Eating only what grows around you

[CPort]

I agree! I think its just a great way for the young ones to connect with the land .

 

[Romeosmydog]

A little birdie told me that a CSA (or CSF) is about to come available to this area. I heard from a source that the farmers are just working the soil to transition it to organic. For those of you that are unfamiliar with CSA's it stands for Community Supported Agriculture/Farm. These farms are usually organic, although it would be nearly impossible in Florida seeing that to my knowledge we have no organic tilth. (Peaboy would be the expert on this). The farms are run similar to co-ops, but you "invest" in them up front much like the stock market. Each week, when the veggies or fruits are harvested you go and pick up "your share". The box usually has a recipe included for that weeks harvest. Some weeks you leave with 5 watermelons, a bunch of mint, cucumbers and 2 dozen tomatoes, other weeks you have daikon and plums.

Buying veggies like this has obvious advantages as well as disadvantages. Local seasonal eating would be ideal. I just crave melon, berries and tomatoes all summer long! However, there are always risks in investing early in something especially when your investment is reliant upon the weather. For instance, a drought could severely impact the amount of veggies you and your family eat in a season....so could a hurricane.

In my personal fantasy land For the Health of It (Peaboy please don't kill me) would be the picking up point for a local CSF. I could go there each week and pick up my share and add to it all of the wonderful fresh produce and veggies that For the Health of It carries.

I hope that the CSA story is not just a rumor and it wont be too long until the soil is right and the CSA can become a reality. Until then I am sure I will be in the dog house with Peaboy for suggesting that he become involved in yet another way to keep him busy beyond busy.

 

[CPort]

A little birdie told me that a CSA (or CSF) is about to come available to this area. I heard from a source that the farmers are just working the soil to transition it to organic. For those of you that are unfamiliar with CSA's it stands for Community Supported Agriculture/Farm. These farms are usually organic, although it would be nearly impossible in Florida seeing that to my knowledge we have no organic tilth. (Peaboy would be the expert on this). The farms are run similar to co-ops, but you "invest" in them up front much like the stock market. Each week, when the veggies or fruits are harvested you go and pick up "your share". The box usually has a recipe included for that weeks harvest. Some weeks you leave with 5 watermelons, a bunch of mint, cucumbers and 2 dozen tomatoes, other weeks you have daikon and plums.

Buying veggies like this has obvious advantages as well as disadvantages. Local seasonal eating would be ideal. I just crave melon, berries and tomatoes all summer long! However, there are always risks in investing early in something especially when your investment is reliant upon the weather. For instance, a drought could severely impact the amount of veggies you and your family eat in a season....so could a hurricane.

In my personal fantasy land For the Health of It (Peaboy please don't kill me) would be the picking up point for a local CSF. I could go there each week and pick up my share and add to it all of the wonderful fresh produce and veggies that For the Health of It carries.

I hope that the CSA story is not just a rumor and it wont be too long until the soil is right and the CSA can become a reality. Until then I am sure I will be in the dog house with Peaboy for suggesting that he become involved in yet another way to keep him busy beyond busy.

Who actually works the garden?

 

[Romeosmydog]

That depends on the CSA. The ones that I have read about the farmer/landholder works it. That is how it differs from a co-op. Although Nell Newman (Paul's daughter) wrote about one that was worked at least partially by the community. I have not heard about how the local one will function. If it will function at all. The closest CSA in Florida is in Live Oak. There is also one in B'ham.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Grayt info RMD. If you hear more please pm me with any info.

 

[scooterbug44]

They had a film about it at last year's MountainFilm. From what I remember, there was a family/staff that worked on the farm, but members of the CSA also chipped in labor to help plant etc.

Very cool idea!

 

[kathydwells]

I have a bag full of fresh mater's and green onions from my daddy's garden. YUMMY!!!!! Nothing like a homegrown mater sandwich!!!

 

[ShallowsNole]

50"s and 60's? I grew up doing that in the 70's and 80's. I've shelled more peas, stringed and frenched more beans, and shucked, silked and creamed more corn than your average bear.

Fuzz and his cousin once came home from a visit to the family in NoWal with the bed of cousin's Ford Ranger filled with peas. Not peas in bags or buckets, the BACK OF THE TRUCK was full of peas. Loose.

Between cousin and his wife and Fuzz and me, we got about half of them shelled, blanched and put up before the rest sweated to death in the floor of our garage. My fingernails were black for at least a week. But, we had peas and cornbread all winter!

I miss those days...

 

[DD]

Fuzz and his cousin once came home from a visit to the family in NoWal with the bed of cousin's Ford Ranger filled with peas. Not peas in bags or buckets, the BACK OF THE TRUCK was full of peas. Loose.

Between cousin and his wife and Fuzz and me, we got about half of them shelled, blanched and put up before the rest sweated to death in the floor of our garage. My fingernails were black for at least a week. But, we had peas and cornbread all winter!

I miss those days...

SN--Watch out. You just may be nominated to be a writer in the cookbook. Great story!

 

[CPort]

SN--Watch out. You just may be nominated to be a writer in the cookbook. Great story!

I SN's stories!!! Her blog about Eden is the best!