Our farm, like many other small-to-midsize operations, focuses on our members. Community Supported Agriculture (C.S.A.), refers to a subscription box that our members receive over the course of a 20 week season here in SE Wisconsin. The box is comprised of a diverse, curated selection of what’s fresh and ready that week. The result is a parade of flavors, colors, and types of veggies throughout the season.
We do everything we can to set up our members for success in the kitchen, including a newsletter for each delivery explaining what’s in the box and how to use it, recipes, and information on the health benefits of each crop. However, we also know that the commitment to preparing meals from scratch each week, trying new things, and making the most of each item takes care and practice. We have a lot to share with folks just beginning their kitchen journey, or who may be a CSA member for the first time. If that’s you, you’re not alone!
Before June hits and you get your first round of fresh veggies, here are some things you can do ahead of time to make the kitchen magic happen this season.
Get yourself an old-school, hardcopy of a cookbook. Not just any cookbook, but one that is made with seasonal eating in mind. This will allow you to keep recipes you like close at hand, sidestep the overwhelm of internet searches and pop-up ads, and avoid sifting through recipe after recipe that calls for ingredients that aren’t available at the same time. We recommend ASPARAGUS TO ZUCCHINI: A guide to cooking farm-fresh seasonal produce. This cookbook was made by Fairshare Coalition, with recipes from Wisconsin CSA farmers. Order this cookbook from our website, and pick-up on the date of the Seedling Sale. Other cookbooks we recommend:
Farm-Fresh and Fast by Fairshare Coalition
Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz
Full Moon Feast by Jessica Prentice
Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen
Stock up on jars, freezer bags, and storage containers now. This will make meal-prepping easy, and allow for you to try preservation methods that add flavor and extend the life of your foods: think refrigerator pickles, sauerkraut, dried herbs, pesto. Sometimes, if you wait till August, it can be hard to find things like mason jars in the store so buying ahead will work in your favor.
Sharpen those knives! You’ll be chopping a lot of fresh veggies, so save your wrist and make sure you have enough sharp knives on hand at all times.
Get your crew on board. Gauge interest among your family and friends in helping you prepare meals. Because the CSA is delivered with regular frequency, you could plan a standing food-prep session or family dinner around it. Many hands make light work!
Stock your pantry with the basics. If you cook regularly already, you might already have these: preferred cooking oil, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper, spices, grains, beans, pasta, etc.
Make a compost plan. If you’re fortunate to have a backyard, set up a spot to compost your vegetable trimmings. This will cut down on your garbage output, reducing waste. All you need is a contained area and enough straw or woodchips to cover the trimmings. Alternatively, you can compost most things inside using a redworm bin.
Deep-clean that fridge and organize it with labels. Think: produce, fruit, cheese, eggs, most perishable/prepped meals. This is a waste prevention tactic, as food that gets hidden in clutter is more likely to get forgotten about until it’s too late. Same goes for the freezer.
Make a list of any favorites or family traditions when it comes to recipes, and check them off the list when the season comes for them. I always look forward to quiche in spring, ratatouille in summer, and borscht and celeriac-potato gratin in winter.
Take notes throughout the season on what worked for you, so you can build upon that success next season - a notepad app on your phone or a dedicated notebook in your kitchen can do the trick.
Always keep a favorite salad dressing or dip on-hand. This will be especially handy in spring, which is peak salad season.
What do you do to prepare for the harvest season? Trying anything new this year? Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comments!
Happy spring <3
Rox
