CSA – My Life Runs On Food

There are many food activists in our community who we should know and recognize, for they’re rich sources of information about local food systems and events. Melissa Danielle is one such person located primarily in the Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) section of Brooklyn, New York. We originally met when she sent out a tweet requesting lemon balm in exchange for excess mulberry she had foraged few days ago around Prospect Park. Lucky for her my lemon balm bush was growing out of control, and I responded to her request. She was able to make her Lemon Balm Mulberry Sorbet, and I made a Cold Mulberry Soup with Ginger Yogurt. A few weeks later, I would see her again to pick up my first share of vegetables, fruit, and eggs at the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Read more →

The Bed-Stuy Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Last week, was the first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) pick up. My canvas bag was filled with organic kale, collard, dandelion, bok choy, and Swiss chard greens. A large head of romaine, a small head of butter lettuce, green garlic and a dozen eggs were also included in the share. I dutifully took my bags home, and the next two hours were spent cleaning, cutting and packaging the greens. The next day, a salad was made with a mixture of butter lettuce and dandelion greens. Goat cheese, mulberries and a small red onion were tossed together in a bowl. A few tablespoons of Cilantro-Almond Pesto were mixed into Greek yogurt to make a salad dressing. That was an easy salad to make. Now, a few more bags had to be sautéed, simmered, stir-fried or served fresh. Read more →