Good food, autumn vegetables, and dreams of a little farm someday.
I found out something about myself. I get extremely excited about a box of freshly harvested vegetables, especially when I don’t know what I’ll find inside. This October, I picked up my first CSA share from Farmer Dave’s, and I couldn’t wait to get everything home and investigate.
Inside were beautiful leafy greens, lots of arugula, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, green beans, leeks, red potatoes, parsley, Napa cabbage, and an adorable little honeynut squash.
Now, I realize that not everyone gets quite as happy about unknown vegetables as I do. But, to give you context, I’m also the person who looks forward to winter evenings spent reading seed catalogs and dreaming about what to grow next spring, so a box of fresh produce is pretty much my idea of a good time.
This box was also a bit of a research project for my future farm plans. As I continue planning for Acorn & Birch Farm Sanctuary, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the kind of CSA program I’d like to offer someday. One that makes fresh, locally grown food accessible, encourages people to try something new, and helps families feel more connected to where their food comes from.
What better way to learn than to experience a CSA from the customer’s side?
A Little Autumn Inspiration in the Kitchen
I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but having a CSA share has encouraged me to approach meal planning a little differently. Instead of deciding what I want for dinner and then shopping for the ingredients, I’m looking at what I already have and asking, “What can I make with this?”
Our first week included a warm potato and green bean salad with olives and a honey-mustard vinaigrette. It was wonderful served warm for dinner and equally delicious straight from the refrigerator for my lunch the next day.
My mom joined the fun and claimed the leeks and some of the potatoes. I knew one of my favorite soups was coming to the table. She makes a creamy, comforting leek and potato soup that is the perfect fall meal.
I made a few different pasta dishes with zucchini, summer squash, leafy greens, and beans, just changing the spices and sauces throughout the week. One of my favorite meals, though, was probably the simplest: a big sheet pan of roasted vegetables and chickpeas.
I originally served the vegetables over Israeli couscous, but honestly, I liked them better without it. The vegetables were so flavorful on their own that they really didn’t need anything else. I ended up adding arugula to the veggie mix for lunch and it was much more to my liking.
Sometimes less really is more.
The Unexpected Favorites
One of the nicest surprises has been seeing my family become more adventurous with vegetables. My brother absolutely loved the squash, and my mother discovered that she really enjoys roasted chickpeas. I was surprised by how much I liked them myself! I’ve never been particularly enthusiastic about plain chickpeas. Hummus? Absolutely. Falafel? Yes, please. But plain chickpeas have always been a little underwhelming to me. Apparently, all they needed was a little time in the oven. Highly recommend.
I’ve also noticed that my family seems more open to trying vegetable-forward meals when the ingredients arrive as part of our CSA share. There’s a little curiosity about what came in the box and what we’re going to make with it. And I love that.
More Than a Box of Vegetables
One of the things I’ve been thinking about as I plan my own farm is how intimidating unfamiliar produce can be. It’s easy for someone who loves cooking and gardening to get excited about Napa cabbage, leeks, or an unusual squash. But not everyone knows what to do with those ingredients, and I don’t want that uncertainty to keep someone from enjoying locally grown food. I would love for my future CSA members to open their shares and feel inspired rather than overwhelmed. Maybe that means including recipes, sharing storage tips, or offering simple cooking classes that help people become comfortable with seasonal vegetables.
I also want to create a CSA that welcomes families with different budgets, cooking abilities, and levels of experience. Good food should be something people can enjoy, not something they need special knowledge or expensive ingredients to prepare. If a box of vegetables can encourage someone to try a new recipe, discover a favorite food, or sit down to a meal they might never have made otherwise, I think that’s a win.
Growing Something for the Future
Acorn & Birch is still a dream in progress, but experiences like this make it feel a little more real. I can picture rows of beautiful vegetables, baskets of freshly harvested produce, and people stopping by the farm to pick up their weekly shares. I can imagine sharing recipes, talking about what’s growing, and helping someone discover that a vegetable they’ve never tried before might become a new family favorite. Of course, I also imagine a few rescued farm animals making their opinions known somewhere in the background!
For now, I’m enjoying this opportunity to learn, cook, and appreciate what another local farm has grown. And I’m already looking forward to seeing what comes in the next box. Until then, I’ll be in the kitchen, probably roasting chickpeas.
