Some women fantasize about a mansion on the hill and a closet full of designer clothes. I fantasize about a country farm full of edibles and a garden full of flowers; with chickens for eggs and bees for honey. The nearest approximation of that dream is my weekly visit to the farmer's market. I live vicariously through those farmers. They are dedicated to the art of farming and the drudgery and inconstancy of nature. We live in the age of large industrial agri-business that specialise in monoculture produce. The produce are bred for disease resistance and shelf life. You only get one varietal choice of each vegetable. The flavors are mostly a third or fourth tier consideration. These small farmers provide a delicious alternative with their heirloom varieties and fresh seasonal selections, all grown with care.
I have taken on the role of fundraising VP at the elementary school this year. The challenge is sorting through the junky gifts and candy fundraisers that proliferate the PTA fundraising world. We were presented with an opportunity to bring a CSA to our school and earn money in the process. CSA is community supported agriculture, originally developed to help urban dwellers support small farmers by buying into "shares" of the farm. The shareholders get a weekly box with fresh produce that the farmers grow and the farmers have a customer base to support their farm. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. Our CSA is going strong after two months and the produce is so delicious and amazing. Our shareholders get an opportunity to try new varieties and exotic fruits. Purple Peruvian potatoes, sapote, cherimoyas and Jerusalem artichoke. Last week we had the most sublime tangerines. They were tiny, delicate and thinned skinned but so juicy, sweet and tart. The kind of fruit that you will never find in the supermarket because of their delicacy. It's a weekly town hall on our school lawn when we all get together to trade recipes and marvel over the abundance of the produce. The variety is amazing when you consider that we are in the dead of winter. The rest of the country is swallowed up in snow and we are reveling in the sunshine and eating bell peppers and oranges!
It's a beautiful sight to behold, every Thursday, when our CSA team sets up the produce table and our kids swarm us, begging for apples and tangerines. I wish this for every school. I wish this for you and your family.
CSA California
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