Don't Get Bored, Get Eatin'

Last Week's Vegetables

We offered a weekly veggie subscription in December as a way to market through the winter. We enjoyed the creativity and control this type of marketing provided and kept it going. We are able to distribute some of everything we produce, to choose what we sell each week, how much, and to how many people. It is a great way for us to market directly and we feel very rewarded.
Judging from the feedback we get, and research we've done on other CSA-style programs, our weekly offering is the best winter CSA in El Dorado County. We provide at least 8 items a week, sometimes 10, and we grow everything (with the singular exception of some beautiful Turk's Turban and Acorn hard squash we traded for produce with a neighboring farmer friend). In comparing our box to others, none of which were in El Dorado County, we realized that we live in one of the most versatile growing regions in the country and very few are taking advantage of it.

From the reading I've done on other blogs and farm websites, there seems to be a fear of boredom with winter CSAs. Farmers are scared that people will tire of the same old roots every week, and the subscribers wonder how they'll ever use all their kale and parsnips. This is a foreign concept to us, as eaters and as farmers. So, we intend to pick a box worth of stuff this week for ourselves and record how we used it as a resource for folks who may be joining us.
This winter was extremely mild which allowed us to grow many crops without added protection. We had a wider palate to work with than other years would provide. Also, the production of Oyster Mushrooms allowed us to offer an exotic item in addition to keep things interesting. 
Vegetables are some of the most healthful and versatile foods on the planet. Hopefully if you are paying a farmer a living wage for them, you treat them like gold and become a real recipe connoisseur and foodie.


Lately, we've been discussing how we could improve our program. Our goal is to make it work for us as full-time farmers, as well as catering to our committed customers who make our farm part of their weekly food budget. We will unveil new ideas as they come and are open to input or suggestions from eaters. We want to continue to be a great CSA even as the change of seasons provide more competition.

P.S. We have baby chicks! 

Black Copper Maran Chicks