What’s in Season in the Sierra!
December: The month of Holiday Cheer! Salute! I’m assuming that as you read this, you are now under snow! But you know what happens when you assume things…
The winter months are time for a change in diet. Most of the local, great summer vegetables are gone, so it’s time for ‘meat and potatoes’ – don’t forget Pasta! Aaaahh music to my ears….Pasta! During the holidays is a great time for stews, soups, casseroles, and roasts. So this month I add a bit on finding local grass-fed beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and wild fish for these comfort-food dishes. For the vegans, the only difference is substituting tofu for meat, or adding in a specific grain like organic rice.
Farmers Markets: Auburn every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon, around Downtown. Chico Farmers Market on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m, in downtown on Second St. For those of you who want to explore additional local farms go to: localharvest.org.
Sierra Valley Farms: What a November, my greens have rebounded to the point that I had to go back to work! I thought I was done for the season. I attended the Auburn and Chico Farmers Markets with carrots, spring mix, spinach, arugula, horseradish, our winter run of Bloody Mary mix and our new addition…. real wasabi paste! If you have a chance to visit either market please do, there is a lot of winter vegetables, grass-fed beef, pork and lamb, and value items coming in. What better way to buy local than to get your Christmas gifts at the farmers markets! Support your local farmer!
What you will see coming to the Truckee/Tahoe Area
Vegetables: At both farmer’s markets (Auburn & Chico) there were a lot of herbs, butternut, acorn, banana, spaghetti squashes, pumpkins, gourds, along with cool season leafy greens like arugula, lettuces, cabbage, chard, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. There are a few fall potatoes left and plenty of onions, green onions and leeks. California sweet potatoes and Asian vegetables are in abundance. I did see a few local tomatoes, and some hydroponic beginning to appear, even some peppers. Don’t forget about local honey and olive oil.
Fruits & Nuts: Get fresh almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and chestnuts. Some great finds for the holidays are hazelnuts, dates and dried fruits. Kiwis and mandarins from the foothills and Chico/Gridley area are in abundance. We’ll see avocados (Hass mostly) from San Luis Obispo south, and pomegranates from northern Sacramento Valley. Persimmons and Thompson seedless grapes are about done. Apples persist, along with Bartlett, Bosc, and Asian Pears. I had my first basket of local strawberries from the Chico/ Marysville area. What a treat!
Meats/Fish: For those of you looking for local meats (poultry, lamb, beef, pork) and fish. I have a few suggestions:
• Grass-fed Beef: Thompson Valley Ranch Beef (tvrgrassfed.com), and Coffee Pot Ranch (coffeepotranch.com)
• Natural Pork: Coffee Pot Ranch
• Grass-fed Lamb: Coffee Pot Ranch and Flying Mule Farm (flyingmulefarm.com) – check out their meat-buying clubs
• Free-Range Poultry/Eggs: New Moon Natural Foods
• Wild Fish: Little Fish Company (Auburn Farmers Market)
• Wild Game: Go hunting! Duck, goose, pheasant, quail and chukar are in season
What You Won’t See: The hot season crops are gone, along with blueberries and blackberries, cucumbers, most zucchini, summer squash, and local beans. Don’t even think about peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums and pluots. This time of year is when you remember you should have canned your own. It’s too early for asparagus and artichokes.
Truckee/Tahoe Plantings
Time for ‘Window Sill Gardening.’ Make up some nice herb pots for your sunny windows. A great treat for the holidays.
Hoop Houses/Greenhouse: Get ready to deal with snow! You will have to keep the snow off of them so they don’t collapse. Seed spinach, arugula, kale, collards, and lettuces along with establishing your starts of herbs of thyme, taraggon, oregano, mint etc. If it gets cold, insulate your crops with Agribon Frost Blankets…see groworganic.com (Peaceful Valley Farm Supply).
Let me leave you with this thought for December:
‘Be who you are and say what you feel, because the people who mind don’t matter, and the people who matter don’t mind.’
~ Dr. Suess
~ Gary Romano owns Sierra Valley Farms, which sits on some of his family’s original 3,600-acre ranch in Beckwourth. sierravalleyfarms.com.
