Farm Box Diaries

Lettuce Begin

I didn't grow up on a farm. Still, being raised in rural Cayuga County, with farmer friends, land-leasing parents, and a farmer grandpa, I feel like an honorary farm kid.

I'm a big fan of farmers, the local food movement, farmers markets, and especially feeding people. My family's been part of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs for decades.

Recently, we joined Lansing Farm's summer CSA. It's an eighth-generation family farm in Albany County. We bought a large share of their summer harvest back in late winter, and now, each week, we swing by the farm for boxes and bags of incredibly delicious fruits and veggies.

"But Kelly," I hear you thinking, "didn't you just plant nine raised garden beds? And don't only five people live in your house, most of whom eat about four vegetables total?" Yes, you've got a point, but... supporting farmers!

Here's my confession: I've never actually used everything in our share. Last year, our chickens ate a lot of kale. But this year, it's different! I'm making a solemn Vegetable Vow: I will use every single item in our share before the next week's pickup. And you're going to help me!

Week 1: The Vegetable Vow Begins!
This week's pickup was Wednesday and included green leaf lettuce, radishes, Swiss chard, bok choy, and rhubarb.

When I picked up, Al Lansing, the farmer, noticed they were out of kale. I was secretly relieved, as the Vegetable Vow was already stressing me out. But when I went back Friday to grab my friend's share, Al remembered and kindly insisted I take a bunch of kale. Thanks, Al.

First, I tackled the radishes by making quick pickled radishes. Then, I chopped the leaf lettuce and mixed it into a bagged salad for my weekly lunches. I found a recipe for bok choy soup and managed to get all the bok choy and Swiss chard in there.

My coworker Jess recommended rhubarb crisp to use it up - and this recipe was DEVOURED by my family. I doubled the recipe, and made up the missing rhubarb with Macintosh apples.

That left the kale. It sat in my fridge for half a week, looking too gorgeous to eat in one of my Murano glasses. With this week's pickup looming, I finally just tossed the whole thing into a giant protein breakfast smoothie, with a cup of milk, a scoop of my favorite Ryse Jet Puffed Marshmallow Protein Powder and a bunch of frozen strawberries. Just in under the deadline!

What's Next?
Tomorrow is Week 2 pickup, and Jessica, Al's daughter (who runs their social media), already shared what's coming:

So, tell me: what should I do with my radishes and kale this week? I don’t know if I can drink another 189 oz kale smoothie….