late. Today is the latest calendar date we've ever put the first strawberries in our CSA boxes. That follows the coldest winter and spring we've had in Northern California in twenty years. The second thing you'll notice right away is that the berries are HUGE, absolutely the biggest we've ever harvested. This is the [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Lettuce, Spring Onions, Snap Peas, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries Medium: Arugula, Asparagus, Carrots, Lettuce, Spring Onions, Snap Peas, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries, Valencia Oranges Large: Arugula, Carrots, Lettuce, Spring Onions, Snap Peas, Potatoes, Spinach, Strawberries, Valencia Oranges, English Peas, Mandarins
There's one weather phenomenon that terrifies every farmer, worldwide, no matter what crop they grow or where they grow it: Hail. It's hard to imagine anything more damaging to growing crops than rock-hard pieces of ice falling miles from the sky at hundreds of miles per hour. And while golf- or baseball -sized hail makes national headlines, even teeny-tiny hailstones can easily destroy many crops. Maybe you're thinking, "Why is hail any different from [MORE ...]
You can also cook this on the stovetop if you prefer. For the cilantro chutney, use the entire bunch of cilantro, including the stems but not the roots. Preheat oven to 425. Wash and dice 1 lb. of potatoes. Wash 2 or more Spring Onions. Cut the tops off and reserve for the chutney. Slice the bulbs and stems in half rounds. Remove the strings from 1 C. Snap Peas and cut them into [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Carrots, Cilantro, Lettuce, Spring Onions, Valencia Oranges, Sugar Snap Peas, Potatoes Medium: Carrots, Cilantro, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Sugar Snap Peas, Spinach, Potatoes Large: Asparagus, Carrots, Cilantro, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Sugar Snap Peas, Spinach, Potatoes
It's hard to believe that just four weeks ago today, it was pouring rain while I wrote the newsletter. The high temperature that day was 54 degrees. Yesterday it was sunny and hot, reaching 88 degrees and today is likely to hit 90. That change has been as sudden for the crops as it has been for us humans. Over the course of those four weeks, we went from checking fields every day to [MORE ...]
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash 1 lb. of Potatoes. Drop into the boiling water and simmer until they are fork tender, 10-15 minutes depending on the size. Drain and cool in a water bath. Boil another pot of salted water. Trim 1 bunch of Asparagus and soak to remove any silt. Drop into the boiling water. When it returns to a boil, immediately drain the asparagus and cool [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly contents! Please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. Small: Asparagus, Green Garlic, Mandarins, Sugar Snap Peas, Potatoes, Baby Spinach Medium: Asparagus, Carrots, Green Garlic, Red Butter Lettuce, Mandarins, Sugar Snap Peas, Potatoes, Baby Spinach Large: Asparagus, Carrots, Green Garlic, Red Butter Lettuce, Mandarins, Sugar Snap Peas, Potatoes, Baby Spinach
Over our thirty years of farming at Terra Firma, we have continually striven to improve our farming: growing nicer crops more efficiently while making our employees' jobs easier and reducing our carbon footprint. In the last five years, labor regulations in California have dramatically raised the cost of employment. And since the pandemic began, it has been difficult to find enough workers. In response, we have focused on mechanizing harvest of some of our [MORE ...]