CSA

(Fresh Veggies from the CSA)

I'm not about to sit here and front like I know all about CSA's and dish out a bunch of info, because I'm the wrong source to ask about this subject. What I CAN do though is give you a little background on my encounters with CSA's and talk about how awsome I think they are. I have a lot more research to do on this subject and will be writing on it again, but for now, I'll just draw from my own experiences.

So basically, CSA's are amazing. Why didn't my family and I have access to a resource like this in the past? The food comes straight from a farm in Roxbury, New York, and lands on my kitchen table in the same day. The nutritional value of these veggies is significantly higher than those you find in your everyday run-of-the-mill grocery stores because they are grown organically with tender love and care. I can say this with confidence because my mom spent a summer working up at that same farm in Roxbury and she returned home with plenty of positive stories to tell about their methods for vegetable gardening. (More on this at a later date).

Since my mom (and sometimes I or my sister) volunteers at the CSA, we get our produce free of charge, which is a huge plus. Volunteering really isn't such a bad gig either. You get to meet lots of great people, make some awsome connections, and squeeze in a little bit of networking when it presents itself. The whole dynamic of the place is great. It's got a very 'homey' feel and the same people are there every week so you really have the opportunity to build relationships if you so choose.

The CSA that we go to is located on 116th Street between St. Nicholas and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. It's housed inside one of the buildings operated by Food Bank, so the facilities are also used for feeding the homeless and holding pantry food. Volunteering there, whether it be for the CSA or helping out with feeding the homeless, is an amazing experience. You get to acquaint yourself with other volunteers and the droves of people who come in for a meal. It can really be a fun and enjoyable experience if you allow it to be. It's all about having an open mind.

Here are a few images of the produce that we took home last Thursday:

(Beets)

(Kale)

(Spinach)

I was prepping these veggies (along with a few others) to go in the juicer. My juicer is also something that I have to talk about in an upcoming post because I previously talked about my juicer alternative before I actually got my real one about 3 weeks ago one. Anyway though, I was glad that I had some fresh vegetables readily available that I could drink...supplying my body with the nutrients that it requires. It feels so good to treat your body right. Be good to it, and it will be good to you.

Raw. Love.
-Natalie