Small: Arugula, Asparagus, Green Garlic, Mandarins, Potatoes Medium: Arugula, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Green Garlic, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Potatoes Large: Arugula, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Green Garlic, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Snap Peas, Potatoes, Strawberries
This is a very simple risotto that gets topped with quickly sauteed or stir-fried vegetables. For the risotto: Bring 6 C. of vegetable or mushroom broth to a simmer. Clean and chop 3-4 Spring onions. Separate the greens from the white parts. In a separate saucepan, toast 1 C. arborio rice in 2 T. olive oil over medium-low heat until translucent. Add 1/2 C. white wine or broth and stir until it is absorbed. [MORE ...]
Small: Apples, Asparagus, Carrots, Chard, Mandarins, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish Medium: Apples, Asparagus, Carrots, Chard, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish Large: Apples, Asparagus, Carrots, Chard, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Walnuts, Watermelon Radish
Spring is a season of hope and promise, but historically, it has also been a time of scarce food supplies, hunger and even starvation. Last week I wrote about how fossil-fuel powered shipping allowed perishable food to be shipped from areas of abundance to places without. But for most of human history, people outside the tropics relied on crops harvested in the fall and for stored through winter and early spring. When those supplies [MORE ...]
The cooked beets add moisture and color to the brownies while also dramatically increasing their nutritional content. Still plenty of calories though. Puree peeled, cooked beets to make 1 C. Melt 1 C. of salted butter. Add 3/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 1/4 C. granulated sugar to combine. Meanwhile, beat 2 eggs with a hand or stationary blender for 2 minutes, until frothy. Combine the eggs with the butter/flour mixture and stir [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Asparagus, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spinach, Meyer Lemon Medium: Apples, Asparagus, Beets, Carrots, Green Garlic, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spring Onions, Spinach, Meyer Lemons Large: Apples, Asparagus, [MORE ...]
I grew up eating my Irish-born grandmother's corned beef and cabbage, and must confess that I am not a fan of either the meat or the mushy cabbage. For me, this is a better alternative for St. Patrick's Day and it's vegetarian to boot. This is dish can be called "homey" or "comfort food", but can easily be jazzed up serving it with something completely non-Irish like salsa or tabasco sauce. Scrub 2 lbs. [MORE ...]
Asparagus grows all over in the world in temperate areas, including most of the continental U.S. It's a perennial crop that starts producing when spring arrives, pushing up spears when the soil starts to warm (and the ground thaws, in places with cold winters). Once summer arrives, the spears get tough and chewy, and the season ends. Historically it was only available for a few months in any given area, during a time when [MORE ...]
Box Contents 3/9/22 – 3/11/22 Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Mandarins, Potatoes Medium: Apples, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, Kale, Lettuce, Mandarins, Potatoes, Leeks Large: Apples, Asparagus, Cabbage, Carrots, [MORE ...]
February 2022, aka "Fakeout February", was a great example of how careful farmers have to be to avoid getting suckered by the weather. That's always been true but it's becoming even more important as climate change strengthens its grip. The record-setting warm temperatures early in the month tricked fruit and nut trees into bloom, only to be followed by record-setting cold that wiped out the crops. In the case of trees already planted in [MORE ...]
This is an Asian-style pasta salad made with spaghetti squash instead of noodles. Cut one Spaghetti squash in half around it's "waist". Bake at 400 degrees until the squash can easily pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Mince Spring Onions (whites and greens) to make 1 C. Toss with the juice of 1/2 lemon and allow to steep. Use a fork to remove the cooked squash from the [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Broccoli, Rainbow Chard, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spaghetti Squash, Purple Daikon Medium: Broccoli, Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spaghetti Squash, Purple Daikon, Navel [MORE ...]
A vegetarian, oven-based version of the traditional Irish recipe of potatoes and kale with lots of sharp cheddar. The "squeak" in this case comes from the sound the kale leaves make when you're preparing them, and the "bubble" comes from the cheese. Heat the oven to 400. Wash and dice 2 lbs. of potatoes (preferably red, but yellow are fine too). Toss the potatoes in a large cast iron skillet with 1/2 t. salt [MORE ...]
Last week's newsletter was titled "How Cold is Too Cold?". Well, this week we know. The answer is "24 degrees". We've been growing apricots and peaches at Terra Firma for over 30 years. In that time, we've never seen a freeze destroy the crop. Older farmers had told stories about it happening so I've always known it was a possibility. And we've had plenty of close calls. But this time was different. Last Wednesday [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Apples, Broccoli, Spring Onions, Navel Oranges, Potatoes, Meyer Lemons, Dino Kale Medium: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Spring Onions, Navel Oranges, Potatoes, Meyer Lemons, Dino Kale, Lettuce [MORE ...]
One of the head scratchers that climate change brings is that despite overall temperatures rising, some daily low temperatures in the winter are actually getting colder in California. That is especially true in drought years: clouds and precipitation (both rain and snow) actually keep the air warmer than it might be otherwise at night. Water falling from the sky can't get much colder than 32 degrees. And the wind that normally accompanies storms stirs [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Broccoli, Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Butternut Squash Medium: Broccoli, Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Mandarins, Navel Oranges, Butternut Squash Large: Apples, [MORE ...]
This is a quick weeknight recipe that relies on the charred goodness of the roasted broccoli add flavor to the tomato-white bean combo. Preheat the oven to 400. Separate the stems and florets of 1 bunch of Broccoli. Cut the florets into small pieces. Peel the stems and then cut into strips. Trim, clean and slice 1 leek. Toss with the broccoli in a bowl with 2 T. olive oil and 1/4 t. salt. [MORE ...]
Two news stories jumped out at me this week on Monday morning. The first, from the New York Times, was a story on organic cotton production in India and the likelihood that much of it is fradulent. The second was the news that the USDA just banned the importation of all Mexican avocados (including organic ones) due to U.S. safety inspectors receiving death threats -- the industry is largely controlled by drug cartels now. [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Mandarins Medium: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Mandarins, Navel Oranges, Potatoes Large: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Leeks, Meyer [MORE ...]
We are always on the lookout at Terra Firma for some new vegetable that meets our criteria for addition to the team. Of course it has to grow well here, taste good, and offer value to our CSA subscribers. Variety is nice, but not if it sits in your fridge or on your counter and doesn't get eaten. Seed catalogs are full of items that don't meet these standards. The best example is the [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Carrots, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Navel Oranges Medium: Broccoli, Red Cabbage, Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Dino Kale, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Navel Oranges, Tetsukabuto [MORE ...]
The chard is sauteed first, then dressed with a soy-sesame sauce. You can serve this salad warm or cold. Remove the stems from 1 bunch of Chard and wash them. Trim off the ends on each side and then finely chop the stems to make 1 C. Discard the rest. Soak and drain the chard leaves, then shake them dry -- you want them a little wet. Roughly chop. Finely minced 3-4 cloves of [MORE ...]
When I first interviewed to work at Terra Firma back early February of 1993, it was a warm sunny day and the crew was planting potatoes. It had been a pretty wet winter, and the ground was still muddy and cold. A week later, when I showed up for my first day of work, it started to rain and didn't stop much for a month. The potatoes never had a chance to sprout, and [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Meyer Lemons, Navel Oranges, Potatoes Medium: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Fennel, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Navel Oranges, Potatoes Large: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, [MORE ...]
This raw kale salad uses Lemon Juice to "marinate" or "cook" the leaves to tenderize them while infusing them with more flavor. The butternut is diced and roasted to make crunchy and tender "croutons". Make a dressing with the juice of 1 lemon and an equal amount of olive oil. Whisk in 1/2 t. salt. Press 1 large peeled clove of garlic and add to the marinade. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. Cut [MORE ...]
Right now, it seems that just about every employer is experiencing staffing shortages. For most of them, it's a new experience. But for many farmers, it's hard to even remember a time when they weren't short-staffed. Farm work has never been a popular occupation during my lifetime, and it's safe to say it's gotten even less so in the last ten years. A majority of ag workers in California are legal citizens of Mexico, [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Apples, Broccoli, Rainbow Chard, Leeks, Navel Oranges, Butternut Squash Medium: Apples, Broccoli, Carrots, Curly Kale, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Navel Oranges, Butternut Squash, Walnuts Large: Apples, [MORE ...]
There's a farmer saying that vegetables are like babies, requiring constant attention. We spend most of our time around here tending to the veggies, sometimes more than they deserve. Yet our farm also relies heavily on so-called "permanent crops": fruit and nut orchards and vineyards. In fact, they make up a third of the acreage we farm and a very important component of your weekly CSA boxes. It's true that trees and vines don't [MORE ...]
This recipe features the same intense flavors as its pasta-sauce cousin: garlic, olives and/or capers, and anchovies. Miso paste would be an appropriate vegan substitute for the anchovies. Chard stems are edible and sweet, with a texture like celery. I don't always include them when I cook chard, but in this recipe they soak up the other flavors and make the whole dish better. Rinse and shake dry 1 bunch of Chard. Separate the [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Carrots, Dino Kale, Leeks, Watermelon Radish, Navel Oranges, Potatoes, Broccoli Medium: Beets, Carrots, Rainbow Chard, Dino Kale, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Watermelon Radish, Navel Oranges, Potatoes [MORE ...]
With farming,there is always a little bit of "Groundhog Day". Every year we follow a plan that is partially dictated by the crops and the seasons, and partially by our own design -- but on paper it changes very little from year to year. We may make small tweaks in the program, but it is essentially a pre-populated task list. Of course, a farm is not a computer program. There are dozens of factors [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Navel Oranges, Carrots, Potatoes, Broccoli Medium: Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Navel Oranges, Carrots, Potatoes, Cabbage, Broccoli Large: Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Fennel, [MORE ...]
This time last year, most of us were hunkering down for the holidays, missing our far-away loved ones, and worrying about, well, everything. A year later, most of us have gotten our vaccines and now even our booster shots, and we were looking forward to a happier, more relaxed -- a more "normal" -- holiday season. Then Omicron (the Greek word for "Grinch") showed up. As humans, we crave certainty, "normalcy", and stability. Agriculture [MORE ...]
This savory vegetarian bread pudding is a nice alternative (or addition to) stuffing. Recipe is from Martha Stewart. Peel and trim 1 lb. parsnips. Parboil until they are tender then cool under water. Slice in half and remove the cores if they are woody (not easily pierced with a knife). Chop into cubes. Trim, clean and dice 1 large or 2 small Leeks. Trim and dice 3 stalks of celery. Wash and trim 1/2 [MORE ...]
The cilantro-based Chimichurri adds a lively kick to this simple but delicious recipe. Heat the oven to 425. Rinse 1 lb. of Fingerling Potatoes and slice in half lengthwise. Rinse an equal amount of carrots and then cut so that they are more or less the same size as the potatoes. Toss the vegetables with 3 T. olive oil and salt and pepper generously. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and [MORE ...]
For the first time since 2019, Terra Firma looks the way it is supposed to in the winter. There are mud and puddles everywhere, the sky is greyish white instead of blue, and everything is green -- not just our vegetable fields and citrus orchards. In particular, the peaks of the Coast Range to the west of us have finally sprouted a coat of grass to cover the ghastly burned soil that has darkened [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Broccoli, Carrots, Garlic, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Potatoes, Watermelon Radish Medium: Broccoli, Carrots, Garlic, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Potatoes, Walnuts, Cilantro Large: Broccoli, Carrots, Garlic, Meyer Lemons, [MORE ...]
Important: Our final CSA box delivery for 2021 will be on Thursday, December 23rd. If you live in the Sacramento area, look for an email from Terra Firma advising about delivery changes for your location that week. We have not seen the sun much here in the last month or so. Ever since the big October storm left the ground completely saturated with moisture, we've been in a pattern with little air movement and [MORE ...]
This is really just a variation on a recipe I've posted before. Roasted Delicata makes a healthier version of croutons while the purple starburst of the KN-Bravo radishes contrasts beautifully with the dark green Kale leaves and adds another texture. Slice 1 Delicata Squash in half lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds. You can discard them or wash them, dry them, roast them and use as an additional salad topping. Dice the entire squash [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Broccoli, Carrots, Lettuce, Mandarins, Spinach, Delicata Squash Medium: Broccoli, Carrots, Dino Kale, Lettuce, Mandarins, Radishes, Spinach, Delicata Squash, Leeks Large: Broccoli, Carrots, Dino Kale, Lettuce, [MORE ...]
I don't like travelling much, which is good since I don't get to do it very often. But I did travel to Texas over the holiday to visit with my in-laws -- the first time in two years that I've left California. Texas' local cuisine doesn't exactly focus heavily on vegetables, so it was interesting to see an abundance of salad greens and other healthy items working their way onto restaurant menus. Even at [MORE ...]
This simple dressing will turn just about anything into a tasty salad, even a single ingredient like julienned carrots or steamed broccoli. Zest 1 meyer lemon, then juice it. Juice another 3 lemons. Peel and mince 1 clove of garlic. Add it to the lemon juice and zest and let sit for 5 minutes. Add 1 tsp. grainy mustard and 1/2 C. olive oil. Shake vigorously, then taste and season with salt and pepper. [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Broccoli, Carrots, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Spinach, Lettuce Medium: Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cilantro, Leeks, Meyer Lemons, Mandarins, Potatoes, Arugula, Lettuce Large: Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cilantro, [MORE ...]
If you're reading this email and thinking, "I usually get the TFF newsletter on Wednesday", you are right. And if you normally pick up your box on Thursday or Friday, here's your reminder: Go pick it up today. We've re-jiggered our harvest, packing and delivery schedule this week to ensure that everyone who wants a CSA box this week can get it before the Thanksgiving holiday -- and we can give our staff two [MORE ...]
You can simply boil the leeks with either of the vegetables, but roasting them adds lots of flavor, especially if you deglaze the pan with lemon juice. Heat a pot of salted water to a boil. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Peel 1 lb. parsnips and boil, whole, until easily pierced with a knife. Remove from the water and rinse to cool. Peel 2 lbs. of potatoes (or leave unpeeled) and add to [MORE ...]
There's a Butternut Squash in your boxes today, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You could make a pumpkin pie, but why not try something a little different? This has all the flavor of the classic desert, but with a very different spin. You can make these in individual ramekins for a nice presentation, or in a traditional flat-sided pie pan. This recipe is from the New York Times. Up to 3 days [MORE ...]
If you're not a huge Fennel fan, this recipe may help. Caramelizing it on the bottom of a gratin mellows the anise flavor while bringing out the sweetness and giving it a wonderfully unique texture. To prepare the fennel, cut the tough base off the bottom of 1 Fennel bulb. Trim the stalks off at the top of the bulb. (The stalks are not edible but they make a nice addition to a homemade [MORE ...]
There's an argument going on right now in the media between the folks who think inflation is "transitory" and those who think it's more permanent. Meanwhile, prices for just about all the consumer goods most of us buy is going up. Businesses are paying higher wages to attract employees as well as higher costs for trucking, materials and inventory. They are beginning to pass these costs on to their customers in the form of [MORE ...]
Here are your tentative weekly CSA contents! We post these every Monday, but please bear in mind the contents may change slightly, as things are always in flux on the farm. The list that Pablito shares in the Wednesday newsletter is what you will actually receive. Happy eating! Small: Arugula, Broccoli, Garlic, Lettuce, Mandarins, Butternut Squash, Medium: Arugula, Broccoli, Cilantro, Fennel, Garlic, Meyer Lemons, Lettuce, Mandarins, Butternut Squash, Carrots Large: Apples, Arugula, Broccoli, Cilantro, [MORE ...]