The First Box

Today I'm super excited because we got our first CSA box! This is our third year in a row with Flying Cloud Farm in Fairview, NC. I do not have enough nice things to say about this beautiful organic farm and the people who run it. They work really hard. 

So, I purposely exiled greens from my diet all winter in preparation for this. Early CSA boxes are all about the greens. This weeks' is the smallest box of the season, since it's still so early. We're sharing our produce this year with my great friend Suzanne and her husband Mike and their two little boys. I went over to her house this morning to divvy things up and have a nice chat.

Here's what we got: bok choy, parsnips, radishes, spicy greens, and lettuce. Tonight I'll use the lettuce with some leftover grilled chicken, olives and feta for a Greek salad. Refrigerator meal, no cooking required. Hmm, I wonder if the kids will eat it?

Also, this lovely bunch of mint.

As much as I love to grow my own herbs, I've never planted mint. Everyone says it's really invasive. Of course, that hasn't stopped me from planting things like vinca and ivy. And yellow daisies, which are now considered a weed around here. But we don't have any mint planted, so I enjoy getting it when I can.

Also strawberries, which pretty much did not make it in the door before being devoured, so I don't have any photos. I think strawberries must be like gold for farmers. (I could be very wrong about this). I mean, everybody wants strawberries. People will come to the farm and pick their own. And pay pretty much whatever you want to charge. This would probably never happen with kale or potatoes.

The local strawberries are so delicious right now. If you manage to get your hands on some, I have three words for you: strawberries, vanilla ice cream, Nutella. Enough said.