We've finally made it! It's officially fresh food season in Central Oregon!!
Although we harvest food on our farm 10+ months of the year, and grow food year round, we can only do so to a very limited capacity for most of the year. Our climate just... isn't southern California. We have a lot of tricks up our sleeves (thanks to amazing and innovative farmers whose shoulders we stand upon) to get food to the people for most months out of the year in a relatively cool food-climate, but most of the food we harvest from November-April has to be grown under protective greenhouses, and only the hardiest of crops can be grown in these without heat. Even those plants slow to almost no growth from December-February due to lack of sufficient light. However, this time of year, we're starting to harvest crops that were planted in April (when it was often cold and our irrigation water began to flow), which means we've got so much more s p a c e to grow and harvest and the days are long, which together allow for so much more volume!
For the first pickup, we offer an optional farm tour for those who would like to come by and learn a little bit about growing food. Come join us if you like! This is just for CSA members and Farm Stand Subscribers as we have limited space for vehicles. We'll keep it short, 20-30 minutes depending on questions, and will start promptly at 5:30. Following OHA's guidelines, we will not require masks for the tour as we will be outdoors and have plenty of space to spread out, please come however makes you comfortable. We're relieved to say that all our farm crew is fully vaccinated. If you generally pick your box up at a different location, but would like to attend the tour and get your box here, you can change your pickup location for just this box under the deliveries tab. Make sure you change your egg share location too if you have one!
You will receive specific instructions regarding each pickup location on your "share is on it's way" email, so don't worry if you can't meet up with us on the farm, feel free to pick your box up at your convenience, within the designated time frame and let us know via email if you have any concerns about pickup. If you have any issues or questions that you need immediate help with, please call Ashley at (970)409-8331. In general, email is the best way to get a hold of me, as I'm often very busy in the field but check email 2-3 times a day.
For the first week of our main season CSA, we're harvesting salad greens, spinach, radishes, turnips, and baby bok choy from our outdoor fields and cilantro and carrots are coming from inside our tunnels (they take a while, so the field plantings aren't quite ready, but we know you love them!).
So excited for a bountiful season with you,
Ashley, Caleb and the Sungrounded Crew
