Who is subscribing to a CSA this year? What do you do with it?

[sbarr]

I sent in my check - and will get about 22-24 weeks of a CSA this year starting in June (average 8-12 items per week). Here's my challenge - Lindsey is 9 months old (so there's just so much she can eat ) and John isn't a big veggie type . A colleague at work told me she and her husband really struggled to get through it all each week and made lots of soup - I am not a big soup fan.

What did YOU do with your shares? I'm struggling a bit with some of the greens - I've never eaten many greens. How did you incorporate with meat and eggs and cheese for mainstream appeal? What was good grilled? Did you marinate or jar any - like zucchini strips or eggplant in olive oil? (I'm thinking this would be a good way to store things for use as condiments after season is over).

Things I'm considering:

Swiss chard or kale or spinach:

Chard/Egg casserole with parmesan - or variations of the frittata
Chard stir fry with olive oil, red wine, balsamic vinegar

I'm going to start a file with small notecards so that when I get my share - I'm excited about opportunities, not thinking: what the hell am I going to do with THAT? I know I do best when I plan ahead, collect recipes and anticipate, rather than feel obligated to eat something.

Maybe we can have a weekly thread in the recipe forum this summer, but I'd like to start here, just to get a few ideas and inspirations.

[Darkfire]

Ours is 485 for 24 weeks of 8 pieces, organic veggies and fruits. My thought on the greens is either juice them, smoothie them (spinach makes a vegan smoothie take creamy, weird but true) or just use them as sandwich bread like I do with romaine lettuce. I have never been a big mushy veggie fan so I am not sure cooking them does it for me. When I had an Iguana it wasn't an issue, my cat eats greens but only if I dry them....he is a strange bird that cat o mine.

[Chelveston]

I'm waiting for the application to arrive. I'm excited about the prospect of so much organic food. I try to garden, but I'm just not good at it.

[butters]

Hi everyone... just joined a few days ago, lurked for a while, first time posting..

We joined a CSA back at the beginning of January, and also have been receiving more vegetables than we would normally buy each week. I've had a really easy time using up the eggs and greens by making stir frys. We're really not salad people, so I was apprehensive about all the lettuce (hothouse grown) we were getting, but it cooks down to such a tiny amount when you add it to a stir fry. Got a head of cabbage this morning, and will either try that in a stir fry or make a corned beef and cabbage this week. I've also used the lettuce leaves as sandwich wraps - made a BLT wrap yesterday for lunch.

We're not getting any zucchini or eggplant up here yet, but during warmer weather I love throwing some slices of each on the grill seasoned with some thyme, S&P, and olive oil. Once we start receiving zucchini, I'm definitely going to make zoodles. Eggplant - one of my favorite ways of making it is grilling (or baking) it whole, until it fully "deflates". Let it cool, then pull out the insides (discard the skin), and mix with olive oil, minced garlic, and lemon juice. It makes a delicious dip/spread!

I'd also love to see some ideas for using up veggies here, and am always down for trying new recipes!

-Lisa

[sbarr]

Lisa - welcome! Mine doesn't start until June, so I'm soaking up the ideas.

Lettuce - make a wrap!

Doh - I didn't even think of grilling - I might put at the top of every veggie - Grill it!

If you like Tahini (sesame paste) that's the last step in making Baba Ganouch.

Cabbage - that's right, we're going to end up with some of that.

I think I'm going to start writing up notecards by vegetable name - preferably quick, since a warm summer evening is not cooking time.

Alas, that is the adventure - to enjoy seasonal veggies and then find ways to save them for later. Methinks if I stay with my grass-fed beef, eat from the CSA daily, I'll have to lose weight.

[Doggygirl]

I'm looking forward to recipe and also canning/freezing ideas to come on this thread! I reserved our CSA spot in December. A full share (should be enough for 4 people, but we are only 2!!) for $350 + 20 hours of work on the farm. Weather depending, the season will go from around late May (work begins early May) through October.

This CSA does something interesting. In some sort of a managed way, you "take what you need" when you pick up your share. This would allow a person to skip items they don't like or can't use and potentially have more of something else. It will be interesting to see how it works in "real life" but the lady who runs the farm sounds like a no nonsense type who I imagine runs a tight ship! I can't wait.

I'm hoping to learn something during the "work" part that will help me learn more about gardening on my own.

DG

[butters]

I like the idea of "take what you need", Doggygirl. That's my only complaint - what to do with items that I'm trying not to eat. We've been getting about 6 potatoes and 8 apples per week, and I'm doing my best to avoid them. The BF loves potatoes, so that's less of an issue, but we still had a few apples left over from last week when we got our share yesterday. I'll probably end up bringing them into the office, my coworkers would probably eat them.

[wcwendy]

We're part of a local, organic, largely-heirloom CSA. I love it. We get far too much food, so I have frequently given some to neighbors or friends who stop to see us. It seems kind of funny to send them home with a head of lettuce, but they love getting fresh, organic food for free!

Our CSA has a weekly newsletter w/ recipes for the items. It has been handy for items that I've never tasted nor even seen.

This year, I'm planning to leave the vegetables that I won't eat if I don't know people who will. I added a lot of fennel to the compost pile last year--I keep thinking that I'd eat it, but I really didn't like it. This year, I'll leave it for those who love it. (Those who run the CSA will let the last people to pick up their shares take the extras that are left.)

Things that we've made frequently:

*wilted lettuce salad (w/ bacon, onions, salt, pepper, vinegar, sweetener--I just go ahead and use sugar most of the time because it's so little that I don't worry about it since we don't put it much else.)
*borsht (mostly for the kids, but I think that I'll get brave enough to have it sometimes since I was encouraged by my nutritionist to not be so afraid of healthy carbs)
*cucumbers w/ olive oil, garlic, dill, salt, pepper
*zucchini, or any summer squash, fried w/ bacon, onions, salt and pepper
*grilled vegetables
*stir-fries of all sorts (You can even add turnips!)
*tomatoes and cucumbers in vinegar, water, salt, pepper and chilis
*greens--boiled or cooked w/ little water, bacon, salt, pepper, chilis, vinegar, onions, garlic
*I canned some greens, but I don't like them
*shredded or sliced and froze things when we had too many to use (or when they accidentally froze in the fridge)--carrots, beets, zucchini...
*pickled daikon--I haven't yet tried it, but I hope that it tastes like takuan
*pickled vegetables w/ lots of cumin
*Peruvian cauliflower (recipe in my journal--link below)

Most of our share of fall crop potatoes is still sitting in cold storage. I make stew for the family sometimes, because I don't like stew and they love it. It's a non-tempting way to use the carrots and potatoes.

[steady]

I tried to subscribe to a CSA in NYC last year and could not get into one ...they are very popular due to the "trendiness", but popularity isn't a bad thing. So anyway I decided I was going to inquire about starting a CSA in NYC. CSAs in NYC work a bit differently the farmer has to comes to us and member groups are then "matched" with a farmer through and organization call JustFood. The real hurdle in getting a CSA started is finding a drop off location that is suitable to park the farmer's truck without a ticket (not easy), easy to drop off (no steps) and large enough facility to hold the produce, and a facility that is willing to provide the space for free. Somehow we got it all to work. I can't believe it!!! I am so excited and proud to be one of the founders of the TribecaCSA!!!

So the details of our CSA: $525 for 20 weeks -June 8th through October 19th. Average of 8-12 items about 11-17lb of produce...wahoo! The farm is charging slightly more than others in NYC, but it is more food, a wider variety of produce, and still better prices than organics from the food markets. The vegetables run the gamut---I will write the produce details when I have the list in front of me. I am so looking forward to this!

Any NYCers, we are seeking members for summer of 2009! PM me for details.

[sbarr]

Steady - I've been thinking about you and your CSA adventure and wondering how it went. How exciting that you were able to pull it off. Your resolve shows in so many areas - I loved your post about how you sculpted your legs, now this. Rock on, pretty lady!

I had a bit of a laugh, at the thought of 17# of food - that's about 2 1/2 pounds of veggies a day! I'm thinking - me and Lindsey are going to be eating a LOT.

I'm not sure how much we get, but I promised John that by the Tuesday before Wednesday pickup, I'll take the leftovers to work that we didn't eat.

OR - I put her in a cute little dress with a basket and we do the reverse of trick or treating and offer our neighbors free veggies. That might be kind of fun - in fact, what a way to meet more neighbors, walking around with a toddler and offering free veggies.

[steady]

Sbarr- You are too kind and sweet! Thank you.
I was also laughing at 17# too and until you pointed it out I didn't realize it was 2.5lbs of veggies a day...yikes! Further it is just me and DH. I eat alot of veggies and DH eats a decent amount, but not that much!!! We shall see...I am the queen of freezing...I never let food go bad or waste, especially beautiful produce. I am very excited by the "surprise" vegetables I get...I hope to expand my veggie horizon.

I admire your care to feed you and your family the very best.

[sbarr]

Steady - at least you have an adult helping you eat veggies - look who I'm sharing with....can you imagine Lindsey trying to eat her body weight in veggies each week.... She will probably run away from home.

Regarding what to do - that's exactly why I have this post. I'm actually thinking about how much I spent a month ago on a jar of marinated eggplant - if I can make that, put in jars, then I will have condiments for life.

This is going to be a fun year....

[steady]

Originally Posted by sbarr

Steady - at least you have an adult helping you eat veggies - look who I'm sharing with....can you imagine Lindsey trying to eat her body weight in veggies each week.... She will probably run away from home.

This is going to be a fun year....

[brittone2]

yes, this is our third or fourth year now in our CSA. I have found w/ each year it gets easier to know what to use up first (which things keep/don't keep well), and how to use up certain veggies that I was less familiar with.

We wasted a bit the first year but every year since we've gotten much better at not needing to throw stuff out.

My almost 5 year old regularly eats raw chard. He rips leaves off and gobbles LOL. He's been doing that since he was about 3.

[sbarr]

brittone - you are my new hero! A kid eating raw chard....how cool! I think that ranks with Margot 65's baby chewing on that meat bone.

I can see it now - there are already threads, fawn - I'm drinking your shake...Cleo, tell us another Oopsie bedtime story.

Next, we'll have: brittone - what do I do with XXX?

[butters]

steady - WTG! kicka$$ that you started a CSA! I'd totally join if I still lived in NYC, lol. I used to drive into Manhattan from Flushing for the Union Sq farmers market when I could...

Picked up our share this morning - 2 lbs of hot Italian sausage, 1 lb of ground beef, 6 large red potatoes, a head of cabbage, another head of hothouse romaine, 6 carrots, 6 onions, a few heads of garlic, 8 jonathan apples, 8oz of XXtra sharp cheddar cheese, a dozen pastured eggs and a lb of maple granola... I'll probably make a nice hearty stew with the ground beef, onions, and carrots plus some organic store bought celery. BF will eat the potatoes and granola, which is convenient. I'm really looking forward to sausage with my eggs for breakfast this week, especially since it's hot sausage. I always put Bufalo brand chipotle sauce on my eggs, so spicy is good!

[butters]

^forgot to add: I'm also thinking of trying out this recipe for stuffed cabbage, since I have some frozen ground pork left over from last week's share. It sounds delicious!

[steady]

Originally Posted by butters

steady - WTG! kicka$$ that you started a CSA! I'd totally join if I still lived in NYC, lol. I used to drive into Manhattan from Flushing for the Union Sq farmers market when I could...

Picked up our share this morning - 2 lbs of hot Italian sausage, 1 lb of ground beef, 6 large red potatoes, a head of cabbage, another head of hothouse romaine, 6 carrots, 6 onions, a few heads of garlic, 8 jonathan apples, 8oz of XXtra sharp cheddar cheese, a dozen pastured eggs and a lb of maple granola... I'll probably make a nice hearty stew with the ground beef, onions, and carrots plus some organic store bought celery. BF will eat the potatoes and granola, which is convenient. I'm really looking forward to sausage with my eggs for breakfast this week, especially since it's hot sausage. I always put Bufalo brand chipotle sauce on my eggs, so spicy is good!

Thanks Butters! I am so very excited. I wish you still lived in NYC to share in the excitement (and work). However, you got some very nice goodies in that share of yours. The stuffed cabbage recipe you posted seems like the perfect recipe to make the most of your share goodies. Enjoy all that wonderful meat, dairy and veggies!

[Doggygirl]

steady, that ROCKS that you started your own CSA! What methods are you using to get the word out? I would love to see the farmer where I get my meat set up a drop off point for monthly meat shares in my town. I would have to find some minimum number of people and I'm just wondering what you have found effective in doing that.

DG

[SashimiMark]

My best friend and I have decided to purchase a half share CSA this year to supplement what we'll be growing ourselves. I've never done the CSA thing before, so not sure exactly what to expect.

[steady]

Originally Posted by Doggygirl

steady, that ROCKS that you started your own CSA! What methods are you using to get the word out? I would love to see the farmer where I get my meat set up a drop off point for monthly meat shares in my town. I would have to find some minimum number of people and I'm just wondering what you have found effective in doing that. DG

Thanks Doggygirl! We are getting the word out through ads in local free papers, emails to "mommy lines", link on justfood, word of mouth, and a few posted flyer. WE only need 40 people, and we have 30 already without our planned ads. CSA are very "trendy" in NYC...so there is plenty of interest.

[Doggygirl]

Wow - 30 already. Good for you! What are "mommy lines?" (I don't have kids so am REALLY out of touch with all things "mommy!")

DG

[steady]

Originally Posted by Doggygirl

Wow - 30 already. Good for you! What are "mommy lines?" (I don't have kids so am REALLY out of touch with all things "mommy!")

DG

I am not a mommy either and didn't know what this was, but it is just email address database of mommies. Basically, mommies subscribe to receive emails on various parenting/family topics and events in the neighborhood. Apparently it is how trendy mommies stay ahead.

[laurakitty]

I signed up for our CSA yesterday. It is pretty expensive but still so much cheaper than buying organic veggies and fruit in NYC. I'm so excited!

[Doggygirl]

Originally Posted by steady

Apparently it is how trendy mommies stay ahead.

[butters]

Bumping for the beginning of Springtime.. woohoo! I can't wait for spring and summer veggies, I have been craving summer tomatoes something fierce lately!

What's everyone been getting from their CSA or market lately?

[sapphyretwins]

I've been checking out some local CSAs. We did one year before last but skipped last year. We had troubles using all the veggies but I think we're ready to do it again. (Oh and ours won't start until June.)

[SashimiMark]

We were thinking about doing one this year, but have decided to hold off. Instead, we're going to expand our garden.

[sbarr]

eagerly looking forward to June....

[steady]

Originally Posted by sbarr

eagerly looking forward to June....

Me too! I never new how much administrative work (crap!) a start-up CSA has to go through. Pricing of full shares/half shares, member recruitment, website design, collection of payment, drop off site coordinate, donation site, etc. Sheesh...that first share box in June is going to be a mighty tasty reward!