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!
Yum!! I love fresh veggies!! The greens on the left look as though they are swiss chard because of the red stems. I’ve never seen spinach with red stems before.
Yummm your wrap looks good! I love how locally grown apples taste so much better than the kind you get in the grocery store – funny because they’re still apples, but I just find that the ones from local markets taste so different! I’ve never done a CSA but I do try to buy local produce when I can. I have to confess, the price of organic scares me sometimes and makes me wonder it it’s worth it, but for now my argument is that I’m still a student haha! Ideally, I’d buy only organic…. one day…..
I also vote for beet greens, though it’s hard to tell for sure from the picture.
Would the apples be from last fall? I didn’t think apples were harvested in the spring at all. Not that it matters, I’m sure they’ll taste good either way!
I love how excited you get about your veggies! (probably the way I am about shoes. or baking supplies. or skincare.) :) those all look beautiful, it makes me want a big lettuce + cucumber + tomato salad.
we are lucky to have some pretty big and really awesome farmers markets here, with beautiful and tasty veggies… actually all kinds of amazing foods. and its fun to go and talk to the farmers, the cooks, the butchers that are there with their “crafts”. it’s exciting. :)
enjoy your new veg, Angela!! :)
I would love to do a CSA! Wasn’t that a bday gift from Eric? The produce looks beautiful!
There is a lady in town that just started doing this… maybe I’ll have to look more into it!
As for the vitamix, I got mine for 558.00 including everything, from Ontario… here’s the link. It’s a reconditioned white one, but it has a full 7 year warranty! http://www.upayanaturals.com/SPECIAL_Vita_Mix_5200_Reconditioned_Limited_Quant_p/vit-5200-r.htm
Good luck!!
I think you should go big with the blender! You would CERTAINLY get your use out of it! I think for important matters like that, something that you’re clearly going to use every day, it’s important to get yourself something of quality that will last for years and years. A lot of money spent once is better than some money spent every year or couple of years, as I imagine would be the case with the mid range blenders you’re looking at, considering you’re green monster habit!
CSA day is so exciting!! We just joined a CSA for the first time this year and I LOVE not knowing what is going to arrive in our box. Even after it arrives, I often don’t know what’s in there – so many new veggies to try. We’ve gotten two boxes so far, and the most unique veggie was Stinging Nettles. I had no idea they were such a superfood! (Oh, and they no longer sting after you blanch them.) I hope you enjoy your CSA adventure as much as we are! :)
Oooh your produce looks so tasty! And the wrap looks deliciously messy. The best!
I recently saw this on the consumerist : http://consumerist.com/2010/05/need-a-blender-here-are-the-ones-consumer-reports-likes.html
So it’s perfect. I’m in need of a blender as well.
Jessica
They just reviewed blenders on The Kitchn today – must have read your mind!
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/appliances-small/best-reviewed-blenders-for-summer-consumer-reports-118552
My Co-Op changed my life!!! I am a horrible grocery shopper and meal planner so its fun to get fruits and veggies and think of ways I can use them for the week! (plus the wine and beer in my fridge are glad to have healthy company) I gain a lot of inspiration from your eats! Can’t wait to see what you create!
I reeeally wanted to join a CSA this summer and looked extensively for something that was convenient for me to pick up (I don’t have a car or a metropass and I don’t work well with specific pick up times because of the time demands on my job). haha… I really wish I had been able to work something out though! All of your veggies look delicious – I could totally eat all of that on my own. :D
-Alison
I’ve never done a CSA, but I’d love to join one that lets you somewhat pick from a list. I hate all onions (shallots, chives, etc) so I’d like to pick veggies I like instead of getting stuck with those. I’d love real apples though. There is no such thing as a better apple then one from the orchard. It’s the best part about fall, and I wish I could eat them throughout the year.
I think those mystery greens might be beet greens. The resemble chard much like a bet green!
Enjoy all those yummy foods.
OMG…I am SO jealous!!! That looks amazing! :)
Thanks so much for sharing what you got in your CSA. My first pick up of my share is next Tuesday and like you I’m so excited to find out what I got/what yummy goodness I’ll be making!
I don’t know what CSA is but I love going to my local Farmer’s Markets. The produce always tastes so amazingly wonderful and I love knowing that it is local, fresh and touched by human hands. I worked in trucking for a lot of years so I got to know a bit about how produce was treated and hauled across the US. Fresh, local produce is ALWAYS the better choice.
Those are definitely swiss chard! I love it, it’s really great sauteed with a little olive oil and garlic, or just steamed. I love the idea of CSA’s–such a great thing to be a part of!
I’ve thought about doing it, but I don’t like that you just get what you get. I like to plan my meals and then shop, not get a random bunch of stuff that I have to eat. Nothing makes me want to rebel more! =P