Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Start Here
    • Relishments Around the Web
    • Flexitarianism
      • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Reviews
  • The Berkshires
    • Boothbay, Midcoast Maine and More
    • Adventures in Other Places
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

Summer = Fresh Food

Published on June 8, 2010 By Emily. Updated on June 8, 2010

So, mostly I’m ambivalent about summer.  I know, I know…it’s summer and I’m a teacher, so I should be super excited to have the summer off.  Except, and apparently only people who teach are aware of this, I don’t really have the summer off.  Granted, I signed up for everything I’ll be doing and I’m pretty excited about all of them, but let’s abolish the notion that teachers spend the summer with their feet up watching TV.  Plus there’s the heat, as I complained about on Saturday.  I just don’t like summer heat.  I don’t like being sweaty.  I like good nights of sleep.  I’d much, much rather wear pants than shorts.  If I had to choose, it would be fall (like, late September), all year round.

Nevertheless, there are 2 things (besides all my work-related jobs) that I’m really excited about this summer.

1) Our (temporary) CSA membership

Brian and I are really lucky.  A couple of our friends are traveling for the first part of the summer and letting us make use of their CSA share, which means we get a bag full of whatever’s being harvested every week.  We went to the farm a couple weeks ago for orientation and I didn’t want to leave.  It’s beautiful and there’s a ton of variety.  Today was the first distribution day.  Of course, I left my camera in the car (my brain has ceased functioning this week), but there will be pictures of distribution next week, perhaps.  This week’s take included:

Bok choy, rhubarb, radishes, mixed greens (I can’t remember all the names) and a big head of lettuce (not pictured).  I didn’t want to take more than I thought we might consume, though I also felt like we should take as much as possible and worry about what to do with it later.  The farm also has “you pick” herbs and berries, which we may head back for later in the week.  The rhubarb is definitely turning in to a pie this weekend.  I’m hoping as the season progresses that there are more non-leafy vegetables, because I’m not usually a lettuce fan, but at the same time I’m looking forward to loving lettuce more and finding things to do with it.  Yay for fresh, organic, local vegetables.

2) My (itty bitty) container garden

I have been talking about creating a container garden on our balcony/deck (what is the difference?) since the winter and I finally got around to doing something about it last weekend.  I went to the garden center, alone, and got completely overwhelmed.  Purchased a couple plants, then headed to Walmart.  Surprisingly, Walmart seemed to have a lot more individual plants (as opposed to packs of 6), plus easily accessible potting soil and pots.  In the end, I ended up with an herb garden (dill, basil, oregano and chives) and a pair of pepper plants, bell and jalapeno.  Sometime, maybe soon, I’ll start the tomato seeds I bought a month or so ago…

I’m really excited about my little garden (and pleased that I haven’t killed it yet), but I have absolutely no clue what I’m doing.  But you can’t win if you don’t play…if all goes well this year, who knows what I’ll have outside next summer.

What are you excited about this summer?

Related Posts

Kohlrabi is the Coolest Looking Vegetable
Starting the Countdown (CSA Menu Plan #66)
Why Do You Plan? (CSA Menu Plan #49)
Why We’re Renewing Our CSA Membership for 20...
Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: food, life Tagged With: CSA, gardening, local

« Highlights: Keeping Cool
Highlights: The BP Oil Spill »

Trackbacks

  1. Relishments » How We Spent Our First CSA Bounty says:
    June 13, 2010 at 7:21 pm

    […] PluginLast week we had the exciting experience of picking up our first week’s worth of produce from our CSA.  I can hardly wait until Tuesday when we get to do it again.  When we picked up our pile of […]

  2. Relishments » Maybe Winter Won’t Be Completely Miserable says:
    November 6, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    […] summer, Brian and I had a lot of fun with our temporary CSA membership at Caretaker Farm.  It was sad when it came to an end (though we’re really glad to have our friends back from […]

Welcome!

photo of EmilyWelcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in cooking and eating in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshires
Recipe Index
CSA Menu Plan
First Time?
 

Support Relishments on Patreon

Just so you know…

I’m just a girl who loves to cook and eat. This site is not a source for nutritional information.

Relishments is affiliated with various sponsors. Some product links on this site are affiliates; I may get portion of the sale. All opinions on this site are honest, regardless of revenue opportunities. Find out more about my policies here

relishments

Emily
I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my blog posts, but I just hit publish on my end of August/beginning of September meal plans! Some blogging progress is better than none! Click the link below or visit my profile to see how we used these 2 CSA pick ups from @mightyfoodfarm.
.
.
.
https://www.relishments.com/blog/august-slipped-away-csa-meal-plan-153/
.
.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebo It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebotanicalgardens.
.
.
.
#Maine #CoastalMaineBotanticalGardens #Boothbay
We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great Barrington today, bringing along our 6 year old for the first time. 
Pictured: onion rings, pressed Cubano, BOX burger, raspberry mint iced tea/ (huge) side of fries, grilled hot dog, strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious and my daughter especially enjoyed trying out the lawn games.
Until next year!
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #GreatBarrington #TheBistroBox
New on the blog: a list of everything I made for d New on the blog: a list of everything I made for dinner this week. A double @mightyfoodfarm CSA pick up plus hosting my in-laws for dinner resulted in me actually planning quality meals.
.
Get the recipe links at https://www.relishments.com/blog/twice-as-good-csa-meal-plan-152/ or click the link in my profile.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowe I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls this morning. It was as beautiful as I remembered and a great morning for hanging out with some friends.
.
.
.
#igers413 #ShelbourneFalls #BridgeOfFlowers #WesternMass #WesternMA
Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before w Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before we went on vacation. I loved the atmosphere, decor, location and, of course, the beer. All eight beers we tasted were delicious and I'm looking forward to going back soon. 
More thoughts on the blog at the link in my profile or at https://www.relishments.com/blog/hot-plate-brewing-in-pittsfield/
.
.
.
#PittsfieldMA #MassachusettsBrewery #igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #DrinkLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in La I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in Lanesborough this morning to pick blueberries with my daughter. We had a lovely time at the farm, and especially enjoyed the short walk to the lush blueberry bushes, and the beautiful flower and lavender fields. We didn't participate in pick-your-own flowers today, but it's definitely on my radar for the future.
We are looking forward to some muffin baking soon! 🫐
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #LanesboroughMA #SecondDropFarm #PickYourOwnBlueberries
It's good to be home, but we had a great time with It's good to be home, but we had a great time with Brian's side of the family in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last week.
.
.
.
#WrightsvilleBeach #NorthCarolina #WilmingtonNC
15 seconds of calm. Wrightsville Beach, NC . . . # 15 seconds of calm.
Wrightsville Beach, NC
.
.
.
#WrightsvilleBeach #WilmingtonNC
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in