First Day

Yesterday was the first day of my new job! For a while, I've been trying to think of jobs I could do at home and with Julip... and I've remained jobless. However, when we moved to St Louis and as I began building relationships with farmers (I know, I'm a weirdo) this one just fell into my lap! And it's perfect for me! What is it, you ask? I'm the CSA coordinator for the drop point in our area.

In case you are wondering, CSA stands for community-supported agriculture (read more about it here and find one in your area here). Basically, rather than going to the grocery store, farmer's market, or farm, the farmer comes to you. Before the growing season begins, shareholders sign up and pay for vegetables and fruits and the expenses of growing such crops. All throughout the growing season, a box is delivered to you full of fresh produce usually picked the day before or that very morning! You cannot get much fresher than that! :) Some CSAs include eggs, milk, meat, dairy products and even freshly baked goods. Awesome, huh?!

This is what our box looks like...

I was asked by our farmer friend to be the coordinator for our city's drop point, and, in return, our family would get a box and eggs each week. Uhhh, YEA I'll be the coordinator!!! Nothing beats a box full of fresh yummies, plus I'm getting to meet people in our community.

Anyway, yesterday was our first day and I was so excited. The drop off point is literally right behind our house at the church's mission house. Julip played with the missionaries daughter who are currently living in the house. She is a little older and can only say a few words in English (just like Julip). They had so much fun!

Kim-Kim, who is from North India,  and Julip, who is from outerspace. 

One by one, the shareholders came for their fresh produce, eggs, and cookbooks. While waiting, I watched the kids play, read, and finally worked on my chaco tan. Needless to say, it was a lovely "work" day!

*sorry if feet freak you out (Ellen)!

What all did this week's box have? (Well first of all, let me tell you how important it is to seek out an organic or, better yet, certified naturally grown CSA or farmer. Who wants chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and who knows what else all over their food and all in their body? Not me- yuck- after all, you are what you eat.) Being so early in the season, there were lots of greens including spinach, red russian kale, watercress, pak choi, ho mi zi, tatsoi, broccoli raab, speckled trout lettuce, mitzuna and the leaf of a garlic plant. Also, there were some radishes and strawberries! We got some farm fresh organic eggs, too. And the first week's box came with a cookbook so you know what to do with all your goods.

(click on the picture to enlarge) 

What do I do with all the produce? Well, I come home and wash it all thoroughly. (A good investment with a CSA is a salad spinner, (although I just "made one" by holding two colanders together and "spinning" them). Another good investment are those green bags. They really do work and save lots of fresh foods from spoiling so quickly.) We will try to eat most of it fresh in a salad (or leaf pile) including the spinach, kale, mitzuna, watercress, ho mi zi, and speckled trout lettuce (Yay, for salad everyday!). Some produce I will just add to Julip's food and puree it really well. I blanched the broccoli raab and put it in the freezer to add to omelets, pizza, and pasta dishes. The pak choi will be eaten in stir-frys and on sandwiches. The garlic leaf (yum) will be used in omelets and potato salad. I will also make kale chips and make a green smoothie out of the spinach. The strawberries I add to smoothies, eat raw, and bake with and the radishes will be added to a salad. And once we're all out, we'll be ready for next week's box!

Have you ever heard of, considered, or bought a CSA share? 


Much love,
the very full and satisfied Caro, xoxo

Post Script: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUSU!