My secret to health and weight loss is one that isn’t mainstream….yet, but it’s slowly growing in popularity. I still am amazed to find people every day that haven’t heard of it.
The wide variety I receive has enabled me to get more veggies into my plant based diet by keeping things interesting. Broccoli, kohlrabi, onions, cauliflower, tomato, spinach, brussels, eggplant, beans, potatoes, cabbage, beets, Swiss chard, squash, collard greens and kale are just some of the veggies I have tried and loved.
There is no way I’d be able to eat just lettuce every day and not get bored.
For anyone that doesn’t know what this is, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.
A CSA farm share is where you pay your local farmer, before the start of a season or growing period, for a share of the crop. Yes there are risks to this, there could be a hot or cold snap that affects the crop, but the rewards far outweigh the risks.
Experience is the second reason I joined a CSA farm share. I won’t get that in a random delivery farm bag where the veggies come from various places and I surely don’t get that from the grocery store. In my busy world today – full time working mother, food blogger, yoga loving, camping nut - a CSA allows me to take a break. Get away from the electronics for a few minutes and visit the earth. I bring my daughter to reconnect with nature and where real food comes from. When I joined I became part of a like minded community that embraces health and nature.
Which is why you should join one too!
Whether you pick your veggies up from a drop off point or actually go to the farm, you are part of that family. There are events-workshops, pot lucks, dinners; you can meet your farmers and occasionally get a chance to dig in the earth yourself and pull up some veggies.
When you visit the grocery store, those vegetables or fruits were picked by people you don’t know and shipped possibly from around the world. We don’t know the conditions these farmers and workers work in, we don’t see the facility and we for sure don’t know the actual farmers. In fact, the farms we think our food comes from is not typically the case. Those idyllic pictures of a cow grazing and a red barn are just good marketing – that’s not where WalMart is getting it’s veggies, milk and meat. You will only find that image is reality at a small local farm. Agribusiness is big business. There is a lot of money being thrown around and the ones that benefit are the executives that pocket their fat bonus checks and their concern is only the bottom line. Those folks may not have even stepped in the soil, yet they are making decisions about the food we put in our bodies.
Life for the small farmer is not easy and not glamorous. It’s a up before dawn, home after dark, out in the elements, seven day a week job. But they love every minute of it. The small farmer is passionate. They do it because they LOVE it. And it shows (and tastes) in the food they produce.
I know that those times I have brought my daughter to pick up veggies and visit with their daughter Veronica, see the animals, and even pick beans or potatoes in the field, are times that she will never forget. She will have these memories, and knowledge of where food comes from, for life.
Join a CSA and support your community, your farmer and your health and lose weight while you’re at it. In the off season, support your local, small, natural food grocer.
If you want to try a share out for a shorter period, KYV is offering a mini share for the end of the season so this is the perfect time to check it out if you aren’t already a member. Contact them at info@kyvfarm.com or email me and I’ll help you get all set up. If you don’t know what the heck to do with one of the veggies, just contact me and I’ll walk you through it and send you some recipes.
This broccoli came from the farm so here is one to try. What is best about this recipe is the broccoli is raw so the flavor really comes through. It’s sweet, tangy deliciousness!
Broccoli Raisin Apple Salad
with Creamy Honey Lemon Dressing
Serves 2
Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Gluten Free
Ingredients
1 small head broccoli, chopped
2 Tbsp raisins
1 apple
2 Tbsp chopped red onion
2 Tbsp reduced fat Vegenaise
Squeeze of lemon
2 Tbsp honey (or agave)
Sea salt and Fresh ground pepper
Directions
1. Mix the broccoli, raisins, apple and red onion in a medium bowl. In a small bowl mix the Vegenaise, lemon, honey, salt and pepper. Pour over broccoli mixture and toss.
(I’m trying to get the nutritional info in here but having weird
formatting problems so I will just give you the basics.)
Nutrition Info
2 Servings
Amount per Serving
Calories 135.5
Total Fat 3.1
Cholest 0.0mg
Sodium 126.0mg
Carbs 27.2g
Fiber 5.8g
Sugars 15.3g
Protein 4.8g
Vitamin A 47.5%
Vitamin C 241.40 %
Calcium 8%
