Hello there!
Our Plan B Organic CSA Share began last night! It was pretty much torture waiting all day long until our evening pick-up time…
This is the first time we have ever had a CSA share, so I was really excited to get started.
Here are the types of foods that are in season in June in this area. I bolded what we received.
June - Asparagus, Baby Salad Mix, Lettuce, Spinach (?), Green Onions, Radishes, Greenhouse Tomato & Cucumber, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Kale, Broccoli, Shiitake Mushrooms, Beets, Sugar Snap Peas, new potatoes, Carrots + apples.
We have a half share which is enough for 1-2 people, however I could easily chomp my way through a full share I’m sure! :biggrin:
I love knowing that these foods come from local organic farmers working hard every single day to try and make a difference in the system. It feels good to support their efforts and get some fresh organic produce in the process.
I’m not sure what the greens are on the left…spinach??
I handled this food ever so carefully when I put it away.
I stare at it in awe, I appreciate it, and I try and think about how I will use it.
Any ideas? :biggrin: Maybe we can make this a weekly challenge- ‘Help Ange build a recipe from her CSA produce!’
I was really hoping I was going to find some kale in the bag because our local grocery stores don’t carry organic kale. Maybe next week though.
These are the cutest little apples I have ever seen….bumps and marks and lots of character!
After caressing my produce, I made breakfast!
I had some Vegan Overnight Oats ‘marinating’ in the fridge (it was a triple batch) so I just scooped out a serving, mashed a big banana into the bowl (with a fork), and topped it with shredded coconut and my coconut oil + maple syrup dressing (1/2 tbsp coconut oil + 1/2 tbsp maple syrup).
I used to look at overnight oats and CRINGE at the thought. Now I am completely in love. Funny how things turn out. If I had a dime for every email that I got from new Green Monster lovers that said ‘I thought those green drinks looked SO gross…and then I tried one and fell in love. Now I drink one every morning!’
I must admit I am missing my Green Monsters! As you may know my Kitchen Aid blender is broken once again. I am trying to decide if I am going to go BIG with a Vitamix or a Blendtec OR if I am going to try a mid-range brand that I have heard good things about (Oster, Hamilton Beach, or Breville). Decisions, decisions!
This morning I worked on shipments, ordering stock, and baking. Before I knew it, I was hungry for lunch!
I had an Ezekiel wrap filled with about 1 cup of Navy Beans, pasta sauce, mixed veggies, dried parsley, and ground pepper and sea salt.
Mmmmmm.
I also had a juicy apple.
Afternoon snack will be this guy…
Have you ever supported local farmers either through a CSA or by going to a Farmer’s Market? Do you find that your city or town has a lot of access to local and/or organic products? Why or why not?
Have a Terrific Thursday!
{ 115 comments… read them below or add one }
I have always wanted to do a CSA, but there aren’t any in my neck of the woods. I am hoping that when I move in September there will be one closer!
I really want to do a CSA! I don’t like veggies much though, I wish I could request that I get all kale all the time…lol.
nom nom nom to everything on this post…i want to use a company here called door to door organics, but i’m just scared to pay the price if i don’t use all the food! yours sounds so good :)
My boyfriend and I did an organic delivery for a while and I LOVED it! I seriously thought about nothing else on delivery days and it was like Santa was visiting when the guy would knock on my door! There’s nothing like a dude hand delivering fresh organic produce to you!
My only beef with the organics delivery is that they aren’t like a CSA in that they deliver strictly from local farmers. They START at the local level and branch out. So although I was getting staple food like apples and such, they were from CHILE! I’d MUCH rather go with a CSA or just head over to the Farmer’s Market. That (and the fact that my boyfriend was in between jobs at the time) was the biggest reason we stopped getting it.
The greens on the left look like ruby chard- yum!!!!
If you are looking for a way to cook them up they are delicious sauteed with garlic and olive oil and are wonderful juiced with those apples and cucumber.
I was thinking of doing the local CSA. Only $322 for now through October. But..maybe next year.
The greens on the left look like some I got at my local farmer’s market 2 weeks ago. The lady said it is called Russian Kale :) Looks yummy!
Ohhh how exciting! I would love to get something like that each week :) Someday perhaps!
You could make a vegan apple crumble with all those apples! :)
Yummy!! I am actually going to start making more overnight oats. Your recipes look delicious and I LOVE oats!
I am pretty sure the greens on the left are swiss chard! :)
Enjoy!!
I agree, it looks like swiss chard :)
i just bought a breville a few days ago from a refurbished electronic store and it’s been wonderful!
I love how that wrap looks, I would so devour it right now!
For recipe ideas, some CSAs offer websites. I’ve received deliveries from Two Onion Farm near Madison, WI for a couple of years. You can go to their website and search for recipes by vegetable, such as chard, kohlrabi, etc. I know a lot of the other CSAs in our area do the same. It’s great, especially when they give some really unusual vegetable.
SO MUCH AWESOME PRODUCE! Sorry about the capitals. I know it annoys people. But seriously. That is an amazing amount of produce; I’m proud of you for supporting farmer’s markets and organic produce! :D
I hope you have a great day! “Delight” is a great way to start. ;)
Wei-Wei
I had a CSA a few years ago and I would do the same thing; bring them home, bask in their glory and put them away very carefully, lol. I’m lucky to have a lot of locally grown produce near by…well in the summer & fall anyway!
As a CSA farmer in an area that has lots of offerings for those looking for a CSA, my heart goes out to those who aren’t close enough to access one. If you are seeking a CSA, you can try looking at http://www.localharvest.org , which lists most CSA’s across the nation. There are probably a few missing, but it’s a great resource.
Best of luck with your first CSA experience! In my humble opinion, they are the best!
I am looking into joining a CSA right now! :) The problem I have here (in northern California) is that there are TOO MANY OPTIONS! I’m not a very good decider ;)
My Dad is a farmer, so I support local farmers and farmer’s markets whenever I can! :) Agriculture is big in my area (2 hrs east of Toronto), so there are lots of markets and CSA’s to choose from. I usually go to the farmer’s market, but I’m seriously considering signing up for a CSA next year!
Caressers of produce unite! :)
Your CSA Share is enviable! I have always wanted to do one, but the cost has prevented me. This year, my goal is to visit my local farmer’s market each week. Baby steps, right?
Do you get to pick what fruit and veggies you want or take what you get?
A CSA juice might be good!
Although, I think those apples are screaming: “Pie me!”
All that produce is amazing!!!
Recipe idea: roasted shitakes & asparagus w/ simple marinade of good balsamic vinegar & olive oil tossed over a salad.
chopped up baked & spiced apples might be a nice addition to vegan overnight oats, too!
As for the blender debate: go big! i’ve had a vitamix for 5 years and it has never given me any trouble & i’ve certainly put it to the test! :) totally worth the money. plus, it is so powerful it actually makes food steam!
The greens on the left are red chard! They have a mild flavor like spinach, but a heartier texture. Cook it like you would kale, only separate any thick stems and put those in the pan first as they take longer to soften but are very delicious. Yours look like the tender, young leaves so you might not have any of the broad stems. I put the greens in green monsters all the time, too.
It’s not spinach, it’s red chard! so delicious!
I concur – red swiss chard – yummy!
Actually, this year I’m trying my OWN little vegetable garden! Have you ever tried this? I’ve seen some photos of your yard area on this blog and it looks big enough (I’m doing mine in big pots). I just LOVE the idea of growing my own food (it’s like a CSA, x20!). For now, I’m trying a few different types of lettuce, some kale, zucchini, broccoli, pattypan squash, radishes, and some herbs (Thai basil, etc.). A lot of those grow very quickly (radishes can be ready to go in less than a month), and are pretty hardy to boot.
I have my own garden too! I started it two years ago and I love it. The other night I wanted salad so I walked out to the garden, picked some lettuce and went back in the house to make my salad. As I was eating it I was like “this was on the plant 20 minutes ago!” Can’t get any fresher or more local than that :)
The CSA is SUCH a cool idea!! I’m a little bit jealous, must say.
Yeah, it’s probably a different variety of spinach. It’s not big enough to be chard, I don’t think.
We JUST joined our first CSA here, too! So excited about it. We picked up the first of our loot last week, and I can’t wait to get more!
We’re fortunate to have the option of several farmers markets that are either within walking distance or not too far on the subway/bus. Plus they run on different days, so if I forget something or need something at one, I can usually get to whichever market is on next. My summer thing on a Friday has been taking a detour on the way home and grabbing a piece of fresh banana and walnut bread as a pre-run snack – love it! There are CSA’s in our area, but I’ve always been kind of reluctant as I am not sure if it would be enough and don’t want to end up not using some of it. Still trying to figure out if it would work for us $$$-wise. Have to say though two of the best markets I have been to would be the one in Union Sq, NYC and one we went to in Santa Barbara. The SB one reminded me of home and I actually bought lemons and carried them around the rest of the trip so I could smell them – sad, I know! :)
I can’t wait to join a CSA!! I’m going to be in London for a couple of months so I can’t yet, but it’s going to be one of the first things I do when I get back.
The bag on the left is BABY chard, so cute!!!
Wow, such beautiful produce!! You are sooo lucky to have that. I wish we had that option here in New Orleans, LA. If anyone knows of anything similar in my area, please email me.
We’re debating getting a CSA this summer because we want to stock up on veggies and I’m slowly debating going 100% vegetarian. I don’t know if I can give up yogurt and kefir though!
Hi from Alaska! Been reading your blog for quite a while but just commenting for the first time!
Just wanted to comment that I’ve had a Hamilton Beach blender for about 5 years and I’ve never had any problems with it. I make green monsters all the time, I blended pea soup in it last night and a few days ago I made “banana soft serve” in it!
Good luck with your blender hunt, and enjoy all that gorgeous produce!!!
When I move back home for the summer I’m going to try to convince my parents to do a CSA, but if not, I’m just going to buy my veggies from the super market. My parents are still trying to get a grip on the whole wheat thing.
About the blender sitch – we still have my mom’s Oster from the mid-80s and it still works great! I use it as a food processor too – I’ve made banana soft serve with it and grinded oats for oat flour. I highly recommend Oster!
The mystery greens look like beet greens to me.
I go to the farmers market but right now they don’t have many veggies yet which is very disappointing.
I wanted to sign up for a CSA but thought we were moving at the end of the month so didn’t. Now I wish I had.
I am so jealous of your CSA! I looked into one for myself, but there were none that were close enough, or they were really expensive! I’m excited to see what recipes you come up with every week using your CSA veggies.
As for blenders, I have a Hamilton-Beach that I got as a wedding present, and I love it. Has never leaked, comes apart easily for washing, and is very powerful.
My first CSA delivery is today! I can’t wait to get home and see what the wonderful Mr. Organic Farmer is going to bring me. Seriously, I’m like a kid on Christmas morning. I’m thinking you should have a weekly series on the CSA box. That way I could steal (borrow) some recipes. It will be such fun!
Gorgeous!! My aunt is giving me some of her weekly organic CSA delivery this summer…sooo exciting for me :)
I have a CSA for produce and I just joined another for meat. In Chicago there are tons of options. I went through a few before I found a farm that wasn’t sold out! There are so many options because people buy into them. If there wasn’t demand, the farms wouldn’t last.
Asparagus is my favourite veggie and I love it’s in season right now.
I did a little asparagus risotto recipe here if you’re interested (the risotto is vegan so just ignore the salmon, it’s only an accompaniment, veggies only in the risotto!)
http://www.suburbanyogini.com/2010/06/02/humpday-recipe-asparagus-risotto/
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