I love the Flats Mentor greens. They are amazing, great flavor, pristine, something new to me interesting at times. Their greens are the real stuff and some summers, later in the summer, they have fresh lemongrass. The price is very fair and the Thai basil I bought on Saturday is still doing well sitting in water like flowers on my kitchen counter until I can use it tomorrow. I got some wonderful mustard greens and purple Shiso as well. Their greens and herbs are so beautiful that I’d use them for centerpieces at a dinner party before using them for cooking.
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For some reason the Lexington FM is ALWAYS about 10 degrees hotter than anywhere else. It is not far from work and we sometimes duck out and go there and can never believe the temperature difference. Still, it is a really good FM.
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If you don’t mind the suggestion, could you start a more general farmer’s market thread, please? You’re posting valuable information, but many people are likely to miss it because they’ll see “Wilson Farms” and move on.
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done, great suggestion!
To continue the hijacking of the thread, I thought I’d mention that the Pennsylvania peaches were looking riper yesterday so I picked some up and must say that they were very good. I’ll be back tomorrow for some more. I think peach shortcake is in the future.
We have a new, general farmer’s market thread:
Can we please post non-Wilson-CSA information there?
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Oh, sorry, I should have been specific. The good Pennsylvania peaches were from Wilson Farm in Lexington, MA. But just from shopping, not from the CSA.
Yes, I did have a sense that they were from Wilson Farms, but, again, my fear is that information such as this might be lost to people who have no interest in the Wilson CSA. Since the thread title has CSA in it, my feeling (but it’s just my opinion) is that information about good stuff at any market, including Wilson Farms, would get the most exposure in the other thread. Again, just my opinion.
thank you for the market thread. I think it helps all of us. Whether we participate in CSAs or not or can even get to Wilson Market or not.
Totally good call.
Sorry things have been busy and I wasn’t here Tuesday for the pick up.
Needless to say … I have almost everything left from last week and have no idea what to do with it before new stuff arrives Tuesday. Ugh.
1.33 lb. Green Beans
2 lb. Zucchini Squash
1/2 lb. Baby Arugula
2 Tomatoes
1 bu. Garlic
1 bu. Cilantro
1 hd. Red Leaf Lettuce
1 bu. Red Salad Onion
2 Peppers
Nice counter.
(Nice produce, too.)
I’m trying to just have a new mental attitude about things. I’m not as upset about pitching things that I haven’t eaten and that are past their prime. I hate doing that but it is just a lot of produce - which is great in some ways - I think what I get each week is a great value for example and I think we get a great variety. It’s just hard to keep up. Thankfully I have company this week, so I should be able to go through a lot.
Week of Aug 15th
1 Tuscan Melon
2 Cucumbers
6 ears Corn
1 lb. Green Beans
1 lb. Zucchini Squash
1-1/2 lb. Plum Tomatoes
1 bu. Garlic
1 hd. Red Leaf Lettuce
1 bu. Baby Bok Choy
1 Sicilian Eggplant
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This is exactly why we stopped doing CSA. It was tough for us to keep up with the beautiful produce and it was killing me not to be able to use everything. Farmers markets and farmstands work out much better for us.
I trust you’ve seen this article but just in case I’m posting it here.
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I’ve been trying to use everything, quick pickle some things (which doesn’t help when you just get more the next week but …), have made a few compound butters, frozen a few things …
I really thought with a 1/2 share we’d be good. But it is still a lot - which is a huge positive point for the CSA, so I’m not trying to knock it at all. Actually I’d recommend the CSA a lot. If we had two more mouths in the house we’d be perfect.
I was going to stop posting because I feel bad About having to pitch some things but reality is reality (mainly it has been lettuces - which just don’t keep for weeks - other times it has been just giving up on leftovers, e.g. A veggie pot pie that we had for dinner and lunch the next day but then had to move on to other produce).
Thanks for the article.
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I’m a long-time CSA member and like you, our household is two people. And sometimes we don’t get around to using all of our veggies quickly enough either. It’s inevitable on weeks when crops ripen fast and work deadlines loom large.
All that said, one of the reasons we’ve continued is that every dollar we spend with our CSA goes directly, on a predictable basis, to the farm family and their farming. Not a reason or even possible for everybody, but supporting local farming is a motivator for us and we feel super fortunate to do that.
P. S. We also give away extra veggies to neighbors in summer. Trimmings go back to the sheep, goats, pigs, or cows back at the farm. They seem delighted to get a refrigerated “salad” of vegetable trimmings.
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I hope you weren’t offended by me posting that Globe article. It wasn’t directed to you in any self-righteous way but sometimes the tone of one’s writing is lost in our digital age. I simply thought it was an important article to share.
B and I are definitely guilty of not composting (even though we have sizeable garden beds) and we need to change that. I know there are services now that come and pick up food scraps and return compost to you but of course at a cost. It’s funny how food waste is now being commoditized but at least it’s for some greater good.
I think your posts have been invaluable. I think any dialogue about food and how we can all stretch its use is important. Food really spans the spectrum of sense of community, health and well-being, joy and sadness. We can all learn from each other how to maximize our bounty.
Now I’m off to sing kumbaya with spring onion. 
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I wish you wouldn’t stop, I have been so enjoying seeing the photos every week. I think many of us aspire to do more with what we have and fall short. I am often guilty of overbuying at the farmers market because it all looks so good and I am unrealistic about what I will have the energy to cook when I get home from work.
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Not offended at all. No worries.
I’ll keep posting, I just have to stop feeling guilty that I just can’t eat it all. Again, I have company this week, so this week we should be able to eat all of this week and left overs from last week. Fingers crossed.
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@Thimes. I agree. Please don’t stop posting, though you have confirmed for me that I can’t even manage a half share. I knew this, of course, but confirmation is great!
And I totally love the CSA concept. Money going to farms, with a guarantee that they have the money that they need to plant. And yet, every time that I have joined a CSA, with the exception of the Cape Ann Fish folks, I have felt that I am buying food that I have to toss or doesn’t suit our eating style.
I have been shopping at Wilson Farms since 1995 and that won’t stop. I shop at the Union Square market and that won’t stop. But, I have to go the farm with a fixed number of dollars, and an idea of how what I buy will turn into actual meals.
Has anyone mentioned that this marvelous time with local produce is far too short?
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