Eat the Veg: you'll feel good!

Welcome to CSA 2026!

We’re thrilled to have you join us on this adventure! Most of you are already familiar with how it works. But for those of you experiencing this for the first time, I’d like to share a few tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your CSA basket.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR BASKET!

Feel free to customize your basket! We don’t want you to become a “vegetable martyr” for us: if you don’t like a certain item, swap it out! We sincerely hope you’ll love and enjoy everything you receive this season.

A NOTE ON PORTION SIZES

Sometimes our portions are huge, sometimes they’re small, but most of the time, they’re just right! It can be hard to predict exactly what a crop will yield a week in advance. We do our best, but nature is unpredictable: a crop can suddenly drop off even though it was abundant the week before, forcing us to reduce portion sizes...or visa versa, like the tomatoes this week!!

This week, we’d originally planned a one-credit portion of cherry tomatoes (worth $3), but we ended up with a TON of tomatoes. So we increased the portion size to match what we usually sell at our farm stand for $6! (And seriously, have you ever

Organic Veg: sometimes it aint perfect.

We always do our absolute best to send you beautiful, high-quality produce. But every now and then, you might spot some tiny bug holes—especially in our brassicas (like kale, arugula, and radishes). Flea beetles are incredibly tough pests. To eliminate them completely, we’d have to resort to heavy-duty chemical pesticides. Instead, we rely on healthy soil to strengthen our plants so they can naturally resist pests. Sometimes the bugs get a few bites in, especially in succulent brassicas like bokcho and napa,, but as long as the leaf is healthy and tastes great, we want to share it with you!

And here is the incredibly cool, science-backed reason you shouldn't fear a few bug bites: plants can't run away, so they use biochemistry to fight back. When a bug nibbles a leaf, it triggers the plant’s immune system. The plant draws on micronutrients from the soil—often assisted by beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in the root zone—and floods its leaves with health-boosting compounds called phytochemicals and antioxidants.

Essentially, a few bug bites force the plant to boost its own immune system, making your food even more nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich! So when you see a few tiny holes, know that your veggies fought a natural battle, won, and packed themselves with extra health benefits just for you.

The other cool thing is that most of our plants CAN fight the bugs effectively with the proper nutrients, using biochemistry, that they taste and look incredible and have higher levels of antioxidants and micronutrients.

COOKING TIP: A great way to use leaves with insect bites is to sauté them with garlic and soy sauce!

RECIPE IDEAS FROM THE COMMUNITY

We’re not big fans of Facebook, but it’s a great tool for community groups—and we have one! It’s a fantastic way to ask questions about vegetables you might not be familiar with and to share recipes. We have many long-time CSA members in the group who share wonderful recipe ideas.

Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/542052036128918

Featured Vegetable: Endive!

Last week, we distributed endives and this week escarole! Although they look a bit like lettuce, they have a firmer texture and a deliciously bitter taste—which I love—and they’re incredibly good for digestion!

If you didn’t get a chance to swap them out during pickup, don’t panic! It’s a great vegetable to cook withIf you didn’t get a chance to exchange them when you picked them up, don’t worry! It’s a great vegetable to cook with. One of my favorite ways to prepare it is to cut the heads into quarters lengthwise (keeping the stem intact so the leaves stay together), toss them generously with olive oil and sea salt, then roast them in the oven until the edges start to brown and caramelize. Take them out of the oven, let them cool a bit, then drizzle them with your favorite Caesar or tahini dressing. It’s absolutely delicious and perfectly balances out the bitterness. Bon appétit!

A quick note on washing: because of the way endives grow, dirt can really get lodged inside the tightly curled leaves. To clean them thoroughly, I recommend first cutting the heads into quarters, then soaking them in a large bowl of cold water. Give them a good stir

Still Room in our Share!!

We still have room in our CSA!! We'd love to round out our numbers with 20-30 baskets on week B (July 1, July 15, July 29)

We have an abundance of gorgeous food and really think it's the best deal going (I mean, compared to grocery stores.. not other small farmers. Other small farmers have great veg too! ). So Tell your friends! For the next two weeks if you refer a friend we'll send you a free bouquet!

LOOK AT THESE GORGEOUS boxes/veg/farmteam!!

Happy eating!

-jess