Welcome Back, CSA Season!
The growing season in New England is short but plentiful. I learned so much last year about working with seasonal produce, and thinking outside the box. It really pushed my creativity (if you do a compare and contrast from Week 1 to Week 13, you'll see just what I mean).
We opted once again for the single share (which is fine for 2 people) of vegetables, fruits, bread, cheese and herbs. We also got the extended and winter share too (couldn't bear to not have all the gorgeous root vegetables as well). The thing to remember about CSA: you have to know your season. You may need to supplement with grocery-store items in the beginning and maybe not at all mid-season. It really depends on your consumption and preferences.
More things we learned last year: how to properly store produce so it lasts; to bring plastic bags along with tote bags to our weekly pickup; that if the bugs don't want to eat you, you might not either; and we pretty much can never get enough greens. I highly recommend getting a copy of From Asparagus to Zucchini: A guide to cooking farm-fresh seasonal produce. I learned a lot about storage methods from this book.
We love how communal Farm Direct Co-Op is: they provide weekly newsletters, hold pot-lucks dinners and most of all, showcase the hard-working New England farmers.
Something funny about our Thursday night pick up - it rained on a LOT of pickup nights last year. And by rain, I mean incredible downpours. So, we were not even a little shocked when, during our pickup last night, the sky turned suddenly black and a tent blew away! No one was hurt, thankfully.
A little (or a lot) or rain never deters us, and the best thing to do is wait it out. It's over before you know it. :)
Our first haul yielded broccoli, kohlrabi, arugula, red leaf lettuce, rhubarb, strawberries and 2 herb plants. I only grabbed one, as I was rain-dodging. But it's purple basil and it smells like heaven.
Michael has requested a pie, which I am making this weekend. I'll let y'all know what I make with the rest!
Kate House
8:37 pm on Saturday, June 11, 2011
I agree: The Farm Direct Co-Op is great. I'm so glad there's a pick-up option in Melrose. And the yield in the summer is huge; hooray for prodigious chard! (I have kohlrabi slaw on the menu for tomorrow.)
Nicole Wade
2:24 pm on Monday, June 13, 2011
Kate! I didn't know you were a member too! Yay. (Slaw sounds fab. Am thinking of turning mine into omelette and kohlrabi filled spring rolls.)
Amie LaBella
6:31 pm on Friday, June 17, 2011
I want to sign up for this but there's a waiting let :(
Any idea when they'll take new members??
Betsey Benagh
5:41 pm on Saturday, June 18, 2011
Amie, they typically allow folks from the waiting list to get the extended season and/or winter share, and there are generally openings over the winter for the following season. Meanwhile, get friendly with other folks who are members and see if you can get them to donate their share to you when they go on vacation!
Nicole Wade
1:41 pm on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sorry for the late reply on this, but I second all of Betsey's comments - that's exactly what I was going to say. We actually got on the waiting list a year before we joined (in 2009), which was a great idea, to ensure a spot. It's worth the wait! (And the extended and winter shares are fun, too. I recommend getting it.)
Amie LaBella
2:06 pm on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Thanks everyone!