WEEKLY UPDATES FROM THE FARM

I always think things are going to slow down for the summer. Maybe it’s because the kids are out of school and there’s not such a structured schedule. Interestingly, the more relaxed pace of family life during the summer contrasts with the intensity of farm work as it's one of the busiest times of the year. With the longer days and warmer weather, there's a sense of urgency and excitement in the air. The crops grow rapidly and there’s always something that needs tending- whether it’s watering, weeding, harvesting, or preparing new beds for planting, the to-do list seems never-ending. It’s a time when we quite literally see the fruits of our labor as the fields burst to life with ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, sweet corn (now available in our store), and more.

Our hearts go out to anyone affected by the Lake fire that started Friday afternoon near Zaca Lake. I was in Santa Ynez this morning and saw a lot of fire trucks racing by. We are very thankful for our dedicated firefighters that help keep us safe. Although it's pretty smoky in the Santa Ynez Valley, we're continuing to harvest as usual.

Happy fourth of July holiday week. By choosing to celebrate with locally grown produce, you’re not only treating your family and friends to the freshest ingredients but also supporting local farmers and sustainable practices. Practices that give back and care about the soil and put serious practices in place to not only grow delicious vegetables, which is a byproduct, but enrich the soil with compost and crop rotation. This Fourth of July, let's celebrate our independence and our commitment to local, healthy, and sustainable food.

I hope you had a wonderful summer solstice weekend. I'm feeling a bit more settled as we've migrated to Farmhand to manage subscriptions. I hope you feel supported on your end with their team accessible via text. I've already reaped the benefits of more time to work on things that I love, like connecting directly with the community and getting more projects accomplished on the farm. While the Farmhand team is available to answer your CSA account questions, please know I'm also still just an email away for any other needs you may have. 

We’re in the full swing of summer on the farm.The animals are enjoying the longer days, and we're knee-deep in projects to get everything ready for the bustling months ahead. We’re upgrading chicken coops as we move over 150 chickens into their new home. I

Happy Memorial Day! I’m reflecting on the significance of this day – dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country. Memorial Day is more than just a long weekend; it’s a moment for us to come together, remember, and express our gratitude.

The farm is buzzing with spring energy. Peaches need to be thinned (I keep looking at them and not doing it..haha), the chickens are increasing egg production (hooray!) and the goats are eating weeds as fast as they grow. We have a lot of great stuff in our box – hoping it brings joy and nourishment to your week.

While our zucchini is a little behind schedule with the annual anticipated fog, we’re in full swing of spring here. However, we’re able to source some from our neighbors down the road. Bringing together local organic produce for you is the whole concept behind the CSA program, so I try to get a wide variety of veggies to incorporate into our diets. I’ve been missing zucchini big time so I’m happy to have it back this week. 

There’s an expected lull on the farm right now. I always predict it when it’s freezing and raining outside, but the effects of that weather come months after not being able to consistently plant because it’s too muddy or we get sudden mildew on the plants because of the heavy fog.

It’s always hard to predict how heavy rain is going to be until it actually comes. When you live and work outside it can be a bit of a gamble. I definitely lost this weekend as we got really heavy, nonstop rainfall. When the clouds pass and the sun shines through, I am always so thankful for the beauty that surrounds us. I’m hoping all this rain ensures a productive fruit crop this summer from our orchard.