I joined a CSA.

I sure did. That's community sponsored agriculture, also called a food co-op. After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, and talking to my friend Melissa in San Diego, I was sold on the concept. Basically, you get together with some friends and you each pay some money to get produce each week based on what crops are plentiful and in season (except we are big cheaters and our supplier has agreements with some international folks and we get bananas and stuff. I have guilt about this, because one of the main reasons is to support local farmers, but sometimes getting started is the most important thing. I figured for my first time, I wouldn't be too fussy.)

So, my first week was this week. For my $10 half share, I got 5 sweet potatoes, four turnips, two beets, six zucchini, 8 bananas, 20 oz. of spinach, 8 tomatoes, two bags of carrots and a bunch of apples, oranges and minneolas. I think there was more, but I cannot remember. Isn't that fun?

All my menus have been focused on how to not let any of that goodness go to waste. I used the turnips in beef stew at my sister's suggestion, and they were tasty!

The beets were another matter entirely. I happened upon this recipe for beet hummus and gave it a try. It wasn't inedible, but it did taste like beets. And hummus. Which was disconcerting because I really like hummus, and really don't like beets. Dirk ate it. Having a Dirk in a situation such as this is extremely handy because he will eat almost anything, especially if it seems like it should be healthful, and he hates to waste food. If I get beets again, I think I will explore other options, like making ink with them. They have a very pretty color. Or maybe I could boil them and mash them up to feed to the baby. He eats anything, just like his dad. My friend also sent me a recipe for beet bundt cake. If pressed, I suppose I will try that. If I ever get a juicer, I could use them there. My brother-in-law makes juice with beets in it and it tastes good.

With the zucchini and sweet potatoes, I made a delicious hash with some kielbasa thrown in. Oh, so good. The spinach became seafood lasagna. The best part of this thing so far is that it has caused a menu shakeup for me. I had all but lost my desire to cook, but now I have to look at my supply and then go hunt a recipe that uses as much of it as possible. So, I think I will start posting some of the recipes that have worked out so that I can remember them, and maybe inspire someone else to go the co-op route.