Farm Fresh to You: Dried Orange Ornaments

Happy Holidays from CAFF!

 

  

Here is a re-post from Farm Fresh to You in the Capay Valley, homemade and all-natural tree ornaments!

Read more on their blog: http://blog.farmfreshtoyou.com/2014/12/how-to-make-dried-orange-ornaments.html

How to Make Dried Orange Ornaments

Ainsley helps to decorate the family Christmas tree

Each year we try to make something natural and eco-friendly to add to our tree decorations. This year we landed on citrus ornaments, which make such a cheerful and fragrant addition. Although we chose oranges this year, lemons and grapefruit would also work well. 



This is a very simple craft to do with your little ones and will make a colorful impact on your Christmas tree.

Imogen Prepares to Thread the Orange Slices

DRIED ORANGE ORNAMENTS

Makes 20 Ornaments

WHAT YOU NEED:
5 oranges
1 sharp knife
needle & thread
baking Sheet
oven

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees.Using a sharp knife, slice oranges thinly, you should be able to get 5 nice slices per-orange. Lightly dab off any extra juice with a towel.

Arrange orange slices on a baking sheet and put into oven for two hours.

Reduce oven heat to 140 (that is as low as mine goes) and remove the orange slices from the baking sheet and place directly on rack. 

Turn slices once after about an hour to keep them from curling or sticking. Turn off oven and leave overnight. 

The following morning, remove slices from oven. Use a needle to thread a string through the orange slice. Tie in a knot to make a loop.

And that’s it! With minimal effort, you have 20 all-natural rustic ornaments to adorn your tree with. And since you made them by hand, you get bragging rights when guests visit for the holidays and comment on your lovely and unique tree ornaments.

To find this craft and other seasonal recipes, visit our website.

We want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season!

CSA Surprise Box

 

 Pushing aside those familiar carrot tops and kale leaves you might discover a mysterious, bulbous, root vegetable at the bottom. Maybe you spot an unidentifiable leafy green, and you'll have to make the decision- do I eat this raw or cooked? Like a See's candy box that comes with a map for the chocolate, you grasp the weekly newsletter hoping that your local farmer showed mercy and provided recipe suggestions.

CSA shares are responsible for introducing people to new vegetables nearly every week, it's one of the great pleasures of investing in a farm share.  

You might know Bok Choy but how about Gai Lan, Gai Choy, or Choy Sum?

NPR's food blog, The Salt, explores the new vegetable hybrids that could make their way into your CSA box in the coming seasons. "Kalettes" are a cross of Kale and Brussel Sprouts, a hybrid vegetable that didn't exist until 2010. But, you'll also see some of our old favorites, like rainbow carrots, which have been cultivated for more than 1,000 years. 

Read more here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/12/11/369675821/kalettes-broccoflower-and-other-eye-popping-vegetables-for-2015

CSA Farm Profile: Riverdog Farm

Riverdog Farm

Guinda, CA

 

The “rule of threes” states that things that come in threes are inherently more satisfying or more effective. That rule holds true when it comes to Capay Valley CSA farms!  Fully Belly Farm, Good Humus Produce, and Riverdog Farm are just around the corner from each other and promote similar bio-diversity and sustainable farming practices. It’s no wonder they have so much in common; the founders of Full Belly and Good Humus played a key role in mentoring Trini Campbell and Paul Mueller of Riverdog Farm in Guinda, CA.

Riverdog is a certified organic mixed vegetable farm with pastured pigs and chickens. The farm also offers organic melons, walnuts, and almonds. Growing from 2 acres in 1990 to the 500 hundred-acre operation it is today, took great skill as well as support from the community. Each week hundreds of loyal customers pick up their CSA share, from Sacramento to San Francisco.  Learn more about Riverdog’s CSA program here.

When asked about her inspiration to start farming, Trini listed the usual motivations, such as working outside and growing healthy food for the community. But Trini mentioned another important factor in her choice to start a farm; providing a healthy, pesticide-free, environment for farm workers.

Loyal members like Riverdog Farm allow CAFF to continue advocating for small-scale farmers and sustainable agriculture.

Food waste

Strategies for reducing food waste in the kitchen and the school lunchroom: 

CSA Farm Profile: Kingfisher Farm

 CSA FARM PROFILE

 KINGFISHER FARM

Matt and Lauren Lechmaier, transplants from Wisconsin, are happy to be farming in what Matt claims to be “one of the planet’s most fertile valleys”. Their 1.5-acre farm sits on the banks of the Putah Creek in Winters, nestled in the Sacramento Valley. Kingfisher Farm gets its name from the small, brightly colored, species of bird that visits the farm. April through November, Kingfisher delivers weekly produce shares to their CSA members, all within a few miles of the farm. Matt and Lauren have a strategy behind staying small; to foster connections with each member of the CSA by delivering only within their community, and to limit the number of miles their food travels, reducing the farm’s carbon footprint. The land is certified organic by CCOF, and was formerly an organic walnut orchard. 

By day, Matt coordinates an environmental education program for high school students, through the Center for Land Based Learning. Matt’s first foray into farming was helping his Pop plant tomatoes and dig up potatoes in his backyard garden in Wisconsin. Now, Matt and Lauren grow more than forty varieties of produce, including ornamental gourds and flowers. Kingfisher partners with two other local CSAs, Cloverleaf Farm and Free Spirit Farm, to occasionally provide organic fruit in the boxes. CAFF is proud to have such great neighbors, with our main office located just down the road from all three farms.

CAFF is a strong supporter of CSA farms in California, both advocating in the state Capitol as well as hosting workshops that provide technical assistance to CSA operators. To find a CSA near you, visit caff.org/programs/local-food-systems/search-bfbl/. You can contact Matt and Lauren by e-mail at kingfisherfarmca@gmail.com or look for Kingfisher Farm on Facebook.