My CSA starts today.
I am on cloud nine about this fact, like a puppy dog with my body squirming, back paw twitching, tail wagging, peeing on the floor excited, minus the whole making a mess in the house because gross.
For those of you scratching your head in confusion, allow me to explain.
A CSA literally translates to Consumer Supported Agriculture. You pay a fee at the beginning of the growing season for a share in the farm(s). I get mine through Geauga Family Farms, and it nets me a boatload of seasonal veggies for the next twenty weeks. I pick up my share every Thursday afternoon, right in my office building. It doesn’t get easier or better than that.
Part of the appeal of a CSA, aside from supporting local farms, is I don’t fully know what each week will bring, outside of lettuce because greens are a given. What I do know is the food continues to come regardless of how much is still in my fridge or on my counters from the week before. As a result, I’ve learned to be flexible, creative and crafty with my meals. I’ve had to be nimble on my feet and quick on my toes. Essentially, it’s made me a Kitchen Ninja, with a side of mental thrown in for kicks, pun intended.
Since I’m going to be talking at length about my CSA this summer, I thought a little Throwback Thursday action on this very same topic was appropriate.
This post was originally published in October of 2014.
Top Ten Signs You Participate in a CSA
I think it’s high time we talk veggies; farm share veggies to be exact.
Yes, I’m absolutely glossing over my disappearing act. What can I say? Life got in the way and I needed a sabbatical, partially due to my CSA, so this post is more than fitting, in a you don’t need lubrication to get there kind of way. Admit it; you missed my sexual innuendos. It’s also possible the Hubby is home for a solid week, which means I’m getting my groove back, and yes, I do mean it like that.
Back to the point of this post: CSA goodness.
For those of you who pick and choose your produce from a grocery store and then buy it in reasonable and manageable quantities, this post will likely be strange for you. Even so, I wanted to give you a glimpse into my world, so I’ve decided to share the pleasure, the panic, and the pandemonium, which comes with participating in a CSA.
Let’s give it up for The Glorious (pause for effect) The Magical (a second caesura) and the Overwhelming Produce which threatens to overtake you, your loved ones and everything in its path. At the end of the day, or really the season, only the strong survive.
Top Ten Signs (or way too many to count) You’re Participating in a CSA
- Produce pick up day is like your birthday and Christmas rolled into one.
- Phallic veggies become your thing.
- You get ridiculously excited for the first tomato of the season.
- You eat salads. Lots of them. In fact, you put the neighborhood bunnies to shame.
- You start to give away entire heads of lettuce.
- Come October, you beg people to take them.
- When they refuse, you try adding lettuce to smoothies. You realize this was a horrible idea and vow never to do it again.
- You do it again.
- You receive Facebook messages from dear friends simply stating “Greens Paralysis,” and know exactly what it means.
- You respond to those same messages with “I can’t eat another fucking salad.”
- Then you eat another fucking salad. You even like it.
Five Ingredient Spinach Salad
- Managing and processing produce is high on your weekly To Do list.
- Chopping bell peppers at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night is all the rage.
- You turn down social engagements because your Bok Choy is on the brink of death, and you’ll be damned if you lose another bunch.
- You put in on an Autumn Pizza and declare yourself a genius.
- There is some kind of green soaking on your counter, in a giant vat of water, at any given moment.
- You’ve dubbed this method ‘Revival of the Fittest.’
- Sometimes you’re hoping it will fail, sending your sad and sorry produce to the Great Compost in the Sky or really the giant rubbish pile in the backyard. Pfft, technicalities.
- The sight of wax beans makes you want to curl up into a fetal position or head for the hills with Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp kids.
- You learn to yodel.
- You head to Rozi’s and drink beer instead.
- You realize this is a much wiser decision and pat yourself on the back for such quick thinking.
- You start to lose counter space.
- Almost overnight bags of apples are everywhere.
- You put those same apples in everything.
- And I do mean everything.
- You have a small mountain of squash, hiding in a cool dark corner of your basement.
- You’ve named them.
- Fred and Sally to be exact.
- You’ve numbered them too.
- Kohlrabi is no longer a strange and scary thing.
- You meet the mother of all leeks.
- You pretend all the peppers in your fridge don’t exist.
- You learn beets make a mean mimosa.
- You get help from friends and find a way to make eggplant enjoyable.
- You buy a deep freezer.
- You pack that same freezer with all manner of soups, stews, chili, and produce.
- Sometimes you think that same produce is taunting you.
- It probably is.
- You single-handedly keep Ziploc in business.
- Tupperware is your new best friend.
- Sucking the air out of plastic baggies with a straw no longer feels illicit. In fact, it’s become the norm. You even have a spot for the straw in your utensil drawer.
- Despite all of this, you wouldn’t change a thing.
- In fact, you even sign up for the Winter CSA program.
- You call yourself a die hard, and it’s true.
Welcome to the start of my summertime crazy. It’s going to be a fun ride. Who’s coming with me?
Hah! I love this. We haven’t used a CSA but we order our groceries online from a local place that sources from a bunch of different farmers and producers near by. They have everything from locally made peanut butter to locally grown squash! It’s pretty cool!
That does sound pretty cool. Anything that supports the local farms gets a big thumbs up in my book.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
I loved reading this post the first time, and loved it again today!
I’m mighty proud to say that I stuffed the last piece of lettuce into my mouth a full 4 hours before pickup–so the house was Greens Free for a brief window this week.
New this year for me–salads in a jar. Instead of saying “dinner is blah blah blah protein blah blah vegetable and a salad” and then making the first two items but being too tired to fix a salad, I’m giving salads in a jar a try. I had my girl wash & tear a head of that leafy lettuce (then I tore it smaller because she still doesn’t like salad so she puts the leaves on her plate and eats them individually) and set up both pint (single) and quart (large single or side double) salads with all our favorite goodies in the bottom. No dressing, because my spouse doesn’t care for it and because I’m eating at home I can just add it.
After 4 jars I can say it’s much easier to grab a jar, dump it into a bowl/onto a plate, add a bit of dressing and call it good. I even cooked a bag of chick peas since that’s one of our favorite add ins, so now I’ve got chick peas, feta, blue cheese, peas, scallions, and carrots in the bottom of the jar.
I rambled. Just a suggestion. I’m going to try making kale chips on the grill this week, and eating them off the stem. Stay tuned.
Kirsten recently posted…Mustard Greens Kheema (Ground Beef and Mustard Greens Curry)
Grilled kale chips. Good god, you are brave.
My main issue with salad in a jar is I feel like once I’ve added all my toppings, I won’t have enough room for the buckets of lettuce I like to eat with all those toppings. Have you found this to be true?
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
Here’s the thing with the salads in a jar–if you pack them full of lettuce, you can’t create a tossed salad in the jar. However, it is quite possible to pack the wide mouth jar ridiculously full with lettuce, then shake it out into a bowl to have your tossed salad with copious ‘use all the farm share greens’ amounts and eat it too. That’s how I do it.
My spouse prefers a lower greens to other stuff ratio, so I don’t stuff the salad mix in his jars and he is able to shake and eat.
Kirsten recently posted…Grilled Green Beans with Garlic Scape Pesto and Parm (side dish and appetizer)
Aha! Thanks for the info.
Meghan recently posted…Almond Mango Granola
I didn’t even realize there were winter CSA programs. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while but hesitate since I’m the main veggie lover in the house, the others are a lot more picky with which veggies we eat! I do love taking my kids to the farmer’s market so they can pick the exact stuff they want. This is in my future though!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Blondies, Mid-Day Yoga and Separation Anxiety – TOL
My girl Kirsten has been doing a CSA for ten years now and at first her kids were not open to certain veggies, now they are right there in the kitchen cooking them with her. Over time and with lots of creativity on her part, they are totally down with the CSA. You should try it. You might get your kids to come around.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
You’re brilliant. Just reading this actually got my heart rate all up and I’m feeling panicking and then I realized it was “just” about produce. Not that I don’t feel for you because man, that sounds rewarding/exhausting. I just think you’re a great writer.
Suzy recently posted…Things About Me That Will Make You Feel Better About Yourself
Aw shucks. Thanks for that. It is much appreciated. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
Your pizza looks absolutely delicious! Always better when it’s homemade with fresh ingredients. Hope you have a great day!
Jamie recently posted…Thinking Out Loud Thursday – Total Randomness
Yep, homemade pizza is a favorite over here.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
YAY for your CSA starting! I’ve been contemplating doing one with this cute farm near me, but then I haven’t because I kinda like picking out the produce that I’m in the mood for. I love all of your pics of those bright and beautiful fruits & veggies – YUM!
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness recently posted…{Throwback Thursday} Warrior Pose: How Yoga (Literally) Saved My Life *Book Review & Interview*
I’m a total planner normally but getting unknown produce in unknown quantities sparks a whole lotta creativity and I’ve really come to love it.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
Hahahahaha!
“You put lettuce in smoothies. You realize it is a terrible idea and vow to never do it again. You do it again.”- Yes – this is the reality of the owner of a CSA share or backyard gardener who seriously underestimates the hardiness of lettuce…or cucumbers…or zucchini…damn that zucchini!
Heather@hungryforbalance recently posted…Food Rules and Mommyhood
I shred the zucchini in a food processor and then freeze it by the cupful. In the winter, I pull it out and add it to pancakes, breads, muffins, you get the idea. When the cucumbers rage out of control, I toss slices in water. I’ve got nothing for the lettuce though outside the usual stuff.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
ok yes, this reminds me of how I feel before, during, and after my epic trader joe’s excursions. I know it’s not the same, but I go there once a month and stock the basket full of nothing but greens. no I don’t eat them all that fast, I freeze them and do all sorts of sassy things. I totally understand the smoothie and salad thing. it’s like a conquest for me to eatallthe salad and win, which means I must enjoy them! if the salad sucks I lose. it’s a mighty challenge. I make big marinaded salads so they can sit in the fridge for a while without me worrying about a damn thing. oil and acid do magical things to greens.
smoothies? sure I’ve always got frozen greens of some variety in my freezer. I may have no other food in the fridge but my freezer is always full of frozen greens. I think I learned this from my great-grandmother who treated every day like we were about to get bombed by the enemy and would need a lot of cold produce… keep the veggies cold so they don’t go bad, hide in the drawer, then come out and not starve.
I can’t wait to learn more about your CSA, I’m green with envy over here 😀
danielle recently posted…Life in Color
I think your great grandmother sounds fantastic. I’d love to meet her and her freezer full of greens.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
My god the produce in this post is making me sweat. So gorgeous.
Brittany recently posted…100 Mile May
I know, I’m so excited for CSA season, and this year you’ll get to experience a little bit of it with me. Double squeal.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
Oh I am so envious of you! I can only dream of a CSA! There is probably a reason that we don’t have one in Scotland/ locally – every week it would consist of carrots, parsnips, potatoes and turnips (swede)… No fruit as our berries are grown for such a short period and to be honest not much else is grown! But maybe one day I will live somewhere where this is an option!
Ps on my dream wish list is a deep freeze… No joke… I would buy and freeze half a pig…
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Restore Your Factory Settings – 5 top tips for being more human!
Ha, that’s what our Fall CSA consists of with a few squash thrown in for good measure.
My girlfriend buys and freezes half a cow so you’re not alone.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
Wait. Can you really yodel?
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Vegan Spinach Pesto with Lentils [Recipe]
After a few drinks, I’d be happy to yodel for you.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
I tried to sign up for a CSA a few months ago (per your influence 😛 ), but all the spots were filled! I honestly had no idea it was such a popular thing, but apparently I’m missing out. I guess I’ll have to resort to stealing vegetables from my mom’s garden… although I have no idea if she’ll still be planting them considering the fact that they’ll be moving this summer. Sad faces. Can I come bum veggies off you? 😀
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. flourless chocolate zucchini muffins .
You are missing out because CSA’s are amazing!! That being said, you can always come bum vegetables off me. I may put you to work in the kitchen though. 😉
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
AHHHHH CSA I get my first Bountiful Basket tonight! I’m super pumped and writing a post about it!
Jayne recently posted…I got lost on the way to Church.
AHHHHH! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to read all about it and see the pictures. It’s gonna be fun.
Meghan recently posted…Throwback Thursday: The CSA Edition
It’s definitely genetic. I had to stop myself from speeding about 25 times on the way there; I was so excited. The pure delight of fresh greens. Yum.
We got Swiss Chard and ate the entire bunch that same night. 🙂
I had to end my CSA subscription mid season last year… I already get a box from a service that sources produce from local farms and there I get to pick what I want…so I get that… And then I get 4 heads of lettuce, kale and other unexpected items from the CSA … Living in a small apartment and being the main vegetable eater… I just couldn’t do it…haha… So as much as I hated to, I had to quit :p
Between the box you get to pick and the CSA, I can see how it would be too much.
I like the unknown of the CSA; it appeals to my competitive nature and lets me challenge myself.
wow, that vegetable packing is brilliant. I’m going to try that this year! How did the frozen spirilized zucchini turn out?!
masala girl recently posted…Tofu Scramble
So many veggies, so little time.
I shredded the zucchini with my food processor and added it later to pancakes, breads and muffins. I don’t think defrosted spiralized zucchini on its own would taste very good. As a general rule of thumb, I add once frozen things to something I’m good to cook like baked goods or soups, stews, chilis. You get all the flavor but don’t notice the loss of texture. I hope that helps, but if you need more info, please let me know.
Meghan recently posted…Avocado Cheese Panini Recipe