Hoo-ray For CSA!

I picked up our first CSA share today!! If you are not familiar, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture---they have been around for years and are increasing in popularity.  The basic idea: the public is offered the opportunity to buy a "share" in a local farm.  The money is paid up front so the farmers can put the money back into the farm, and when the summer season starts, the farmers bring their delicious locally grown seasonal products to a pick-up location where those who purchased a share can come to claim their veggie loot!  Our local CSA gives a choice of a vegetable, fruit, flower and/or an egg share.  We opted for just the veggie and eggs for our first year.

While many CSAs put together a standard box of produce for each person ahead of time, ours does give a certain degree of flexibility and uses a "market style". So, for example, today I could pick 2 greens out of 4 types that were offered.  I chose the chard and something called "vitamin green" (it looks a little like bok choy).  We also had a choice between arugala and purple mizuna...I got the mizuna because I don't think I have ever had it before.  Rounding out our haul was green lettuce, red lettuce, scallions, radishes and potted herbs (oregano and thyme).

The chard was beautiful!

And so was everything else.

We made quick work at the cutting board....

...and made this orecchiette pasta with the chard, scallions, garlic, thyme and chick peas (and cheese, seen going in during the "action shot").

CSA, week one.  So far so good.  Still many other veggies left to eat this week!