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!
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 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!”