Mendocino Organics

This week’s rain is a reminder that it’s not quite spring yet, although we’ve sprung forward our clocks and flowers and trees are starting to bloom. We’re in that transition period, where we’re not harvesting much produce. Recently, we started cultivating ground and transplanting seedlings in Potter Valley. Before we could do that, we wanted to clear out the winter crops so that there would be less organic matter needing to break down in the soil. All the crop residue – about two heaping trailer loads – went to our livestock. They were happy!

There was also a small amount of cabbage which went to some good folks making sauerkraut.

With our Ford 5600, we got a couple fields spaded and disked. Before this week’s rain, on Monday, we were able to get in a bit of kale and broccoli. Let’s hope for sunshine and warm weather soon after this rain, so those crops can start growing, and so we can do more planting.

Farm Fact of the Week

This might be more of a food fact, but, did you know that making sauerkraut from super freshly-harvested cabbage is the best? They have more moisture and naturally have a lot of the active bacteria on the outside, which is needed to break the cabbage down in fermentation. If you have not tried simple, homemade sauerkraut, you are missing out! We have a nice crock from Ukiah Natural Foods Co-op, which are ideal for fermenting vegetables.

If you join our Vegetable CSA, you will be the first to know about fresh cabbage ready for harvest and kraut-making. CSA members will get dibs on bulk orders of cabbage, processing tomatoes, pickling cucumbers, potatoes, and more, so sign up today! We have enough room for 100 members this year, but don’t delay.