Community Supported Agriculture

As an experiment this summer, my family joined community supported agriculture (CSA). Every week we get local organic produce delivered to a nearby pickup location. Although we do sometimes get vegetables that nobody in my family likes too much (beets and bok choy anyone?), it's a lot of fun and a great way to try things I might have otherwise never bought. Additionally, we can go to the farm and pick a number of other crops and flowers for no extra charge. Most of the produce we get is in very good condition, and of course, very fresh. Even though I think CSA is a great experience and a really good cause, we probably won't be signing up again next year. The delivered shares only come in one size and for three people it's too much food. We've looked around a bit, but we haven't found anyone interested in splitting a box. Not to mention, next fall I'll be moving away and going off to college (woah, !

Right now we're getting some great varieties of heirloom tomatoes including the monsters pictured below:

Salad, chik'n sandwich, and CSA veggies

What better to do with only a week of school and an unstarted 20-page paper due Monday than to update my blog? Nothing of course!

This Sunday was the first pickup for my community supported agriculture (CSA) group, which my family joined this year. As a shareholder in a local farm, my family gets a delivery of local organic vegetables each week. Luckily for us, the pickup location is less than a mile from our house and very convenient. This week we got 6 heads of lettuce (of varying varieties), sugar snap peas, bok choy, and strawberries. We still aren't quite sure how to use all the lettuce, but I'm thinking some lettuce wraps and taco salads are in our future. Any other ideas are appreciated.

I took some of the peas, lettuce, and strawberries for lunch yesterday. With the lettuce and strawberries is also an apricot, grapes, and Craisins. I also brought along some baby carrots, applesauce, and a Boca chick'n patty on some bread from a local bakery.