Just like (a vegetarian) Christmas!

It was finally here!  Our first “share” of vegetables harvested from the local CSA, Square 1 Farm!

I couldn’t wait to leave work. Afternoon thunderstorms were no match for my determination to get to the pickup. I crashed through the puddles, dove for a parking spot, and popped out of the car with umbrella in hand. I practically leaped up onto the “Farmer’s Porch” of Ryer’s store. I shook a little water off and was warmly greeted by McKenzie and Valerie who seemed only slightly less excited than I was.

Whoa. Look at all those vegetables!  Grown right here in North Reading!  They look so much better than our own little garden! How could they be ripe so soon? And there’s more around the corner ready to replenish the display. What a haul! So fresh and green!

The “gals” (their word, not mine) presented me with my new Square 1 reusable bag (“It’s washable!”) and I was cut loose on the displayed harvest. Selections were neatly arranged in tin buckets or wooden baskets with little signs saying “Arugula - Take One Bunch” or “Radishes – Take Six”. I eagerly filled my new bag with kale and salad mix and too-big-to-be-baby “toddler” carrots.

I was briefly stumped by the two generations of oregano but was quickly helped out of my jam. “Just put them in a little water like a flower” was the advice to keep them fresh.  I greedily grabbed an extra sprig or two.

I voiced a minor protest about the beets, “just not my favorite”. “Maybe make them into a slaw?” “No.” “You can eat the greens!” was the enthusiastic reply.  I’ll try that for sure.

I arrived home and invited over our neighbor who, together with her six year-old daughter, Ms. Sarah, would be halving our share. The adults sipped a little wine as I recounted my pleasant pickup experience and we split the bunches into somewhat even portions.

Ms. Sarah wanted a piece of cake leftover from the weekend’s graduation party followed by a glass of milk. Around there I was splitting the baby bok choy bunches and she asked if she could try some.  Her mom broke off a leaf and Ms. Sarah, tentatively at first, munched gently before devouring an entire sweet head.

Later that evening we worked on the grocery list. I’ve shifted my shopping night from Monday to Tuesday so we can plan around the weekly vegetable selection. Tomorrow I’ll be off to pick up some on-sale trout and lamb to go with our vegetable “abbondanza”! Oh I just can’t wait!!!