My Saturday Mystery: The Wonders of CSA

This year, my husband and I decided we would join a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. For a fee, we pick up local organically grown fruits and vegetables every Saturday. It began in June and it goes until early October. In addition to our produce, some weeks they have 100% whole grain bread and eggs from chickens that, I am pretty sure, are living the good life! Just think: eating lots of veggies and fruits,  and supporting local businesses - what could be more exciting? As it turns out, there IS something more exciting – the unknown bounty of which I will receive each and every week.

You see, what I get each week varies based on what has been harvested and is in season. I never know ahead of time what wonders of nature await me and as I walk into the building that houses my produce with my empty reusable bag at my side my heart skips a beat wondering what will be filling it in the next few minutes. Most of you are probably thinking that I really need to get a life if THIS is what gets me excited, but the truth is, my CSA program has introduced me to vegetables that I have never heard of (I received kohlrabi last week) and challenges me to find new ways to use my produce. 

Best of all, because I hate to waste, it forces me to use every last drop of my produce within a 7-day span. Last night I made kale chips, the evening before I sautéed zucchini, summer squash, green onions and garlic scapes with quinoa in garlic infused olive oil. It was great, and I probably would not have put that combo together on my own – thank you CSA!  I’m almost out of my produce for this week and I’m still stumped on what to do with the cabbage, but in a few days, the mystery of what meals await me next week will finally be revealed. I’m looking forward to that!