“Community Supported Agriculture” was a term I had no familiarity with until I finished In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, by Michael Pollan, earlier this week. But, as it turns out, I can buy “shares” of a local farm and, in turn for my support, get a selection of vegetables each week — a “CSA Box.”
Isn’t the thought of a variety of tasty veggies delivered to your doorstep just about enough of a reason to actually want to eat vegetables?
Let’s make it clear right now that I’m a terrible eater. I eat more often in my car than I do anywhere else. The downside to this is obvious: I feel like crap because I’m eating crap (and I kinda look more and more like crap, too). But at the very least, I’m beginning to realize I’m missing out on something Pollan says is pretty important: The cultural experience. It’s strange how programmed we’ve become to view eating food as a transaction and less like an actual experience.
After reading this book, I’m suddenly longing to learn how to cook and host dinner parties and maybe I’ll even start a garden. Quite honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll get around to doing any of this, but it’s pretty to think I would. I’m going to check out my local CSA destination, The Goshen Farmers Market, this Saturday morning. I’ll meet with Dave Green, the self-described “ugly guy you can’t miss up at the front,” and learn a little more about this “know where what you’re eating is coming from” lifestyle.
Maybe I’ll actually start using my stove. I’ll have to move the ramen packets somewhere else, but the change might be worth it.
(It should be noted that during the typing of this post I succumbed to a microwaved pizza roll. Baby steps.)
Click here to find a CSA center near you or to learn more about the movement.
