Fat Donkey Digest - Issue #4
CSA Shares Still Available!
We're down to just a few shares left for the 2025 season! If you’ve been thinking about joining, now’s the time.
CSA Rates for 2025:
Large Share: $749
Medium Share: $549
Small Share: $349
👉 Click here to learn more and sign up
Fat Donkey Starts – For Your Garden!
Need a few last-minute starts for your home garden? We’ll be potting up and selling some extras to the public soon. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email blast with all the details!
Staff Spotlight: “The Dodge”
Every farm needs an old truck—and ours is The Dodge. With her patina, squishy brakes, and a stubborn streak, she’s definitely got character. It takes zen-level patience to get her started some days, but once she’s running, she’s a workhorse and an essential part of Fat Donkey Farm.
Farm Update 🌿
May has arrived, and things are hopping at Fat Donkey Farm!
The greenhouse is bursting at the seams.
Early crops are sprouting.
Seeds and starts are going in the ground.
The water is in—and nature’s given us some good soaks.
We're reminded every spring that we work with nature, not against it. This year, we’re using a new ground cover for tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers to boost soil health while reusing materials for multiple seasons. We're also testing out cover crops to return nutrients to the soil—no herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Everything’s 100% natural here at FDF!
Recipe Corner: Gus’ Basil Pesto 🌿
This month, we’re featuring a flavorful basil pesto from our very own Italian kitchen wizard, Gus Passero. Gus doesn’t measure—he cooks by heart. So feel free to tweak this one until it fits your vibe!
Gus’ Basil Pesto
Ingredients:
~12 cups fresh basil leaves (about 1 gallon Ziploc bag)
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
2 ½ cups walnuts
Juice of 1 large lemon
6 garlic cloves
1 tbsp salt
24 oz olive oil
Instructions:
Toast walnuts in a pan or oven, let cool.
Add basil, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, Parmesan, and ⅓ of the oil to a food processor.
Blend well, then slowly drizzle in the rest of the oil until you reach your perfect texture.
Pesto tip: Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays for easy winter use! And don’t limit yourself—try cilantro-lime pesto or kale pesto (shoutout to Shannon for that gem last year!).
Crops 2025: What We’re Growing
Here's a sneak peek at what’s growing on Fat Donkey Farm this season:
🧄 Garlic, onions, potatoes, yams
🥕 Carrots, beets, turnips, radishes
🥬 Kale, chard, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli
🍅 Tomatoes, eggplant, summer & winter squash
🌿 Basil, oregano, cilantro
🫛 Snap peas
And more to come!