Farm Share
August 31, 2009
Right about now, people who signed up for farm shares are gloating – and eating very well. Although the details vary, the idea is to guarantee both farmers and eaters a dependable exchange. (This concept is also referred to as community-supported agriculture, or csa.)
For a lump sum, you receive a box of exquisitely fresh produce for a specific number of weeks. You may find some vegetables or fruits that you love, some things you have never tasted, and maybe cannot even identify.
Here’s where your imagination, and cooking skills, kick in. A sense of adventure is helpful as well.
If your kids are reluctant to try new things, have them draw pictures of the vegetables, or write stories from the fruit’s point of view. Let them wash them and, if they are old enough, peel or cut them. A trip to the farm or the distribution center makes it more real, although some organizations will deliver right to your door.
Your daily menu, and your dinner conversation will be amplified. You will save money while enjoying delicious foods. This a great activity to do as a family – the picking up, the cooking, the eating, the talking. Farm share equals family sharing.
Mealtimes Matter Video
from Miriam Weinstein
About Miriam
Miriam Weinstein is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. As a journalist, she has won several awards from the New England Press Association. Her work has appeared in Boston Magazine, the Boston Globe magazine, Hope, and ParentSource. A former staff member for North Shore Weeklies and freelancer for Essex County Newspapers, she writes restaurant reviews and food columns as well as features on a wide variety of subjects. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband and has two grown children.
The Surprising Power of Family Meals
In her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, Miriam Weinstein shows how this basic human institution helps nourish and strengthen our families today.