Look at this beautiful CSA box this week. The romanesco is worthy of a photograph or two! Notice the Sweet Dumpling Squash. This is the last of the winter squash from the fall harvest. We want to go through it all before February and encourage members to resist decorating the house with these cute little guys and par-bake them and eat them soon. I am going to try the quinoa stuffed squash featured on the recipe sheet for my family.
Out in the fields the greens, alliums and roots are doing very well. The Asparagus is just peeking up from the thick mulch of straw and our early strawberry crop is sending up new leaves reminding us that it is time to cut back the dead leaves so it can fruit in the spring.
Nacho and I are planning on adding some fruit trees to the orchard this year. Citrus would be nice as we could use some winter fruit on the farm.
Be Well,
Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, romanesco, sweet dumpling squash, radish, kale or chard, garlic and Satsuma from the Sierra Foothills.

Local Medicine in Your Hands A Celebration of Local Herbal Authors
Featuring Peggy Shafer and her newly published book, The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm. Saturday, February 25 6:00 – 9:00 PM Masonic Center, 373 N. Main St., Sebastopol $15
ALSO HIGHLIGHTING local authors David Hoffmann (Medical Herbalism), Kami McBride (The Herbal Kitchen), Jill Nussinow (The Veggie Queen), Robert Kourik (The Lavender Book), Karin Uphoff (Botanical Body Care), Carol Isinpresser (The Herbal Cookbook), and Leslie Gardner (Life in the Medicine), who will be available to sign their books.

Volunteer for Laguna Farm events: We are in the early stages of planning for farm events. We are always looking for members who would like to lend a hand or special skill. If you would like to be a part of upcoming events and workshops at Laguna Farm, let us know. We enjoy involving the farm community. Some events on the horizon include the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival’s showing “Urban Roots” a film we are co-sponsoring with Slow Food Russian River. Also, we are planning on hosting the Harvest Festival in the Fall and would like to work with the Laguna Foundation in some restoration activities along the Laguna.

Sneak Peak into your CSA Box: Both our website and facebook advertize next weeks box contents. If you like to plan your meals and shopping in advance, look in one of these two places to find out what the CSA is planning on providing.

Farm Pick Up members. Notice this newsletter is not all wet and soggy! We are not putting it inside your CSA box. It can be found DRY either inside the walk-in, on the store table or on the blue weigh station. Please grab one and keep apprised of farm happenings or feel free to save paper and read it online!

This weekend’s rain brought the floodwaters into the Laguna Fields. It is always surprising to see how fast the water comes up. Our fields across the 116 are doing very well. We are looking forward to starting up at the Sebastopol Farmers Market early this year and have the goal of attending year-round next year. A lot depends on the weather.
Thank you to all of you who have suggested seeds for planting. We are looking forward to expanding our availability with brussels sprouts, jicama, new squash varieties, a tomato with a story and an abundance of flowers.
Winter work on the farm is on recruiting new members for our CSA. We are looking at businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to employee health and wellbeing. Our hope is that these businesses with their “wellness” focus will facilitate a drop-site for Laguna Farm CSA. We are already working with local businesses who find the program beneficial. If you know of a business that might fit this description, and have a way of contacting a representative that could act as a liaison, please let us know.
Be Well,
Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, cabbage, broccoli from Fremont, potatoes, chard, turnips, and Satsuma from the Sierra Foothills.

Calcium in your Turnip Greens! Researchers to its calcium content have linked the noticeably bitter taste of turnip greens. On an ounce-for-ounce basis, turnip greens contain about 4 times more calcium than much less bitter-tasting cruciferous vegetables like cabbage. Even in comparison to mustard greens, turnip greens contain about twice the calcium content.

Milk Bottle Deposits: Thank you for your cooperation in the milk bottle redemption program. We are charging the standard $1.50 deposit for each milk bottle. Return the bottle to the farm during store hours for a refund or to any participating retailer.

Raw Milk Shortage: Every week we order enough raw milk to cover our orders, and for the last several weeks, our distributor has shorted us. This is due to an overall shortage of raw milk. We are doing our best to fill the orders.

CSA Box Contents available online: Now you don’t have to be a member of facebook for a sneak peak into next week’s CSA box. We are posting it online under “what’s in my box” category on the website. Box contents will be posted on Friday. Please know this is very subject to change and often does, but it gives you a good idea.

Next Week’s Bread: Village Bakery will be sending us Sebastopol Sourdough for next week’s CSA box. Order before Friday night 1/27/12 if you would like a loaf!

Early Tuesday morning we arrived at the farm to find everything predictably FROZEN! Hair dryers were quickly employed to defrost the pipes that bring ozonated water to the salad wash tanks. We are still waiting on the rain and hope that by Thursday it will have come.
A few updates from the farm: We are happy to see the increase in membership and are still working hard to build a solid membership going into the spring. Please continue to spread the word that Laguna Farm is open for membership. If you would like brochures to pass out, please let us know.
We are working on getting into the Santa Rosa Farmers Market (the one on Saturday at the Vets. Building). It seems we may have to wait in line behind several other farms on the “waiting list”. Wish us luck. We would love to be in Santa Rosa this summer.
Lastly, we have been asked by the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival to help bring “Urban Roots” to Sebastopol. After reviewing this inspiring film, we agreed to partner with Slow Food Russian River and host the film at the Sebastopol Veterans Auditorium in late March. We hope to make an event out of it with a diner of local food, an inspiring film and a discussion to follow.
Be Well,
Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” Salad mix, Kale, Potatoes, Rutabaga, Satsuma’s, Bok Choy and Bio-dynamic Apple Juice from Sebastopol.

1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472  CSA@lagunafarm.com

Office phone:  823-0823

January 10^th and 12^th

All across the nation at this time of year, farmers are pouring over the beautifully printed seed catalogues that traditionally arrive in early January.  New varieties of cucumber, old varieties of heirloom tomatoes and the ever-growing assortment of lettuces are pictured in full color display.  Last Wednesday, Laguna Farm got a  good start on ordering seeds for the coming year.  Such an exciting purchase!  Let’s hope the lack of rain does not turn into a late wet spring that delays our summer planting!

With the New Year, we are seeing several new members join the farm.  I love the boost the CSA gets at this time of year.  Most home gardens are dormant, New Year’s resolutions are strong and generous holiday presents are redeemed.  I have a personal goal of adding 30 new members to the farm during the month of January.  So far, we are on track!

Be Well,

Jennifer Branham

In your Box this week: Our Certified Naturally Grown Salad Mix, Saute’ Mix, Carrots, Rapini, Shiitake Mushrooms from Moss Landing, Cauliflower from Santa Cruz

Milk Bottle Deposit: Starting this week, Laguna Farm is adopting the policy of other Straus Milk retailers in charging a $1.50 deposit on milk bottles.  You may return your bottle and get your deposit back at Laguna Farm during store hours or at the location of any participating retailer.  These retailers include:  Andy’s Market, Bill’s Farm Basket, Whole Foods, Oliver’s Market, Pacific Market, Community Market. 

Member Spotlight: Sebastopol has a chiropractor that promotes healthy eating and lifestyle!  Majid Zeinal, D.C. practices at the Vibrant Life Chiropractic & Family Wellness Center at 632 Petaluma Avenue in Sebastopol. He is a dear member of the farm who has referred many of his clients to us.  We really appreciate the referrals and want to return the favor.  If you are looking for a chiropractor we recommend Majid.  707-829-9009  www.vibrantlifechiropractic.net

Adding more to your CSA. We strive to provide an abundant store on the farm and online.  Along with the physical CSA store, Laguna Farm also has an online store where you can add items to your CSA weekly, bi-weekly or just once.  Many members are getting bread, dairy, extra salad, fruit shares and nuts and grains.  If you need help signing up for these “extras”, please let us know.  We appreciate the extra sales in “add-ons” and are happy to provide our Home Delivery and Drop Site members with a shopping experience as well.

Got Chicken? Amber and Son Poultry will have a table at Laguna Farm on Thursday January 12.  Amber will take sign-ups on the spot and tell members about her unique chicken farm.  Come meet Amber and learn what pasture raised chicken is all about.  To order by phone, call 364-4037.

Learn what will be in next week’s CSA box by befriending us on Facebook for a sneak peak!

Laguna Farm CSA

1764 Cooper Rd. , Sebastopol, CA 95472  CSA@lagunafarm.com

Office phone:  823-0823

November 15^th and November 17^th , 2011

It is hard not to notice the global revolution sometimes called “Occupy Wall Street” being brought to us by the folks referring to themselves as the 99%.  It brings me back to the days when I marched in the streets advocating for immigrant rights, law enforcement response to domestic violence, legal access to medical marijuana and the saving of Headwaters Forrest.  As a young woman, I served on boards, volunteered in committees and lobbied our legislators both in the state and capitol offices.  Things have really changed for me over the years.  Being a business owner, homesteader and mother has refocused my attention.  Am I apathetic?  Have I given up on creating the change I want to see in the world?  In examining these questions and evaluating my life priorities, I have come to realize that the way I am living my life now has so much more of an impact than much of the marching and demonstrating I did in the past.  I shop at locally owned Fircrest Market rather than Whole F**ds.  I enjoy meat from humanly treated animals from my back yard and Victorian Homestead Meat CSA.  My daily work brings healthy food to Sonoma County residents while having a minimal impact on the environment, and whenever possible regenerates this piece of earth currently in my care.  While I want to pat myself on my back and reassure the “old me” that I have not sold out, I know I can do more and long to be a part of a movement.  Perhaps the “Right To Know” (about GMO foods) Campaign is my calling.  Maybe I will be courageous enough to stand before the Sebastopol City Council design review board on 11/16 to voice my concerns about the CVS Pharmacy slated for development in the heart of downtown.  Maybe you will join me and the other 99%.
Jennifer Branham
We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we’re working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.
In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, beets,  potatoes, leeks, garlic, and celery from Oxnard.

Thanksgiving Schedule: Laguna Farm will not be staffed on Thursday November 24th.  We will make your CSA boxes on Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week.  This means that Thursday members can get their CSA boxes EARLY!  Also note that we will DELIVER Thursday boxes on Wednesday as well.  Please remember to go to your drop-site to pick up your bin. Being such a food-centered holiday, we harvest twice as much as normal, and we also purchase off the market traditional Thanksgiving foods that we may not currently grow.  Please shop Laguna Farm first.  We look forward to being a part of you holiday.

Laguna Farm Craft Faire: We are all looking forward to the craft faire at Laguna Farm.  November 29th and December 1st during regular CSA pick up times.  Please plan on coming and feel free to bring friends.  It will be a fun festive time and a great day to show off the CSA and farm. If you would like to donate supplies to the craft faire, Laguna Farm could use the following items:  Baskets, Wrapping Paper/ Ribbon, Gift Bags, Envelopes, Decorations, Silk Flowers, Glitter, Glue, and all things crafty!

Farm Market! We enjoyed our last market in Sebastopol for the year.  Thank you for making this year such a success and weather permitting, we will be back in the plaza in April.

In your box this week:  Salad, broccoli, peppers or cucumber, broccoli, and apples

Thanksgiving Schedule:  Laguna Farm will not be staffed on Thursday November 22nd.  We will make your CSA boxes on Tuesday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week.  This means that Thursday members can get their CSA boxes EARLY!  Also note that we will DELIVER Thursday boxes on Wednesday as well.  Please remember to go to your drop-site to pick up your bin. Being such a food-centered holiday, we harvest twice as much as we normal, and we also purchase off the market traditional Thanksgiving foods that we may not currently grow.  Please shop Laguna Farm first.  We look forward to being a part of you holiday.

The right to know campaign.

Laguna Farm Craft Faire.  We are all looking forward to the craft faire at Laguna Farm.  November 29th and December 1st during regular CSA pick up times.

Bring a friend!  We are looking to boost up our membership going into the winter months.  With the farm markets ending, we are hoping to see an influx of memberships.  If you have a friend or family member that may be interested in becoming a CSA member, feel free to invite them out to the farm.  We are always happy to meet new community members and will graciously show your friend around the farm and store so they can see what Community Supported Agriculture is all about.

1764 Cooper Rd. , Sebastopol, CA 95472  CSA@lagunafarm.com

Office phone:  823-0823

November 1st   and November 3^rd , 2011

Happy November everyone!

We have been experiencing frost on the lower Laguna fields and as a result, the days of Zucchini are over until late next spring.  These tender little treats needed to be harvested three times a week in order to keep the plant’s production up and avoid the HUGE zucchini boats that seem to grow overnight.  Now we are still working to bring the winter squash out of the fields and away from the damaging frost.  Our field across the 116 and out of the flood plain is being prepared for winter planting.  Neat rows of kale, collards, broccoli, fennel, turnips, beets, carrots are all coming up nicely under the protection of the hoop-houses.  No complaints about the weather this year (knock on wood).  We grew through October with minimal frost and the flooding of the Laguna seems to have waited… for a while.

People have been raving about last week’s CSA box and the broccoli in particular.  Yes, I agree it was amazing, and we all loved hearing the compliments!

Our next farm event is our Winter Craft Faire.  CSA members and staff are joining in to create an event that will feature local crafters and artisans.  The faire will be on November 29^th and December 1^st during the regular CSA pick-up times.  We are looking for donations and contributions (see below).  If you have something you might like to add to the craft faire please let us know.  It could be fun to have musicians, story-tellers, kids crafts, decorations…

Be Well,

Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, romanesco, kabocha squash, chard, potatoes, parsley or onions!

Bunny News! Coco could have her babies anytime after Halloween.  We cleaned up her hutch and peek in on her often.  Several folks have asked about her babies and if they might be available for adoption.  Please feel free to contact Jennifer about this possibility.

Craft donations Requested: Laguna Farm could use the following items for the craft faire if you have them available for donation:  Baskets, Wrapping Paper/ Ribbon, Gift Bags, Envelopes, Decorations, Silk Flowers, Glitter, Glue, and all things crafty!

Farm donations requested: We always appreciate:  Table cloths, baskets, pens, paper bags.  Thank you for bringing them into the farm for re-use!

Compost Available: The bins in the barn filled with carrot tops and bruised pears are available to take.  Because the residents no longer have chickens on the farm, we no longer need the large amount of compost generated.  If you have goats, chickens, pigs or any other need for fresh “tops” and “seconds”, feel free to forage in the bins and take it home.

Farm Tour! The last farm tour will be on November 3^rd at 3:00 and 4:00 .  Come December, we will invite the public to come visit the CSA during “open houses”.  The fields will be too wet to tour until Spring.

Be kind to our wonderful neighbors and drive slooowly down the beautiful Cooper Rd.

1764 Cooper Rd. , Sebastopol, CA 95472  CSA@lagunafarm.com

Office phone:  823-0823

October 4^th and October 6^th , 2011

Hello rain!  This nice little sprinkling is very welcome in moderation.  Our hope is to get through October with no frost and only moderate rain.  Keep your fingers crossed!  We do expect and welcome the floods to come later in the year.  We are beginning to harvest our winter squash, and with that, your Halloween carving pumpkin!  Because your pumpkin is a 4.00 value item, we spread the cost of the pumpkin out over several weeks.  Pick up your pumpkin this month (one per membership).  Your carving pumpkin IS eatable, so if you don’t want to use it for decoration, we will be posting recipes for how to prepare carving pumpkins for the table.  If that idea doesn’t fancy you, feel free to take a kabocha squash or sugar pie pumpkin instead.

Being a part of a CSA is a generous commitment to local sustainable agriculture.  While we strive to be flexible and give members the opportunity to trade or exchange for what they want and need, we are constantly educating members about what it is to eat in-season local produce.  Match this with our placing a dollar value on produce members have in abundance from their own garden (zucchini can cucumbers) and we have our work cut out for us.  However, we do see a tremendous amount of support and dedication from our membership and farm-market patrons who marvel at the sweetness of our carrots and can’t imagine life without our weekly salad mix.  We continue our efforts in satisfying membership needs as we forward the cause of Laguna Farm.

Be Well,

Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, cucumbers or squash, sungold or early-girl tomatoes, green beans, sweet bell peppers and beets.

The Benefits of Beets: ·  Studies show that beets and their juices and help defeat cancer, iron deficiency, anemia, urinary tract infection, kidney stones and maintain complete health. We refer to beets as a 2 for 1 vegetable where you can eat their roots and their tops.  Be SURE to separate the tops from the roots as soon as possible to maintain maximum freshness.

Upcoming Events:

I highly recommend attending Marly’s class titled:  “Easy Hard-Cider”.  The name of the class cracks me up, and is a gentle hint at Marly’s witty sense of humor.  Join me in the barn on Saturday October 8^th from 3pm to 6pm to learn how to make booze out of this Fall’s bumper crop of apples.  The cost of the workshop is a deal at $30.00.

On October 22^nd, Transition Town Sebastopol is hosting their annual “Re-skilling Fair”.  During this day-long event, folks can attend workshops featuring:  Beekeeping, backyard chickens, gopher control, herbal first aid, simple graywater, cheesemaking, felting, olive making, starting from seed and much more.  The event is at Laguna Farm from 9am to 5pm.  $10-$40 donation.

Also, on October 23^rd, a special “reskill day #2” featuring small animal processing with Tamara Wilder.  For more information and to pre-register for the small animal processing workshop (cost $60.00) e-mail reskillquestions@gmail.com

Special Recommendation: Cody Branham (age 9) is very proud to have earned his YELLOW BELT in Aikido from Kuma Kai Aikido in Sebastopol’s Mc Donald’s Plaza.  He has attended Aikido three days a week for 1 ½ years after receiving his introductory lesson and Gi as a birthday present.  Aikido has helped and benefited Cody in many ways.  If you are interested in Aikido (the art of peace) for yourself or family member, may I suggest exploring http://www.kumakai.com/.

1764 Cooper Rd. , Sebastopol, CA 95472  CSA@lagunafarm.com

Office phone:  823-0823

August 16^th and 18^th , 2011

Laguna Farm has provided wholesale produce to bay-area restaurants for several years through a distributor out of Sebastopol.  This year the owners of the distribution company sold their business late in the season, and the new owners are not distributing as much of our produce as we have sold in the past.  This reality has prompted us toward an effort to engage in more direct sales to local restaurants, caterers and markets.  If you know of a food-service provider that might like to establish a wholesale relationship with a local farm, please give them our name.  We have a beautiful availability list and deliver throughout Sonoma County weekly.  Please note: wholesale orders usually have at $200. minimum.

As mentioned last week, we are working on several events scheduled for this fall.  The first being the “National Heriloom Expo.” held at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds on September 13, 14, and 15^th.  More information can be found in brochures on the blue weigh-station at the farm or at theheriloomexpo.com. Also, please make note that the Harvest and Herb Hoedown will be on September 24^th.  This is Laguna Farm’s annual open house and celebration in conjunction with the Sonoma County Herb Exchange.  Lastly, Transition-town Sebastopol is in the planning phase for their annual “Re-skilling fair”.  Transition-town is planning a two day workshop series on October 22and 23^rd.  The re-skilling fair focuses on “old-ways” skills.  For more information, attend their planning meeting on Wednesday, August 24, 6:30 p.m.
at St. Stephens Church, 500 Robinson Way in Sebastopol.

Be Well,

Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Certified Naturally Grown fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, cucumber or squash, potatoes, carrots, red Russian kale, sungold or earlygirl tomatoes.

Kale is considered by nutritionists including Dr Joel Furhman to be the most nutritious vegetable in the world with extremely powerful antioxidant properties; kale is considered to be anti-inflammatory. Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium. Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane (particularly when chopped or minced), a chemical believed to have potent anti-cancer properties. Boiling decreases the level of sulforaphane; however, steaming, microwaving, or stir frying do not result in significant loss. Along with other brassica vegetables, kale is also a source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells. Kale is also a good source of carotenoids.

Member Spotlight: Are you looking for an Architect?  Laguna Farm CSA’s Paul Harris is a member of GoLocal, the Sonoma Land Trust, Build it Green and Architects & Planners for Social Responsibility, Northern California Chapter.  Paul’s office is at 2532 Spring Creek Drive in Santa Rosa.  Give him a call at (707) 546-0432 or check him out at www.paul-harris.net

Please feel free to submit your talents for our spotlight.  Members supporting members is just another benefit of Community Supported Agriculture.

SAVE The Date!  The Harvest and Herb Hoedown will be on Saturday, September 24^th.  This is Laguna Farm’s annual “open-house” featuring farm tours, herb-walks, sustainability classes, food, crafts, kids-events, local music (starring Coyote Grace) and a barn dance called by Jerry Allen.   As always, we are looking for folks to volunteer for the event.  Please let us know if you would like to help set-up, breakdown or staff the event.

Re-use Area: Along the side of the breezeway we have created an area where members can bring reusable items that are useful to the farm.   There you will see a bin for newspapers, cloth bags, berry baskets, egg-cartons and more.  We could ALWAYS use more brown paper bags.