Farm Share Fantasies

I must admit that there is a part of me who longs for the simplicity of living off the earthly fruits earned through painstaking labor. I get this from my father, a meticulous gardener who beat out all of the old aunties with his prized scorching hot peppers. He is a magisterial man who would never throw a good fish back into the sea. Once, he gave me a three-foot bass that he fished out of Narragansett Bay. Ruefully, I accepted this gift, knowing I would have no place to store a fish of this size. At the time my friend was living in a vegetarian co-op. I convinced him to let me store it in their extra fridge, with the intention of inviting the whole neighborhood over for a fish fry. Well, I lost my nerve. The poor fish remained there until the vegetarians discovered it one day and got pissed, threatening homelessness upon my loyal friend. Oh well, sweet dreams are made of these.

While I plan out my adulthood garden in my mind, I have my weekly farm share as my muse.



I opened my box up today to discover a beautiful arrangement deserving of a moment in time before I chop and shred and eat it to pieces. Already in the two weeks since I've had it I've tried two new vegetables I've never eaten-kohlrabi and broccoli rabe.

Last week I whipped up this quiche with organic spinach, pancetta, and mozzarella cheese.

Excited about Farm Shares

This morning the clocks sprung forward, and naturally today I am thinking about signing up for a farm share. Technically known as a CSA--community supported agriculture-- farm shares are a great way to get the freshest, locally grown at a price and value that beats Whole Foods any day.

I became attracted to the idea of farm shares last year when an acquaintance offered me her share while she was on vacation. It was from The Farm School in Athol, Massachusetts. I picked up a box of freshly picked produce from their local drop off at Iggy's Bread in Cambridge on a Tuesday afternoon. I got a selection of organic produce including: strawberries, to onions, fresh basil, chervil, & dill, fennel, garlic chives, red lettuce, purple potatoes, and sweet tomatoes. It also came with a charming newsletter with recipes and anecdotes about the farm. I loved the surprise of not knowing what kind of produce you're going to get each week, and planning delicious and healthful menu that pushes me out of my creative comfort zone.

The cost of the farm share is around $600 for 20 weeks staring in June through the Fall, and can be paid in installments. That equals about $30 a week for a generous box of local, organic produce, which is ample for a family of two. Better still, the proceeds from the CSAs go towards supporting local farms and sustainable agriculture education.

I'd recommend you sign up for one soon, as they are limited and sell out fast due to people signing up year after year. Trust me, once you've tried it you'll be coming back again too. Looking for a farm share in your area? Here is a list of CSAs available across the country.

If you are a single, you could save money by splitting one with a friend. I plan on gifting my farm share to my friends when I am away this summer. What better gift than a box of fresh locally grown produce?