More Photos

Pigs in Winter Pasture

A couple of the winter pastures were ready, so we let the animals in earlier this week. At first, they peeked over from the adjacent ground, but it didn't take long for them to start exploring and grazing on the grass.

Seeding Summer Pasture

With the rainy season ahead, we're getting ready to seed our summer pastures. The moisture in the soil from the heavy rain earlier this month made for ideal tilling conditions. In a few days, we'll seed a mixture of alfalfa, vetch, and grasses. Hopefully, the pasture mix will establish over winter and be ready for the pigs come May.

Below are photos of seeded winter pastures which will be ready in November. We added the ground to existing corrals, which are in the adjacent ground with the walnut trees, to provide more open space for the pigs.

Shaded Buckwheat Pasture

We tried out a buckwheat pasture, and the hogs loved it. Not only was the buckwheat good eating but also a cool surface on which our hogs got to rest.

The black walnut trees provide ample shade during the summer months.

We quickly realized that buckwheat alone isn't suitable for pig pastures as its delicate stand can't withstand stresses from the activity of our hogs. We'll try again with heartier grasses so the stand can last for weeks rather than just a few days, but after seeing how much the hogs like buckwheat, we'll look to blend it into the mix.

Pigs in Summer Pasture

What's in a pork share?

A typical pork share includes the following:

1 rack of ribs

5-7 packs of bone-in pork chops (usually 2 chops per pack)

1-2 packs of bone-in shoulder steaks (this is the Boston Butt sliced as steak cuts and happens to be the farm favorite)

1-2 bone-in shoulder roasts

2 packs of sausage links (usually 4 links per pack)

1 tenderloin

Shares are $7 per pound and range from 20 to 30 lbs. For a list of shares or to place an order, email csa@riverdogfarm.com. We serve parts of the East Bay, Napa County, Solano County, and West Contra Costa County. Delivery or Farm Pick-Up TBD.

Field Pea Harvest