CSA Pickup – 7/22/20

As a certified organic farm, we have to work very hard at Rainshadow to keep our soil and plants happy and healthy. We use the practice of intercropping, planting a mix of species together, to promote a healthy soil community. Different microorganisms are attracted to different species of plants and each relationship between the plant and its microorganism contributes to the microbiome of the soil. The diverse community of microorganism helps us create maximum resilience to weeds, pests, and fungus and promoting the nutrient cycles of the soil itself.

Micro-organisms contribute The diversity of species in an intercropped bed aids the soil on a microscopic level by helping us

We use intercropping in all the different parts of the farm. The pictures surrounding this text are examples of intercropping around the farm.

Upper left photo: intercropped broccoli and bean section in the 25-acre. The broccoli has just started producing but will be finished long before the shelling beans planted within the row are finished. After the broccoli is pulled, the beans will continue bushing out and grow into the dried beans we sell in the store.

Top right photo: clover & wheat in the 25-acre. We planted clover and the wheat together this year. The clover is growing in the understory of the wheat and, after we harvest the wheat, the clover will take a lot less water to revive than planting it from seed. The clover crop helps us replenish the nitrogen in the soil after the wheat crop has used its fill.

Bottom left photo: nasturtiums & beans in the hoop houses. The nasturtiums are keeping the weeds at bay by growing throughout the understory of the pole beans and taking up any open space.

Bottom right photo: 26 species cover crop in the 25 acre. This cover crop is full of 26 different species of plants that help replenish nutrients in the soil, block weeds out by their presence, and produce natural fungicides to promote soil health.

Napa Cabbage Salad with Peanuts and Cilantro
serves 4-6

The Salad: 

  • 1/2 cup skinned raw peanuts
  • 1 tsp peanut oil
  • 1 large carrot
  • 4 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage
  • 2 cups slivered lettuce leaves
  • 3 thin scallions including some of the greens finely sliced diagonally
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 Tbs torn basil leaves

The Dressing:

  • 1/2 jalapeño chile, finely sliced
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar or honey
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 cup roasted peanut oil
  1. Heat the peanuts in the oil over medium-low heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until lightly browned after a few minutes. Blot with paper towels and set aside.
  2. Peel the carrot with a vegetable peeler and discard the skins. Then, with the vegetable peeler continue removing long strips of the carrot until you’ve reached the core.
  3. Combine the cabbage, lettuce, and carrot with everything except the nuts. Whisk the dressing ingredients together and toss with the greens. Add the peanuts just before serving.

(from Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America’s Farmers’ Markets, Deborah Madison, pg 100)

CSA Pick-Up Reminders

You all have been doing great bringing your clean, reusable containers and bags. Thank you and keep it up! The options continue to increase in the CSA, and those separate bags and containers for all the things come in handy.

We will see you and your smiling masked face tomorrow. Don’t forget to wash your hands before entering the farm store or picking your veggies with Sarahlee.

Things Rainshadow Could Use
If you are in the tidying mood, Rainshadow Organics could use these things:
  • canning jars of all sizes
  • berry pints/punnets
  • paper bags
  • egg cartons

If you find that you have collected a small arsenal of rubber bands, instead of leaving them for your kids to find and shoot at each other, we can collect those back too.

Feel free to bring any or all of these to the Bend Farmers Market or the Farm Store when you come to pick up your CSA. We will gladly take them off your hands.

Join Our Winter CSA
24 spots remaining

While eating in the winter is probably the furthest thing from your thoughts during this blast of heat, there are only 24 spots remaining in our winter CSA. If you are thinking about eating locally with us this winter, now is the time to sign up. Follow the link below to learn more about our winter CSA program and to join!

Thank you so much. Enjoy the heat and we will see you tomorrow!

Rainshadow Organics Crew