Some friends convinced me to split a "farm share" with them this summer. As a budding sustainability enthusiast, and a bit of a health nut, I liked the idea of eating more locally grown organic produce without having to make a big investment. The 3-way split cost us $176 each which roughly equated to $7.30/week for the 6 months growing session. A bargain for organic fresh produce, fruit and flowers!!!
But the financial benefits were minor in relation to the culinary, social and health benefits we received from buying local produce. Over the course of the 6 months we
experimented with new, and sometimes exotic produce, like Kobolini, a broccoli-like root that is delicious when stemmed then tossed with olive oil and garlic. (What isn't?!) My family even developed a new appreciation for kale and bok choy, again sauteing them with olive oil and garlic or mixing them with soy sauce and other veggies to form the stuffing for spring rolls. Absolutely delicious!!!
We loved the routine of going to the farm and picking out our weekly fresh produce, herbs and flowers. It was a great social experience, both with our respective family members (my son loved picking the berries, but hated picking beans!), my friends (who thought it was fun until 90+ degree weather set in!) and our extended new family-the farm manager and seasonal helpers (who gave us picking and cooking tips). We developed a strong bond and a deeply rooted commitment to living off the land, that is, as much as a suburban family can live off the land!
Most importantly, the quality of the produce was phenomenal. Initially it seemed strange to be picking up dirty, small produce (and it was!), but the benefits out-weighed the extra work. The taste of fresh, farm-picked, organic produce far exceeded anything we've gotten from a traditional grocery store. The beets and sweet potatoes were sweeter and the greens more flavorful. Better still, we knew that the food we were eating was produced without harmful or unnatural chemicals, so we were eating healthier.
It was sad saying goodbye to our friends at the farm when the season ended before Thanksgiving. Being a part of a farm share was a fantastic experience. It also felt great knowing this simple and rewarding experience helped support local farming, reduced gas emissions and allowed us to eat healthier-all for the reasonable price of $7.30/week! That's what I call sustainability at it's best!
Seasons Greetings!
Paula
No comments:
Post a Comment