Diving into the CSA

So after reading about them and seeing them around here and there, we decided to dive in and try out a CSA this year. That's community-supported agriculture, for those that don't know but don't want to follow the link. Think of it as kind of subscribing to a local farm -- you pay $$XX for the CSA and each week you get a variety of farm-fresh vegetables, locally grown and in season!

I've been really happy with it so far. We went with Bird's Haven Farms for our first try, primarily because they have a pickup location at Amy's gym, which she'd be going to anyway. They started a bit early in the season, so the first few weeks were a little thin, but things are really hitting a great stride, and it's so nice to have a variety of different fresh vegetables to work with each week.

I wanted to try and keep track of everything we've gotten without needing to worry about losing the little pieces of paper they give out, so here goes. So far, we've gotten:

Week 1/22:

• 4 heads of lettuce (chosen from several different varieties, none being "iceberg")
• 1 bunch of swiss chard
• 4 radishes
• 1 ginormous cucumber
• 2 onions
• 1/2 dozen eggs

Week 2/22:

• 4 heads of lettuce
• 1 qt. strawberries
• 1 lb. spinach
• 1 huge cucumber
• fresh herb planter/basket

Week 3/22:

• 4 heads of lettuce
• 1 qt. strawberries
• 4 radishes
• 1 huge cucumber
• 1/2 dozen eggs

Week 4/22:

• 4 heads of lettuce
• 2 large cucumbers
• 4 radishes
• 1 green pepper

Week 5/22:

• 4 heads of lettuce
  
• 1 large carrot
• 2 lbs. potatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 green pepper

Week 6/22:

• 4 heads of lettuce
• 2 large cucumbers
• 10 leaves of kale
• 2 large yellow squash
• 1 green pepper
• 2 beets
• 1 huge zucchini
• 1 lb. green beans

Week 7/22:

• 1 green pepper
• 2 bunches of broccoli
• 1 kohlrabi
• 3 smallish carrots
• 2 beets
• 2 medium cucumbers
• 2 turnips
• 9 leaves of kale
• 1 large yellow squash
• 1 lb. green beans

And that's all so far. Last week (6/22) and this week (7/22) were great hauls. Amy's actually started bypassing the biggest cucumbers, simply because we can't eat that much cucumber in a week.

Again, one of the best parts for me has been trying new foods. I'd never had swiss chard before and I love it (sauteed with some garlic & olive oil). Kale and kolhrabi were new tastes for me as well. I can't wait to see what's still to come.