Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 info@lagunafarm.com
Office phone 823-0823 i Barn phone 823-0824
September 4 and 6, 2007
From Farmer Scott
Back from a fantastic retreat to the High Sierra. It is great to be eating the living food from these fields again. The heat wave took some of the tomato crop, but only affected the portion that we supply to a wholesale account. I return with renewed inspiration and ideas for energy optimization of the farm. The first will be the walk-in refrigeration. I will be experimenting with water, cooled by night temperatures, misted across the cooling fins of the conpressor unit of the cooler. I figure 50-60 degree water will extract the heat better than 60-90 degree air.
Right now we are seeing the major harvest period for the summer crops, and at the same time, winter crops are being planted to provide roots and greens and brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) for the cold months to come. There is a big crop of pumpkins and hard squash which is beginning to show its colors in the field. We will be able to do some pumpkin carving at the fall Harvest Festival on September 29th.
I hope you are all doing well and easing back into the school pattern if you have kids. Be well.
In your box today:
All from the summer bounty of the fields at the farm, our “beyond organic” salad mix, beets, sungold or heirloom tomatoes, scallions or squash, corn, potatoes, and peppers. Fruit subscribers will receive Laguna Farm melons and nectarines from Kingsburg.
Commercial tomatoes are usually hybrids, genetically developed such that they do not breed true from seeds (meaning that you cannot save the seeds and grow your own: you are dependent on the seed company for that). Many are designed to withstand transport, be uniform in size and shape, and ripen long after being picked. Heirlooms are bred for just one thing: flavor. Most are too thin-skinned and tender for commercial production. They usually have a low fruit-to-foliage ratio, which makes for sweeter, more flavorful fruit (and yes, botanically the tomato is a fruit). There are hundreds of heirlooms hailing from countries all over the world!
Got plumbing, carpentry, design skills and some volunteer time? Put them to use on the Laguna Farm restroom project: contact John Taylor (johnrtaylor474@yahoo.com), or Kevin Counter (coolsurfdude77@yahoo.com).
JOIN US FOR BOTANICALS, BREWS AND BANDS: HARVEST FESTIVAL, Saturday September 29, 3 – 10 PM. Tours with Farmer Scott, herb walk, horse-drawn carriage rides, bellydancing, booths and demonstrations, food and drink, Kid Zone by Earthroots Collective, and music and hot acts starting at 6 PM. Admission donation $10, kids 12 and under free.
Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 info@lagunafarm.com
Office phone 823-0823 i Barn phone 823-0824
August 28 and 30, 2007
Farmer Scott
……is on a well-deserved retreat, and will return to the newsletter next week!
In your box this week:
All from the “beyond organic” fields of the farm, our gourmet salad mix, corn, carrots, chard, sungold or heirloom tomatoes, squash or mini onions, and cilantro on Tuesday / parsley on Thursday. Fruit subscribers will receive pears, strawberries or raspberries, and apples from Sebastopol.
What do we mean by “beyond organic”? Laguna Farm has chosen not to pursue organic certification following the 2002 implementation of the National Organic Standards, even though we were certified for many years, and Farmer Scott is a past President of the local chapter of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). Scott believes that the 2002 law dilutes the high standards of the original spirit of the organic movement, and tends to place a crushing financial and administrative blow on small farms. He also believes in the “open gate” policy of peer-reviewed organics, meaning that you, the customers, are always welcome to come to the farm and inspect his growing practices. These practices, by the way, exceed the standards of the National Organic Program. We think you’ll find them BEYOND “Organic.”
DROP-OFF SITE NEWS: Effective September 7, our Petaluma Liberty Street drop site is moving to 504 Earls Court. Many thanks to Cinda Gilliland for doing such a stellar job as site manager. Cinda is moving and will continue to be a member, so you might see her at the new drop site. And welcome to Shauna Buck who has agreed to be the new site manager.
RESTROOM PROJECT SLATED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
Plans to design and construct an aesthetically pleasing, ecologically-minded restroom for general use at the farm are being prepared. John and Kevin, project coordinators, are looking for help in all phases of the project: conceptual design, site location, blueprints with materials take off, materialacquisition (salvaged and reusable), and actual construction. We’d like to have it completed in time for the Harvest Festival on September 29th. Help us reach that goal and donate your expertise/labor/materials and, if you wish, your money. To get involved, contact us: John Taylor (johnrtaylor474@yahoo.com), or Kevin Counter (coolsurfdude77@yahoo.com).
THANKS! to all our generous members who have chosen to gift their boxes or
donate them during vacation breaks. This summer, with over 550 members, we have had less than 10 skips per month. This really helps the farm. Thank you.
Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 info@lagunafarm.com
Office phone 823-0823 i Barn phone 823-0824
August 14 and 16, 2007
From Farmer Scott
Thought I would talk about biofuels today. We have been using waste vegetable oils for the last five years, in tractors and other vehicles. The key word is waste, which in our case is oil used to flush the bottling system between different types of oils, at the manufacturer. There is also a lot of used oil available from restaurant cooking and frying, which is mostly being used to make biodiesel. You can also run straight vegetable oil in your diesel vehicle if you convert the vehicle to handle the thick qualities of oil. I have felt good about using this as a fuel in the tractors and some of the vehicles, even though I have experienced some carbon or coking issues. I have found some good success with misted water injection to keep that from being a problem, and understand the additional benefit is lowered Nox ( nitrous oxide ) in the emissions.
Next week I’ll give you my take on another popular biofuel, ethanol. Be well.
In your box today:
From the bio-fueled fields of the farm, our “beyond organic” salad mix, beets, squash or eggplant, cucumbers, sungold or heirloom tomatoes, and Walla Walla onions; also brown rice from Princeton (Calif.). Fruit subscribers will receive plums, melons and a half basket of strawberries.
The brown rice comes from Massa Organics, a fourth-generation California rice farm, located along the Sacramento River near Chico. The owners are two former tropical biologists (and their five children) who combine organic farming with their academic studies, and live in a strawbale house built with their own rice straw!
RESTROOM PROJECT SLATED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
Plans to design and construct an aesthetically pleasing, ecologically-minded restroom for general use at the farm are being prepared. John and Kevin, project coordinators, are looking for help in all phases of the project: conceptual design, site location, blueprints with materials take off, material
acquisition (salvaged and reusable), and actual construction. We’d like to have it completed in time for the Harvest Festival on September 29th. Help us reach that goal and donate your expertise/labor/materials and, if you
wish, your money. To get involved, contact us: John Taylor (johnrtaylor474@yahoo.com), or Kevin Counter, coolsurfdude, John Taylor johnrtaylor474@yahoo.com.
THANKS! to all our generous members who have chosen to gift their boxes or
donate them during vacation breaks. This summer, with over 550 members, we have had less than 10 skips per month. This really helps the farm. Thank yo
Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 info@lagunafarm.com
Office phone 823-0823 i Barn phone 823-0824
August 7 and 9, 2007
From Farmer Scott
Summer abundance is upon us, with lots of tasty produce. I hope you all are having a good summer. I am planting some late summer squash and sungold tomatoes today up at the winter field on Sparkes Rd. We are just bringing that field back to life with water and some more compost to build nutrition. We are beginning the plantings that will go into the late fall and winter months there, because this ground is out of the flood plain and a little warmer during the frosty times ahead.
Put Saturday, Sept 29 on your calender for the Farm Harvest festival. We are going to join up with the Herb Exchange, the Sonoma County Herb Association and Earth Roots Field School for this celebration. There will be tours of the farm, a kids area, herb walks, demonstrations and classes, lots of vendors, food and drink, and music and dancing all day. Hope to see you there.
In your box today:
From the abundance of the fields, our “beyond organic” salad mix, carrots, New Girl or sungold tomatoes, cucumbers, squash or beans, scallions, and garlic. Fruit subscribers will receive Laguna Farm melons and plums.
Did you know that into the 1700’s tomatoes were thought to be poisonous? That is, Europeans believed so, after they were introduced to Spain in the 16th century by explorers coming back from Peru (where the tomato is native). The word ‘tomato’ is derived from the ancient Mayan word ‘xtomatl,’ and the Aztecs and Incas cultivated this fruit from the 8th century onward. We now know that the tomato contains moderate amounts of Vitamin C and an antioxidant constituent named lycopene. Lycopene helps to prevent prostate and other cancers, protects lung cells from airborne pollutants, prevents heart attacks and strokes, lowers cholesterol, and deters macular degeneration in the eye. Heating helps to release lycopene.
For thousands of years, people have known of the extraordinary properties of garlic, onions, and other members of the allium family (chives, leeks, scallions and shallots). Ancient Egyptians drank onion juice to treat acne, coughs, colds and stomach ailments. Romans ate onions to improve vision, induce sleep and cure toothaches. And when the Russians ran out of penicillin during World War II, they used garlic to fight infections and heal wounds.
Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 info@lagunafarm.com
Office phone 823-0823 i Barn phone 823-0824
July 31 and August 2, 2007
From Farmer Scott
We seem to be at the peak of abundance from the fiields now, with the main tomato harvest just about to come. The corn has been amazing — and yet nary a worm to be found! The later plantings usually are the worst, so get ready for future ears to be trimmed as we cut off the effects of those “uglifiers”.
The one-horse pump in our well decided to quit, so we are in the midst of having it replaced. I am thankful it is not the big 15-horse ag pump, which would cost three times the cost of replacing this one. We are doing pretty well balancing the energy gained by the solar system and the use by the walk-in cooler and pumps. We just passed the one year anniversary of the installation of the solar system, and getting ready for the next big payment on the loan. Be well.
In your box today:
From the solarized, pumped-up fields of the farm, our “beyond organic” salad mix, Walla Walla Onions, Beets, Chard, Basil, Beans or Squash, Sungold or New Girl Tomatoes
Fruit subscribers will receive Laguna Farm Strawberries and Melons
WHY EAT ORGANIC PRODUCE? Too many chemicals are on our plates and in our bodies. A study from the Centers for Disease Control ad Prevention found that one in every two people tested positive for one or more of up to 116 chemicals. According to other research, up to 6 percent of produce samples contain “unacceptable” levels of pesticide residues.
The good news: a report published in Environmental Health Perspectives reveals that children who eat organically grown produce had one-sixth the concentration of pesticide bproducts in their bodies, compared with children who eat conventionally grown produce.
How do you figure out how to calculate QUARTERLY PAYMENTS? You can go to the website (lagunafarm.com) and find instructions on the Questions and Answers page.
We appreciate those of you who are considering switching to quarterly payments.
“THE STANDARD OF THE EXPLOITER IS EFFICIENCY; THE STANDARD OF THE NUTURER IS CARE. THE EXPLOITER’S GOAL IS MONEY, PROFIT; THE NURTURER’S GOAL IS HEALTH — THIS LAND’S HEALTH, HIS OWN, HIS FAMILY’S, HIS COMMUNITY’S, HIS COUNTRY’S….” -Wendell Barry, 1978
From Farmer Scott
I want to wish you a happy Inter-dependence Day. I salute you for being the conscious individual you are, by making the consumer choices of shopping local and buying products from people you have a connection with.
With this heat wave, I know what I will be doing the next couple of days. Water will be my main focus. I am laying out thousands of feet of dripline on the winter squash, pumpkins and corn so we can maintain an ideal moisture, without wasting the precious and magical liquid. I am sometimes amazed by the qualities of water, astounded by how important this fluid is to life on this planet, and concerned by the way it is treated by our species.
I just returned from a five-day retreat to the Sierra Mountains, I spent some much- appreciated time at the 11,000-12,000 foot elevation, where a lot of the water California depends on is accumulated in snow and fed down the rivers as it melts in the Central Valley. I return refreshed and inspired, and ready to continue the work I started in search of sustainability. Thanks again for being part of this quest. Be well.
In your box today:
From the alchemical fields of the farm, our ?beyond organic? salad mix, carrots, kale, squash, cucumbers, spinach, and scallions; also corn from Coalinga. Fruit subscribers will receive strawberries from the farm and peaches from Shone Farm (Santa Rosa Junior College?s farm).
A few messages for pick-up subscribers
We need paper bags at the blue CSA table ? please bring them in at your convenience. Of course, we encourage you to bring and use your own canvas bags, but it?s helpful to have a supply of paper bags here for various uses.
If you?ve come to pick up your box before 2 PM, and you?d like to shop at the store, remember that the store doesn?t open until that time. But before 2 PM, we are setting it up, and can?t always help you effectively (or set up the store properly). Please be mindful of this scheduling situation and try not to affect the progress of set-up, if possible. Thanks! The store is open 2 PM ? 8 PM daily.
Join the Slow Food movement, the international organization formed to counteract fast food, the disappearance of local food traditions, and people?s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how food choices affect the rest of the world. www