I have always loved vegetables.  I love them more than fruit.  Don't get me wrong, I love fruit too but I love vegetables more.  My produce bill has always been so much more expensive than it should be.  This is the problem with the world we live in:  the REAL food costs more than the FAKE food. The real food, being the food that is natural and literally comes from a seed in the ground, sprouts, becomes food and ends up on your plate.  Versus the fake food that is often genetically modified, goes through a factory, gets a bunch of stuff added to it, is put in a pretty package with lots of preservatives so it's shelf life is longer and then ends up on your plate (possibly 3 months later...well,
because it's been sitting in your pantry that long).

When we started eating organic my produce bill went up slightly.  I was careful about what I was buying, trying to eat in season, and it really did make a difference. However, I knew at roughly $28 a week, it was ridiculous.  The local natural food store I went to had a brochure on all of the farms in Southeastern Wisconsin and what they had for sale.  I was amazed at just how many farms were offering me fresh, local food...literally in my backyard!  My husband and I decided it was more economical to join a CSA.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which pretty much means that you buy "shares" in a local farm and when they begin to harvest you get fresh food delivered, either to your door or very close to your home.  It's a great way for you to support a local farmer, while knowing you are eating food that was just harvested that week! 

For our CSA, we paid $420 for 23 weeks worth of produce (so, now I just saved $10 a week off of my grocery bill, and I was getting local food, and a whole variety of it!).  Additionally, we did a winter share for $45 which is delivered at the end of the harvest, and usually contains a 30 lb box of things to last you through the winter (or in WI...most of the winter!) like potatoes, some greens, onions, etc.  Our farm also has eggs, which I paid $27 for a half dozen every other week.  That comes out to about $2 every other week for 6 eggs.  At the store, I'd pay at least $4 or more for a dozen cage-free, organic eggs, so I figured I was breaking even (or better since I knew the farm the chickens were raised at).

So, what's with the title of the post? Why wouldn't you join a CSA?  Honestly, I think everyone can benefit from a CSA; however, there are a couple things you want to keep in mind when deciding to join:
     
        - You get A LOT of food.  One box usually lasts us 2 weeks or more, so be prepared.
        - Since you get a lot of food, you don't want it to go bad so you must eat it.  Eating it often requires cooking it.  
           Cooking it requires effort on your part....(;
        -  Be prepared to try new foods.  You will get different things, many of which you may have never eaten....or 
            prepared before.  My first share had me experimenting with tomatillos and squashes.
        -  Some CSAs have pick up locations, which are usually at the home of someone in your neighborhood.  Be 
            courteous and pick your box up at the scheduled day and time of the week.  If you can't make it that week, or 
            are on vacation, call the farm so they know you won't be needing a share.  Often times the farm will donate 
            your share to a local food pantry.

If you any of these reasons make you a little nervous about the investment, don't worry!  There are ways that you can still enjoy a CSA.  If you are concerned about the amount of food you are getting, find a friend and split the share (this can help cut down the cost too, if that's one of your concerns).  As well, when it comes to the cost, many farms offer a worker share program.  You give them some of your time and "work" at the farm.  You help them harvest, wash the produce, pack it up, etc.  In exchange, they give you part or all of a share.  If you don't know how to cook, or don't feel comfortable cooking new foods many of the farms send newsletters with receipes on how to cook or things to make with the items in that week's box.  Some farms even have an exchange program, if there is something in your box that you don't like, you can leave it at the pick up spot for someone else to enjoy (at the same time, if there is something in the exchange box that you do like, you are free to take it).  There are pros and cons to everything.

If you're still unsure if a CSA is right for you, that's OK.  It's a committment, but one that is well worth it in my book.  Even if you decide not to join a CSA, continue to experiment with foods found at your local farm stands or farmer's markets.  Once you get to know some of the farmers, you may consider trying down the road.  Just remember, eating local is best!

XO,
Nicole

As many of you know I'm currently in school for Nutritional Health Counseling, which has opened my eyes to so many new ideas and ways of thinking when it comes to my own health.  Recently we had a lecture from David Wolfe, a raw foodist (among many, many other things), who inspired me to start trying some new things.  David spoke of his beliefs around eatings foods in their natural form (raw foodists do not cook anything over a temperature of 150-170 degrees), and the power those foods have on our bodies and health.  David is one of the many guest speakers we've had in my program, that are opening my eyes to hundreds of different dietary theories.  While I don't see myself becoming a raw foodist in the near future, I was intrigued to bring some of his ideas into my own diet.....my smoothies.

If you're like me, you probably think of a smoothie as something like frozen or fresh fruit, some juice or water - maybe yogurt, and a little protein powder.  As my knowledge around nutrition has evolved, so has my smoothie.  Fruits and veggies are important components to any smoothie, but so many of them (bananas and carrots, for example) are loaded with natural sugars that I never realized how to properly balance a smoothie to ensure I wasn't going to crash 2 hours after drinking it.

Additionally, there were these new "superfoods" I was being exposed to that could offer my smoothie new textures and flavors, all while providing me tons of nutrients!  The superfoods I'm referring to are ones that are found in nature in the purest form (seeds, berries, etc).  I've begun incorporating hemp, chia and flax seeds into my diet, as well as goji berries, raw cacao, dulse and kelp. 

Here is a new smoothie I've been drinking recently.  Many of the ingredients can be found at Whole Foods or your local natural foods store.  I don't really measure the ingredients, so feel free to play around with the tastes and flavors that you have in your pantry.

Brewed tea (about 2-3 cups)
Coconut water (1/2 cup)
Frozen berries (maybe 1/4 cup)
4 or 5 fresh strawberries, with the greens on top
2 T raw cacao powder (my store only had cacao nibs, so I used a coffee grinder to make my own powder)
2 T goji berries, soaked
1 t chia seeds, soaked so they begin to sprout (you'll know they are sprouting when they become a gel like substance)
1 T raw honey
1 T raw almond butter
1 T coconut oil (do not melt the oil)

Blend and strain over your glass (depending on your blender, as this particular smoothie will have lots of seeds).  Enjoy!

If you're not ready to add these foods to your pantry, I would encourage you to start experimenting with them a couple at a time.  Or start to substitute different natural sweeteners into your smoothie.  Rather than using fruit juices from the store (that are often full of sugar), try just a spoonful of natural peanut or almond butter, or raw honey....you don't have to use as much and they have more nutrients than the juice.   The goal is to find foods that work for you, that you enjoy and make you feel better! 

After you have some time to play around, leave us a comment and tell us what you experimented with! 

Enjoy!
Nicole