Sunday, June 20

The CSA - Week one!

We finally got it!! Several anxious weeks after signing up for a share of the Windy Meadow Farms 2010 growing season, we went out to the farm and gathered our first weekly harvest.

We had been able to pick up our share since Wednesday, but the Boy and I went on Friday evening after work and rehearsal. As we pulled up, it looked pretty deserted, no people around, no doors open, no signs saying "enter here!" So I took a wild guess and opened the door to the metal framed garage.

Bingo.

I did the audible, 5-year old "WOOOW!!" It was just a little room portioned off from the rest of the building with canvas tarps. Yet....it was such a cool set up to display everything you were getting for the week. Three tables and a refrigerator formed a kind-of "CSA Buffet." The first table, right as you walk in, has the sign-in sheet so the farmers know you had been there to gather your things. Also displayed was the list of things you would be taking from the following two tables:
Romaine - 1 bunch
Carrots - 5-7
Onions - 5-6 medium
1 Bunch - Red or Green lettuce
1 pint Strawberries
Spinach - 1 Bunch.
Also - you can buy a dozen farm-fresh eggs, FOR A DOLLAR!! Not even Wegmans sells them that cheap (ok, they sell them for $1.09. But still, not farm-fresh!). The produce was set up in wooden bushels on the other two tables.

So the Boy and I gathered our tasty tasty loot (and me whining about how I neglected to bring a measly DOLLAR) and headed out of the garage/barn. We met another woman, her name was Dawn I believe...and she had the same reservations as we did upon first arriving: "Hi! This is my first time here! I wasn't sure it was open...do we just go right in?" Yep. We were the same way. Go right in and make sure you sign in and there's a sign to tell you what to gather.

As soon as I got home I set up everything and took a photo. Amazing:



I divvied everything up except for the romaine (which I did today) and brought the rest to my aunt. She told me the first thing she did was eat all the strawberries. I don't blame her.

(Saturday morning I was up early because I was dancing in a concert at 10:30 am. So, my breakfast was some sauteed spinach with egg and some strawberries to top it off. So simple, yet - it was a revelation. I CAN eat a good breakfast without feeling like a glutton and following my diet....if all the food is pre-prepared!)

I am realizing this experience will be a TON of work. Yet, I can't be more excited. It seems that this farm does not use pesticides. However, it does come right from a farm (aka" dirt) . I spent the bulk of my time preparing by separating and washing the lettuce and spinach leaves. I have them stored rolled between damp paper towels and placing them in a baggie in the crisper drawer. We have a full week of salad. Additionally, I cut up the celery that had been sitting in my fridge for a few days, chopped up the carrots, cut up the last head of broccoli from the last shopping trip, made a pinto bean dip for me for the veggies, prepared a pasta salad for a meal later this week, and rounded out the day by shopping for odds and ends for the meals. *phew* And I couldn't be more pleased.

But really, THIS is how things should be done. I am not a mother of 4 who works full time and has to put dinner on the table by 5. But my job is one where I am devoid of energy by 6 pm, and do not have the energy to prep, cook, eat, and clean up after a meal. One full day of prep and a good meal plan for the week is my new goal. Staying healthy and eating well is about the planning. Some people can think of great meals and whip them up on the fly. I have been thinking I was one of those people for the past....oh, 3 years or so. Man, I am sorry to say, that I am not. But it's okay that I am not. I just have to recognize that I need to plan ahead.

Later this week I hope to write about what we are doing for dinners this week and what we are using from our CSA share, and what we purchased. I am so excited for what else is to come and the creative meals I'm sure will be formed from the produce we get this summer (radishes? I can't say for certain that I have ever eaten them..). Unfortunately, this probably means that the summer will fly by. But, if it means tasty local food and habit forming planning, then bring it on.

Tuesday, June 15

Our CSA

Hooray! I received an e-mail from our CSA Farm that our boxes were ready tomorrow!

So we will be going to pick up our Windy Meadow Farms produce on Thursday or Friday. Perhaps Saturday morning if the week doesn't work out.

I'm so pumped for veggies! :oD

Thursday, June 3

Snooping


Took this photo through a broken window in the building next door to one of the sites I am working on.....Can't be sure if they are full or not. But still, pretty intimidating.

Sunday, May 23

Here fishy fishy....

For the health of myself, I am trying to eat more proteins.

This is tough for a few reasons:
1. I LOVE BREAD. Unfortunately breads are carbs which are high on the glycemic index. Damn.
2. I like being a "vegetarian." Sure I'd eat chicken once in awhile, but I always pick the vegetarian plates out at restaurants over anything meat.
3. I'm lazy. I gotta admit it. I dig convenience foods - cuz I'm lazy.
4. I really really don't like the texture of red meat. Sure a fillet mignon might taste all melty and buttery and good, but its weird (um, and expensive).

So, exploring other options for animal proteins, I come to fish. After my envi education, I know that a lot of fishing practices are unsustainable and are slowly killing off some varieties of fish. The one that comes to mind first is Orange Roughy. It takes up to 30 years for the fish to mature enough to breed and thus replenish lost population from catches. Tilapia is one kid of fish that can be sustainable. You can raise many in a small area and are quick to reproduce.

Other than those two fish, I wasn't aware of what other kinds of fish I should lean toward. Until I located this Blue Ocean Institute guide to sustainable fish species. How handy....you can even do a search and it will tell you how the species are raised/caught or if there is a risk for elevated mercury contaminants.

Thinking before you eat is so much easier. And of course, that appeals to my lazy side. :o)

Anger on a Sunday

And here I am again.

I was up early and of course hopped online. FOr some reason, compelled to check some news outlets covering environmental issues. Deepwater Oil spill in the Gulf is still making headlines....because they still haven't made any headway into stopping the flow of oil.

Found a documentary where even the TRAILER pissed me off:
Chevron Rep: "..no evidence contamination is causing these cancers, it is due to poor sanitation."
...you don't get cancer from crapping in a pit lady. Plus, they have been around as a culture long enough to work out sanitation issues before YOUR culture was even created. CRUDE

Also for some gruesome photos (don't we all love those..) : Discovery Photos of the Spill

And finally some words of wisdom from a seasoned worker for and with the oceans:
"Constantly being surprised by catastrophe is stupid because unpredictable events in nature are totally predictable." --Jean-Michel Cousteau

Wednesday, May 19

DIO

Oh man, I am so excited. I just started downloading Back Sabbath: the Dio Years. I listened to a few and it just happened to be just what I wanted to listen to today.

It's gunna be a good nite.

Things to come...

Many...many things to come. So much in fact that it's all I'm thinking about.

-Beach trip to Delaware in less than 2 weeks!
-Golfing. Anytime.
-Seattle in August.
-Philadelphia in September.
-CSA box in June.

I'm thinking that it would be pretty neat to document what I get with the CSA box and what I end up making with the vegetables. The Boy and I are splitting it with my aunt. Perhaps even photos of the farm where it comes from!

Not an original thought by any means, but it's something positive to post. :o)

Tuesday, May 11

Deepwater

This morning I heard on the news that the "oil spill" in the Gulf of Mexico- associated with the busted oil rig- is "leaking" at least 200,000 gallons of oil a DAY.

Here's one link. Then there's this link. ::sigh:: THIS is why we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Recovery is a risky game. This scale of release is pretty unimaginable seeing as in my line of work, a spill of a few thousand gallons on land is a big event. This spill is hundreds of thousands of gallons PER DAY in a medium that readily allows for movement of contaminants. It's pretty intimidating. And it's more intimidating that no one really knows what to do. As of the date of these articles, decisions on what to do to staunch the bleed still haven't been solidified.

This the biggest reason I am opposed to expanding the natural gas drilling. Accidents. So far, I've been told that NYS is digging in their heels and denying the natural gas drillers rights to "pour billions of dollars into the economy." However PA is accepting drilling with open arms. Yes, I'm sure that this money will be good in the short term. But what happens in the "rare event" that groundwater aquifer is contaminated or a collapse would occur? I have a feeling this is a built-in cost for these companies, and the amount of money for compensation is much less than what they can make from natural gas recovery. Meanwhile, the local residents who were already struggling and accepted this drilling with the promise of money have to deal with the unsightly, unfortunate, and devastating consequences of an accident.

I worry for that area of the Gulf. Hopefully they WILL be on top of it all like they say. Right now though, all we can do is hope.

Monday, May 10

Thursday, January 21

A Meme, New Year, Old Year

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Joined a dance company, put a cat to sleep, went to the southwest

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I made a "resolution" to dance more. and dance I did.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Kind of, my cousin and his wife had a baby

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Just my kitty..

5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries...

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
energy

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 10, Molly and Aric's wedding.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being asked to join a dance company!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Traveling for fun.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got my wisdom teeth out, had food poisoning/stomach issues for about 2 months

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A mattress for the guest bedroom. now people don't have to sleep on the floor!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mark, being a crazy grown up adult oficially making my little brother more mature than I.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
Politicians? well, that never changes, so I'm not sure if that counts.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food. I love pricy food apparently.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Arizona... Molly's wedding

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Single ladies...wedding thing.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- i. happier or sadder? um, happier I think. I'm just pretty content with my life in general
- ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner? I think?
- iii. richer or poorer? richer. got muh raise.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Vacation. I had a whole 5 days to use up at the end of the year. Oh and going to the gym. That membership finally expires this year tho.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
whining.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Well, spent it with my family. The boy's mother didn't want to see us. So, yeah.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Even more with life, with my guy.

23. How many one-night stands?
I'm sorry, what?

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Hm, this was another good thing about this year. Hardly any tv.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone. If I dislike someone I leave them out of my life.

26. What was the best book you read?
I spent most of the year reading the Wheel of Time series.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Neko Case

28. What did you want and get?
I don't really have severe wants. The Boy did get me a sweet cast iron teapot. (which I still have to use!)

29. What did you want and not get?
::shrug:: A even holiday?

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have no idea, but we did watch more movies.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked. I turned 25. Getting old suuucks. But The Boy took me out for cajun BBQ :o)

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Vacations to look back on, not being to tired all the time.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Things I will still wear when I'm 40.

34. What kept you sane?
Dance.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8 being defeated and in NY and in Maine...so disappointing.

37. Who did you miss?
Family. And Leo. Stupid old kitty...*

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Um, a co-worker. we don't hang out really, but she's cool and not so anal.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
You. Are. Getting. Older.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
honestly....don't want to attempt this task!

41. How will you be spending New Years?
Spent it in the company of only 4 people. calm and relaxing.

Monday, January 4

I am writing here because I forgot my notebook. It's a pretty big annoyance because I use it to write down what pops into my head. If I don't it becomes a sticking point for my brain and then I can't focus on work until I get it down. Ya know, so I won't forget. HA.
The salliemae thing is still an interesting turn of events. Signing me up for some forbearance even though I didn't request it. Strange. So they are sending me a request form that "I" sent in. I'm interested to see what this supposed signature looks like. Seeing as I haven't done crap with them other than pay my bills on time and more than the minimum amount. Tsk. Nothing has changed for me financially, why would I be suddenly lazy and say, "oh, I don't want to pay for a year, but, yeah, sure, stack up all that interest in the meantime." dumb. So instead of putting more money in my savings, I will be again paying bills. It feels I will NEVER get ahead. bastards.

Anyway...really really looking forward to my massage on Friday - even though it's at 10 am. on a work day. I'm really suffering right now - my back feels like it has two twisted towels bunched up right beside my spine on either side. lovely. It's snowing out, my hands are cold, and gee, you would have no idea it's the first day back in about 2 weeks, huh? haha...I'm such a baby.

I am looking forward to being home tonight. I am making beef stew, and perhaps I will go to the gym. Not sure. But if not, there will be plenty of tea and blankets and Magic playing. That game makes me SO frustrated. The Boy thinks so quickly, and apparently there is this insane new way of doing combat...you can pick more than one blocker to defend an attacker. So technically, more creatures can die if you don't pay attention. OI.

I just finished reading Brian Sanderson's Elantris. Its a really really good story. This guy took over writing the Wheel of Time series when Robert Jordan, the original author died. I would highly reccomend the Elantris book to fantasy/sci fi readers. I think I want to mail it to my brother. I think he would like it too (he was also reading the Wheel of Time series).

I forgot a bunch of stuff at my parents house whil I was down there for the holidays. My organic sugar (it was for a recipe), the detachable fur lining to my coat, and the space heater. Augh, how I want that space heater for work. See? It all comes back to work.