Life with Veggies: A Preview

I mentioned this winter that we've subscribed to a CSA (community-supported agriculture) farm for the summer. We'll start picking up our weekly share in mid-June and last Saturday we got to visit 'our' farm.

We chatted with the chickens, fed grass to the goats, walked through the hoophouse, greenhouse, egg-washing station, and the fields. Sam was first in line every time the farmer pulled a radish or a carrot up to show us what's growing. It was more of a hoarding project than a culinary experiment for him. You have to start somewhere, I suppose.

A couple of nights ago I came across an essay by a woman who's suffering from a little veggie fatigue. I could barely read the thing because I was laughing so hard I couldn't keep my eyes open. I haven't picked up a single box of turnips and carrots but I can already see how this might go: a few weeks of vigorous, life-affirming creativity will segue to a fridge full of rotting, socially-responsible produce.

It's nice to know in advance that I will not be alone.

So if I call you this summer and beg you to come make dinner for me using the food I already have, or if you leave your car unlocked and find a bag full of tomatoes and swiss chard in the front seat, you'll know why.