This weekend was awesome. Pure, over-scheduled awesomeness. Saturday was chock full of gunpowder-scented family bonding and last minute hair cuts (12 inches off!!). Sunday rocked my socks in general.
This is Eddie. He's an emu.
A few weeks ago, my coworker asked me to go halfsies with her on a full share at Great Country Farms, out in Bluemont, Va. GCF is a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA). What that means in practical terms is that you pay some money for a ‘share’ of their produce. Every week, for twenty weeks, beginning 31 May, two boxes will show up at my coworker’s condo, stuffed with homegrown goodness.
I am particularly excited for the deliveries to begin. Like all the other yuppies around here, I’m trying to become more ecologically conscious while being as healthy as possible. I want to get back to living as close to the earth as practically possible. Part of this involves eating only in-season produce.
...this little piggy went to market...
Unfortunately, figuring out “in season” based on what’s available in the grocery stores is near impossible. Yay instant gratification. Demanding strawberries in December means hot house growing or international transportation from far away countries. In an attempt to offer a bigger and better product, growers lace their foods with hormones and genetically modifications, all of which get passed on to us, the unwitting consumer.
On top of that, when you shop in big chain stores, you usually get food from the big super farms from very far away. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather support the mom and pop local farms, with pesticide-free produce. Buying a share in the CSA means I’m forced to eat in season and local.
Can you believe this guy was almost the national bird?
My half of the full share is $514, for twenty weeks of delivery. After signing up, I realized that even with the half share, I won’t be able to eat everything I’m given—especially during peak growing season. I want to eat locally, but I don’t want to waste food! I thought about canning it all—and I’ll probably can/vacuum seal a lot—but I have to be realistic about what my kitchen can do. It’s a kitchenette. As much as I try to deny it, the laws of physics do apply to me.
I feel like I need to present photographic evidence that they did, in fact, have peacocks.
So I called Flay and asked if she wanted to split my half-share. She did. So for $257, or $12.85 per week, I will have what I hope to be the perfect amount of fresh, organic, locally grown produce delivered right to my door.
Well, my coworker’s door, who will then bring the food to work so I can take it home.
This hayride did not have any hay...
Sunday was the kick off weekend for GCF’s season, so all share holders were invited out to visit the farm. They offered hayrides to shuttle visitors throughout the fields so they could see *exactly* where our food would be grown.
Joy.
I wanted to jump off the tractor, run to the middle of the field and start spinning, while singing a delightful song.
I am living in the wrong zip code. Despite my SUV and deep-seated love of stiletto heels and the Smithsonian, I will always, deep down, be a country girl. I just feel more rested and relaxed when I’m out of the hustle and bustle of DC. I love the smell of grass (not that kind!), the rolling hills, and people are just…nicer out there. One day, I’m going to live there. Unfortunately, my job is in DC and probably always will be. So for now, I’m here.
It was an escaped goat! Get it? Scapegoat? Anyway, this little guy and I played peekaboo around the bush for a good five minutes before I got bored and moved on.
Going out to the country and running around on the farm was just bliss for me. I could feel my heart rate slowing a bit as I drove out of the traffic-logged Northern Virginia streets and onto the gentle rolling highways.
In addition to what promises to be great produce, the farm also has your typical barnyard animals in a petting zoo for the kiddies…or 27 year old food bloggers!!! Just ask my coworker—I was giddy over the whole experience. They had pigs (WITH PIGLETS!!), ducks, donkeys, cows, a pony, emus (EMUS!!!!), PEACOCKS!, turkies, sheep, goats…you name it, they had it. (Pictures scattered throughout).
Why...hello there.
I was excited.
Misplaced punctuation excited.
After spending nearly $80 tonight at Harris Teeter on mostly produce, I can not wait for those deliveries to start!!
I would also like to apologize [again] for the inconsistent posting. One of the leasing agents downstairs totally called me out today for “being quiet” on the blog. I have a few recipes to work up this week, so don’t worry Rob, you’ll have more reading material soon!
P-P-P-PIGLETS!!!
Do you say donkey or dunkey? Because one is wrong, and it's not donkey.
Daddy, I want a pony!!!!
