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
  • Technology
    • My Favorite Technology Tools
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

When in Doubt: What to Get From a Winter CSA or Farmers’ Market

Published on January 12, 2014 By Emily. Updated on January 12, 2014

3 years ago, my husband Brian and I signed up for our first winter CSA.  We’ve renewed our winter (and summer) Community Shared Agriculture membership every year since then and picking up fresh, local, organic produce has become part of our regular weekend routine.  As much as I enjoy our summer CSA, I think the fact that our farm provides winter shares as well is really special.  It’s pretty easy to find fresh and local produce in the warmer seasons, but it takes more work in the winter.  Knowing that we’ve already paid for a months of  pickups makes eating well all winter long that much easier.

CSA-room-door

It’s no secret that I’m a planner.  I plan my menus, my shopping lists and what I’ll pick up as part of my CSA share.  But as good as my intentions are, life can get busy.  So sometimes when pickup day rolls around, I don’t know what I’ll need that week.  Sometimes I only have a partial menu planned.  Sometimes I know we’ll be travelling for part of the following week or so and I need to get items I’ll be able to use beyond the given week.  Our farm’s winter pick ups are every two weeks which means we get a lot of items at once, so sometimes I have shares left beyond what my menu requires.  In those cases, I turn to my default list of items I know I’ll make use of regardless of my plans (or lack there of). If I was shopping at a winter farmers’ market instead of picking up at my CSA, where it’s even harder to predict what might be available, I’d feel safe picking up these items.

winter CSA title

I was going to list uses for each of the ingredients below, but the uses don’t really vary much.  These are the items I rely on for roasting, winter salads, soups, stir fry, and serving in or with eggs.  They make great sides and entrees.  Best of all, they generally (with the exception of the spinach) keep for weeks, meaning that if I don’t use them immediately I don’t have to worry much.  I can just roll over their use to the following week.

potatoes

onions

butternut squash

garlic

carrots

spinach

kohlrabi

beets

winter-CSA-pickup

Related Posts

Delicious Surprise (CSA Menu Plan #94)
Buffalo Tempeh Salad (CSA Week 8)
Hi, August! (CSA Menu Plan #79)
Getting Started with Flexitarianism
Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: food Tagged With: advice, CSA

« #50: Make Pierogies From Scratch
Vegetable Tetrazzini »

Comments

  1. Emily @ More Than Just Dessert says

    January 16, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    I’m more of a “root” veggie lover, so I think a winter CSA sounds awesome! Definitely on my list for next year.

Welcome!

Welcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in flexitarian eating and cooking 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 is affiliated with…

View my food journey on Zomato!

  
Ahalogy Badge

relishments

New year, new word! This year, I'm focusing on bei New year, new word!
This year, I'm focusing on being deliberate in my speech, my relationships, my work and my time. Change isn't going to happen my chance!
More of my thoughts are on the blog, link in my profile.
.
.
.
#onelittleword #myoneword #newyears #newyearsresolution #2021 #2021theme
My top 9 of 2020. In typical 2020 fashion, I had a My top 9 of 2020.
In typical 2020 fashion, I had all kinds of issues getting my Top 9 created this year and this image still has problems. 
But the images are accurate and nicely summarize the year - take out from local establishments (@aokberkshirebbq, @thebreakroomgw, @northadamsfarmersmarket), #RelishmentsBakes projects, the natural beauty of the Berkshires and our successful container garden.
.
.
.
#topnine2020 #2020 #newyear
New on the blog: my 8 favorite recipes I made in 2 New on the blog: my 8 favorite recipes I made in 2020. This post has ideas for every meal and features recipes from @bonappetitmag, @kingarthurbaking, @budgetbytes, @markbittman, @smittenkitchen and @wholefully.
.
Link in profile.
.
I'd love to hear about the best things you cooked this year!
.
.
.
#recipe #recipereview #favoriterecipe
Apparently, in the weirdness that is 2020, posting Apparently, in the weirdness that is 2020, posting to my Instagram feed was one of the things that didn't make the cut. There are more items than I'd prefer in that category, but recently I've felt like I'm beginning to get my feet firmly planted beneath me again. This fall was so busy with learning how to teach remotely and parent 2 children well. I don't anticipate that life will ever feel not busy, but I've been able to carve out some time lately for activities I've been missing. Making bread is one of those activities. Hopefully, more posts in the feed will be more frequent going forward. 
.
.
.
Peasant bread recipe from @breadin5
For last month's #RelishmentBakes challenge I made For last month's #RelishmentBakes challenge I made apple turnovers with puff pastry from scratch. I am so pleased with how well they turned out and proud of myself for tackling puff pastry.  Get all the details at the link in my profile. Next month's challenge is coming soon!
.
.
.
#BakingChallenge #BakingFromScratch #bakealong #turnovers #AppleTurnovers
Sunset in North Adams . . . #igers413 #WigwamWeste Sunset in North Adams
.
.
.
#igers413 #WigwamWesternSummit #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #sunset
#sponsored All the time we've spent at home lately #sponsored All the time we've spent at home lately has definitely had me looking to expand the snack options in my pantry.  I jumped at the chance to try these @sunmaid Sour Raisins  and they immediately became one of my daughter's favorite snacks. She likes them because they're reminiscent of candy, I like them because they're technically fruit and they come prepackaged for easy snacking and taking on the go. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty they are!
#howyoulikethemsours #contest #complimentary @Influenster
This weekend's weather was amazing and my family e This weekend's weather was amazing and my family embarked on the only way to kick off fall: we went apple picking at Jaeschke Orchards in Adams.  The parking lot was full, but out in the orchard we hardly came across any other groups.  The trees were heavy with apples and we quickly filled our bag. Looking forward to apples for snacks, pie, crisp and turnovers in the coming weeks.
This month's #RelishmentBakes challenge may sound This month's #RelishmentBakes challenge may sound familiar because it's a repeat. Sort of. Get all the details and join me in some turnover baking this month at the link in my profile.
.
.
.
#bakealong #BakingFromScratch #BakingChallenge #baking
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in