Have you heard of Community Supported Agriculture?

CSA is a way for you to enjoy fresh-from-the-farm produce as it’s meant to be – eating what’s in season, picked right from the field.  Each person purchases a half or full share, giving you several pounds of vegetables and fruit every week or so.  Most CSA farms do not sell to the outside – what’s grown is exclusively for shareholders.  Many times you get to volunteer on the farm as well, having a true hand in what you’re eating!

This is the first year we’re trying one – we’re actually splitting a half-share with my in-laws since I can’t really eat lettuce (and boy, do you get a lot of it).  We don’t reap enough in our bi-weekly share to feed us for two weeks, so we still do make trips to the farmer’s market.

One of the best things about a CSA – aside from what I’ve already mentioned – is being exposed to new things I’ve never made or eaten before, and being challenged to cook them that week.  For 2 full-time working adults, it’s difficult to think of ways to cook them other than stir-frys on those exhausting weekdays.  Luckily our CSA posts recipe suggestions!

In our first pickup:

• 2 heads of romaine, 1 head butter lettuce, 1 head red lettuce
• 1 lb. salad mix
• Radishes
• Young turnips
• 5 garlic scapes
• Frill (spicy and looks like frisee)
• 1 lb. Mustard greens
• 1 lb. Spinach
• 1 giant head bok choy
• 5 tatsoi

At first glance, I thought I knew what everything was.  But then I realized that I’ve never actually cooked anything before other than the spinach, lettuce, and bok choy!

The most interesting item was the garlic scape.  You actually let garlic keep growing until there is very little bulb and the green shoot gets long and curly.  The taste is somewhere between garlic and scallion.  We tossed it in our veggie sautes and lettuce cups (last post, didn’t include it in the recipe) and it added a nice roundness instead of the sharpness you get from garlic.

Other interesting uses: turnips glazed with butter and ginger ale (an Alton Brown recipe recommended by the CSA), and radishes that I sliced into coins, topped with fresh oregano, and roasted.

Want to find a CSA near you?  http://www.localharvest.org/