Happy Earth Day! Along with most of the northern hemisphere, I’ve tried to switch to reusable bags this year, and I won’t lie, I’m longing for the happy and practical (they roll up so small! they still go over your shoulder!) RuMe bags that Not Martha posted yesterday–she has ten sets to give away! Delight.com makes this brilliant Starter Kit that would make it easier for anyone to switch to reusable bags and bottles:
(photo: Delight.com)
I definitely need to make or get some produce bags like that.
The other bandwagon we’re jumping on this year is the CSA (community supported agriculture) weekly farm box. We joined the Stone Soup Farm CSA–the farm is in Belchertown, MA and this is their first year running a CSA. We have gotten several extremely entertaining and well-written newsletters so far, and when I checked out the About Us page it turns out the farm is run by a very young and idealistic crew. I’m excited to see what the summer brings–here’s the lettuce growing in the greenhouses right now:
(photo: Stone Soup Farm)
Yum.
Anyway, if you haven’t heard about CSAs, they are a program designed to help connect buyers with farmers so the farmers have some guaranteed income and the buyers know they’ll be getting a steady supply of local produce all summer, even if getting to the farmer’s market is inconvenient. I have been frustrated by how much of the produce at Whole Foods is trucked from California or is completely out of season stuff from South America, and I’m excited about challenging myself with the weekly box of whatever Stone Soup is harvesting. I’m planning to do at least a weekly post about what is in my box once it starts up in June. According to the farm:
“You can expect to see all of the following vegetables in your CSA share throughout the year: Arugala, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Diakon, Edamame, Eggplant, Fennel, Garlic, Kale and Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Melons, Mesclun Lettuce, Okra, Onions (Red, Yellow and Walla Walla), Parsnips, Peas, Peppers, Popcorn, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Rutabaga, Spinach, Summer Squash and Zucc., Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Turnip, Winter Squash, As well as the following herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Chives, Dill, Hot Peppers, Rosemary, Mint, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley.”
Wow. If I get even half of those things there will be lots of experiments to conduct!
For more information about CSA and how to find a CSA in your area (shares are getting very booked up for this year, so act fast!) check out Local Harvest.
Stone Soup’s geese keeping watch over the farm back in early March:
(photo: Stone Soup Farm)
hi! i use the rume bags. i got mine at the container store about two years ago and have kept it in my bag since then. i use it constantly. word of advice…go with a bright color if you get one. or get one that attaches to things. when you reach in for your wallet to pay for whatever you bought, the brightness will encourage you to use it…if only because you can see it in a dark bag. mine also attaches to my wallet if i need it to (like if i am going to the store and don’t want to forget to use it, i will attach it before i go).
just some thoughts on it 🙂
i wish i was home enough to use a full box of produce. instead i try to use the ‘locally produced’ section of the grocery store for when i do cook.
miss you, girl.
CSAs are new to me. This is so exciting! I’m checking for ones in Connecticut – right now!
Thanks, Kate!
Love the crisp new look. -X
RuMe just came out with some new lunch bags that are great too if you love reusable bags!