The Veggie Mystery Box - Week 2

So. Much. Lettuce.

For once in my life, I am honestly okay with that.  Although I can't explain it, by eating local food, I am getting more joy out of meals...including my second chicken salad in a single week.

I do have a confession, however.  I occasionally slip into the convenience groove.  I will grab whatever is quickly available in the frig or pantry to snack on.  It is always said that in order to correct a problem, you must first identify it.  Consider the problem identified.  My goal is to prep things ahead of time so I can reach for zucchini chips instead of the foil bag potato chips.

Moving on to the fun part!  Last week's CSA was a fun variety that included a jar of tomatoes, zucchini, romaine lettuce, kale, gold potatoes, and asparagus.

The tomatoes are still relaxing in the pantry (I'm thinking salsa perhaps?).  The kale turned into kale chips while the one zucchinI transformed into zucchini bread.  A portion of the gold potatoes teamed up with the asparagus to become Sunday night's dinner sides.

I was quite proud of this dinner, even the roast was local and grass fed! Now the challenge is to keep bringing it close to home with all meals.

How's it growing?

Although my mini garden got off to a slow and late start, I am so very pleased to say that it is coming along quite nicely!  My beginning of the season joke was that I would be happy if we got one edible item from it.... and "TaaaDaaa!"   We did!

This past weekend we got one single (and delicious) strawberry that my husband and I cut in half to split.  This strawberry will not be the only fruit of our labor; I am sure!  It already looks as though I can start harvesting some leaf lettuce as well!

The Veggie Mystery Box - Week 1

Last week was our first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share of the season.  Although I am still bewildered my husband agreed to this purchase, this spring we bought a small share as well as the additional holiday shares in our local CSA.  The pick up site was conveniently on my way home from work and it worked out to be about $20 a week for fresh produce for the 25 week growing season.

I can not begin to explain the excitement these pick ups are giving me.  It is a weekly produce surprise package.  Each week, on Tuesday, we receive a newsletter detailing what will be in our Thursday share.  This is wonderful because it gives you time to plan out recipes for the unfamiliar veggies.

This past week we received bok choy, red and green butter head lettuce, strawberries, potatoes, chives, and rhubarb.  The lettuce and bok choy went into salads, strawberries got eaten as they sat (and quickly), potatoes are still being stored as well as some of the chives, and the rhubarb turned into lemon rhubarb muffins.

This week looks like another fun and promising veggie mystery box - I already can't wait!

Baby Steps with Baby Plants

After buying the house and realizing how many different projects we had on our hands, I almost gave up on having any form of a garden this year.  We had no clue where to put it, were completely unprepared to fence it properly, and not too mention, seemed to have a complete lack of time.  Something wonderful happened, however.  That dream did, in fact, become a reality.

No, we did not have some crazy miracle come into fruition that allowed us to get a 1/4 acre garden completely planted by memorial day.  Instead, we thought "in the box".

My husband built me a lovely raised bed that is more like a garden table.  It was built almost entirely out of scrap 2x4 boards with the exception of the 3/4" plywood base.  It took him a little over a day to have it completely built and painted.

I am happy to report, that after this past weekend, I now have it full.  I also have several additional containers planted as well to supplement it.

In the raised bed, I currently have:
- 4 Strawberry Plants
- A row of green and red leaf lettuce
- 5 Bell pepper plants
- 4 Bush bean plants

Although I am uncertain about the spacing and how all will coexist this summer, the beauty of it is that it doesn't need to be perfect.  There is always next year to try again.

As for the containers, there are:
- 3 Pots with blueberry bushes
- 2 Pots with blackberry bushes
- 2 Pots with raspberry bushes
- Purple basil
- Chives
- Spearmint

Hopefully next summer the berry bushes will be in the ground.  This year, they just seemed far to small to go directly in the ground.  It seemed like they would get ran over with a mower in no time.  Perhaps if we determine a set area for them and mulch appropriately we could get them in the ground this year; only time will tell.

I do have a confession.  The gardening bug has bit me.  There are still more things I wish to plant.  Cilantro, dill, tomatoes, cucumbers...

Hey There, Happy Mail!

When doing research on more natural household, as well as skincare, products, I quickly learned that some items were considered a staple ingredient.  One of largest monetary investment items were the essential oils.  Not only were good quality oils usually moderately priced for a small vial, but also usually several types were combined in any given recipe.  After much deliberation, I finally placed my first oily order last week which arrived yesterday.  Not only will this give me a good foundation of essential oils to use in making different products, but I also found various blends which I plan to use for diffusing as well as topical applications.

I ended up going with Eden's Garden for my essential oils.  They offered a lovely "Create Your Own" set which I took advantage of to purchase 12 oils.  I also ordered coconut oil to be used as a carrier oil, an inhaler, 2 10ml amber bottles, and pipettes.

Single Oils:
Lemon
Tea Tree
Sweet Orange
Eucalyptus
Lavender
Peppermint

Synergy Blends:
Anxiety Ease
Rise and Shine
Head Ease
Breathe Easier
Citrus Cream
Pest Defy

I am already using the Anxiety Ease in my inhaler and the Citrus Cream was amazing last night used in the diffuser.  The single Oils were selected because they seemed most common for products, household cleaners especially.  Hopefully soon I will be able to try some recipes.

What are your suggestions for must have natural cleaners?  How about skincare and personal products?

The Big Adventure: 1st Farmers Market

It's not that I have never wandered about a farmers market before.  I have.  That was a time before being on our own and responsible for food choices though.  If I am being honest, even from a passive point of view, it held only minimal interest for me.  It seemed to be primarily plants with some overpriced produce and honey.  As a full fledged "I'm now responsible for voting with my dollar" adult, however, I see great value in the local farmers market now.

The market season officially began last Saturday.  I was quite excited, making a morning of it by heading to breakfast with my family, the local flea market, the farmers market, and finally Aldi before heading home.  To say the least, it was an eye opening trip.  I had little idea that so many different items were available at the farmers market when you look.  While the prices were of course higher than the conventional bargain products at big box retailers, with an open mind, they were actually completely reasonable (and at times a steal!) for the value you were receiving.

What did I buy?

• 4 pack of hot sausage links ~ $8.00
• 4 pack of buns ~ $2.00
• Loaf of wheat bread ~ $3.50
• Dried noodles ~ $3.00
• Bar of goat's milk soap ~ $4.00
• Small carton of strawberries ~ $2.50
• Container of mixed greens ~ $4.00

My tips for a great farmers market trip:

1. Bring some reusable bags
2. Make sure you have cash - small bills are a plus too!
3. Do an initial walk through (especially if you are on a budget) so you can create a game plan
4. Don't restrict yourself to produce - there are some great gems in those other products! The hot sausage especially was delicious!
5. Focus on things you know you will use.  Buying a bunch of produce to have it go to waste is just sad - that poor lettuce!  Try to plan out the weeks meal's while you shop and piece things together.  

What can I add for farmers market tips?  What are your favorite items to find there?

The First Dozen

Eat Better:  Item 1-Eat Local

We officially closed on our house in February.  Not long after, in late April, I saw it in the neighbors yard.  The bright yellow sign with green letters proudly proclaimed "Fresh Eggs - $2.00".  I suppose you could call that first $2.00 purchase the tipping point of action.  I had always heard in my research how much better local food was.  It was nutrient rich, better for the environment, and tasted better.  Reading it and experiencing it always tends to be two different things, however.

Well let me tell you, they were the best eggs I ever tasted.

The yolks were such a deep golden color I could hardly believe it.  Local made a difference.  These were chickens I could peek out my lIving room window and watch forage.  Occasionally, we would find one on our side porch.

If something so small as a dozen eggs could be so greatly improved by purchasing local...what other products could I find close to home?