Rain, rain, go away....come again some other day

This is surely a song that went through my CSA farmers mind's this past weekend. CSA means Community Supported Agriculture and means, in my case, a couple lovely young motivated and dedicated women started an organic farm locally and have us buy shares up front. They use our membership costs throughout the year and we reap what they reap and sow what they sow (Jilliann and I go get dirty each week and volunteer at the farm.). We are tied to them, feeling the effects of a drought like last year or a flood like this year. Even when it means less food for a weekly drop-off, I like being connected to a farm. I feel more in touch with the bigger picture of the seasons, weather, etc. on this green Earth instead of the infinitely open and abundant grocery store. I also like that my food creates virtually no packaging, as their boxes for transport are reused as are the bags I fill. And that very little gas is used to bring these things to my table and at the same time, I don't have to worry about Jilliann ingesting pesticides and I'm supporting my local community. It feels good...and tastes really fresh with food pulled out of the soil the day I get my anxious little hands on it. After joining this CSA last year, I never want to go back to being without it....yes, even with the many rutabegas that we try to eat each season. Groundswell Farm has been a great thing to have in my life as it's challenged me to think a lot about the far reaching effects of producing and eating food and to get creative in the kitchen. I've also been blessed by friendships throughout this adventure and able to connect with a lot of people in the community and connect others to the farm who are searching for something like this.
Jilliann helping harvest Kale, Summer 2007