Local Food Connections

It was a gorgeous Saturday – 80 degrees, light breeze, sun with a few passing clouds – the perfect day to walk the fields of a small local CSA farm. Crazy Daisy Farm is in Hamel, MN, about 15 miles from our home. We drove around the lakes and through the woods to the farm. It is a homey family farm that has seen years of love and labor.

We met Jen, who manages the farm with her mom. She is a young gal, sweet personality, full of life and energy and clearly attached to Crazy Daisy. Looking around the farm,  a stately Weeping Willow tree draws you in immediately. Its’ bending branches make you feel safe and secure in its presence. The towering lilac trees, as old as the home, sway in the gentle breeze. Read the rest of this entry »

Hi everyone,

We are excited about our upcoming CSA adventure. Why? This California girl and her family will have fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables each week through the summer and into early fall. But that is only part of it,

CSA is Community Supported Agriculture, which is more than just fresh produce. It is an opportunity to participate in an environment that provides sustainably grown produce and to learn more about the community and ecology that provides these products for us.

Growing up on the west coast, I was accustomed to fresh fruits and vegetables all year – from my garden, farmer’s markets and superior grocery store selections. Moving to the midwest was a culture and cooking shock for me. Yes, I could get what I wanted at the grocery store, but not with the same assurances that it was the freshest produce available. Frozen vegetables are fine, but there are times when I just want fresh.

Seven years ago, we joined a local food co-op, which provided the quality, but wow the prices! It was an extravagance feeding a family natural or organic produce. Last year, I worked at the customer service counter at one of the co-op locations. I watched customers come in each week returning a large empty box to pick up another one filled to the brim and more with the fresh produce of the week from their CSA farm. The produce was gorgeous and the customers enthusiastic about their experience.

In April, I found a farm near us that offered half shares. There is some risk involved because much of the crop yield is weather dependent. We think this is a risk worth taking. The list of potential crops for the 2008 season is just what we want, along with the fresh flowers and eggs. Additional veggies or tomatoes are available with a simple request. Looks like there will be plenty of new sauces and salsa in our house.

There are only two of us at home full-time now, but we still need to make that food dollar stretch. We know we will have to fill in with store purchased produce, but this share is only costing us about $17.00 a week. We are curious and ready to get started. I will get back to all of you with reports through the season and, hopefully, some fun and tasty recipes.

Stay tuned…

Take care,

Judy

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” James Beard (1903 – 1985)

When I read that quote I thought immediately that it was a great start to my first blog. Let’s take our local experiences and share them because the love of food is universal.

Hi everyone,

The “local food connection” is more important than ever. Using our natural resources wisely to fuel our bodies and minds is important, especially considering the more frequent food handling problems that affect our health, rising fuel costs, and the negative impact on the local producer. Why not explore the area around you? Everyone can benefit from this adventure.

Our health and that of the environment is a major concern for more people everyday. The rising costs of fuel, food, and basic living catches each one of us in some way. Using our natural resources is also taking its toll. What kind of legacy are we leaving for generations to come? Read the rest of this entry »