Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 CSA@lagunafarm.com
Office phone: 823-0823
April 3rd and 5th 2012

Enclosed in this newsletter you will find a seed packet from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. This seed store found at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North has been instrumental in promoting heirloom and non-GMO varieties of fruits and vegetables. They are working hard to raise awareness around the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, and see to it that this initiative gets on the November ballot for your consideration. Please enjoy these seeds and pass the information along. Let’s get the right to know what is in our food. Why not?
Today the barn looks a little different. Our store set-up and bin unpacking area should feel more streamlined. Because we have so many new members, and our store is continuing to expand, we are moving toward a more “full-service” store experience. We will weigh and add up your produce for you. We hope you enjoy the added service. We welcome Gerardo into the farm store. Some of you already know him from the farmers market. Now he is able to assist Kelly with restocking produce, greeting new members and accepting store payments. Welcome Gerardo!
Be Well,
Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Non GMO fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, leeks, fennel, chard on Tuesday, kale on Thursday, spinach from Hollister, navel oranges from Healdsburg and baby artichokes from T&D Willey Farm in Madera.
During the winter months, Laguna Farm often orders produce from other farms to fill the CSA boxes. Because we are a “year round” CSA, we are able to keep our employees working year-round and keep or members fed. I have several farms that are my “favorite”. All are organic or use practices that we feel fulfills our strict standards. This week we purchased artichokes from T&D Willey farm. Though they are from a bit further away, Madera California, I usually opt to buy from Tom and Denesse. They are passionate about their workers, the environment, the politics of food and their produce they grow. Here is a excerpt from their website that speaks loudly to their values.
T&D Willey Farm, a good place to work! Agricultural labor is generally characterized as seasonal, migratory and often only obtained through third party “labor contractors.” This system creates a situation where families are not permanently attached to communities and children cannot adequately attend school.
T&D Willey Farms has developed over many seasons a year-round production system unique to our region. By farming and harvesting in four seasons we can permanently employ 55 persons full-time year-round on 75 acres. This permanent work force offers many advantages. We have a more highly trained and experienced work force on the farm who care about the quality of what they produce.

Farm Store Hours:
Come visit the Laguna Farm Store during business hours and add on to your regular CSA.
We are open:
Tuesday 1:00 – 7:00, Wednesday 12:00 to 6:00, Thursday 1:00 – 7:00 and Friday 10:00 to 4:00.

Your CSA is available on you farm pickup day after 1:00 and until Saturday night at 9:00. If you need your box saved for Monday, call us before Monday at 9:00 am. The farm is Closed on Sunday. Visit us at the Farmers Market on Sunday at the Sebastopol Farmers Market from 10:00 – 2:00. We will let you know when we are at other markets throughout Sonoma County this late spring.

Laguna Farm CSA
1764 Cooper Rd., Sebastopol, CA 95472 CSA@lagunafarm.com
Office phone: 823-0823
March 27th and March 29th 2012

Enclosed in this newsletter you will find a seed packet from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. This seed store found at 199 Petaluma Blvd. North has been instrumental in promoting heirloom and non-GMO varieties of fruits and vegetables. They are working hard to raise awareness around the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act, and see to it that this initiative gets on the November ballot for your consideration. Please enjoy these seeds and pass the information along. Let’s get the right to know what is in our food. Why not?
Out in the fields, we are planting tomatoes, and cucumbers. They have outgrown their pots in the green house and are thriving under the protective covering of the hoop houses in our leased field across the 116. Our plantings are minimal along the Laguna in the wintertime, as the floodwaters could come often through April and sometimes into May. We are enjoying a BUMPER crop of asparagus this year and celebrate the early spring harvests.
Be Well,
Jennifer Branham

In Your Box This Week: From the Non GMO fields of Laguna Farm, our “Naturally Grown” salad mix, green garlic, collards or chard, California avocadoes, celery from Hollister and cauliflower!
Green Garlic—What a Treat! Usually we only have access to cured garlic, but by being a part of a local farm, you have access to this wonderful treat every spring. Green garlic carries the same health benefits as its older counterpart. All vampires aside, garlic can contribute to keeping many a condition at bay: cancer, heart disease, hypertension, infection and even impotence. Garlic contains unique sulfuric compounds that impart many of its health benefits, acting as antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. One of most popular health benefits of garlic is preventing cold and flu. Green garlic, when eaten fresh, contains Allicin, an exceptionally potent compound. It acts as an antibiotic, when administered both internally and externally on open wounds.

Laguna Fest – We have been working hard on Laguna Fest scheduled for July 14, 2012. We are lining up the bands, scheduling the workshops and organizing volunteers. The festival is going to be a wonderful blend of music, vendors, food, crafts, workshops and restoration projects. I like to think of it as a blend of the reskilling faire and the harvest festival. . If you would like to be a part of this event, please contact Ellen at lagunafestinfo@gmail.com or 707-823-0823.

Sonoma County Herb Exchange: Interested in buying fresh and dried culinary and medicinal herbs? Stop by the Herb Exchange on Tuesdays from 2 – 5 here at Laguna Farm.

Laguna Farm in the work-place: Several Sonoma County businesses have set up drop-sites for Laguna Farm produce. If you think at least 7 colleagues might like to order CSA boxes from Laguna Farm, let us know. We would love to make a presentation at your work place.

CSA Bin Amnesty Day! Do you have one of our precious plastic totes at home? Several have gone astray and we would love to have them back. Please return them to the farm and receive celebratory applause in exchange.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to YOU, Happy Birthday dear Cody, Happy Birthday to you! Cody is 10!