Week of February 22nd 2011

In This Week’s Box

A citrus-heavy CSA box filled with oranges, tangerines, apples, and two avocados.

[box_list]

  • Cara Cara, Valley Center, CA
  • Murcott tangerines, Valley Center, CA
  • Arkansas Black apples, Cuyama, CA
  • Hass avocados, Watsonville, CA
  • Pink Lady apples, Cortland, CA
  • Navel oranges, Lindsay, CA

[/box_list]

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From Farmer Al

It is a beautiful day here on the farm. To the west is Mt. Diablo, covered in snow and towering 4500 feet over the vast central valley. I’ve heard that from the top of Mt. Diablo one can see more of the earth than from any other spot on the planet except one, MT Kilimanjaro. It might not be accurate, but it is certainly breathtaking.

To the east, also white with new snow, is the vast Sierra Nevada range running hundreds of miles north and south as far as the eye can see. To the south are foothills, new-grass green and intense with shadows, deep valleys, oak trees, and glowing shafts of afternoon sunlight.

Throughout the orchard trees are growing. Plums are now at “green-bud” stage, our cots are at “red-bud” stage, and our peaches are mostly at “bud-swell” stage. “Bud-swell” is the stage just before “pink-bud”. Everything is glowing with vibrancy, the urge for life, the energy of sun and wind….

Time seems to stand still.

It is a day full of portents, promise, and hope. It is a day to give thanks for the beauty of this farm.

Organically yours,
Farmer Al

Signature of Farmer Al

Recipe Contest

Farmer Al would love to see your culinary talents! Send us your best recipe & photos using our CSA fruit and you could win a box of Frog Hollow goodies and a credit towards your next CSA subscription–spring is right around the corner! Extra points will be given for creativity and originality, using as much as you can in one CSA box in your recipe, as well as your talents as a food photographer when taking pictures of your dish. Contest deadline will be Sunday, March 6th. Send your recipe and photos to csa@froghollow.com. Feel free to send as many recipes as you’d like. Recipes and photos will be posted to our website for all members to enjoy. (Editor’s note: Your recipe and photos will be appropriately attributed. If you are using an un-modified recipe from a website or cookbook, please let us know so we can give credit as needed.)

Challenge: Who do you know?

We depend on our members to grow our CSA. We’d like to challenge each of you to think of at least one neighbor, friend, or family member who might enjoy the benefits of supporting our CSA. Need an extra box of fruit for your block party? Interested in having Farmer Al speak at your community group meeting? Would your company like to host a CSA site? Let us know what you need from us to make it easier for you to spread the word…we’ll do everything we can to help you tell your friends about us! Feel free to contact Jeff at jeff@froghollow.com with any ideas or suggestions.

2011 Blossom Celebration

On Sunday, March 13th, we’ll be hosting our first farm event of the year. This year’s blossom festival is free and will include a talk by Marissa Ponder about UC Berkeley’s Native Bee project and a walking tour of the orchard with Farmer Al. Accessibility needs can be met for the orchard tour. More information and schedule for the day will be posted online shortly at our website.

Correction: Fruit List

The fruit list on the paper newsletter included in your box contained an error. There are no blood oranges in this week’s box! Oops!

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Kimi Owens is Frog Hollow's Customer Care and Marketing Coordinator. She is a strong believer in local and global sustainability and is committed to improving the transparency and communication channels of Happy Child CSA. Questions or suggestions in regards to this website may be directed to her at kimi@froghollow.com or via phone at extension 201.

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