Dear Mother Nature:

[Ripley]

Thank you for such a gorgeous spring day here in the Southeast!




I was fortunate enough to be able to work in my garden today and take a nice drive through the country to pick up my CSA organic produce at the farm.

Folks - please find a CSA in your area and Join! Yes, the food will cost more than your supermarket pesticide-laden, GMO and foreign country produce, but it is worth it. You will help local farmers and thus the local economy; you will help the environment; and you will be healthier eating lots of good clean green food!

Here's a link: http://www.biodynamics.com/csa.html

And just to let you know... the farmers that grow my food are two lesbians (yes, here in the heart of Alabama!) who have been showcased on an Alabama Public TV show. It would be nice if these hard-working women were given the same amount of bandwidth that is given to the nut-job representative from this area who wants gay literature banned from schools.

Nah, that would be asking people to look a little closer and not stereotype.

Enjoy it if you can!!

[Roland99]

1. Thanks...I don't have a window in my office. I'll stare at this a while

[Ripley]

2. Aww, I'm sorry you don't have a window.

I remember working in an office without windows. I put up huge nature art on the walls. It helped. But a long time ago I decided I couldn't live like that and was lucky enough to find work elsewhere...

Here's a close-up of my Hibiscus. Enjoy!

[Roland99]

3. I have a full-spectrum lamp on the way...courtesy of Ebay

BTW, nice....pistil ;)

[smokeyjoe]

4. Backyard Organic Garden in the city

My husband and I have had a garden in our yard for the last 20 years in the city surrounded by people who have manicured lawns and use all kinds of pesticides and herbicides to kill everything that's not "pretty". I know my neighbors are appalled that we would turn our landscape into a vegetable garden, but we'll be laughing while they're developing cancers and god knows what else. It's so rewarding to have all our produce and fruit without harmful chemicals entering our space.

[Ripley]

7. Welcome to DU smokeyjoe!!

I'm an herb and flower gardener mostly. That sounds wonderful that you grow your own in a cityscape!

I'm glad yall have the space to grow it all...but for those who don't have the space, soil, or time...CSA's are a great way to go!

[uppityperson]

10. Good job and welcome to DU

We sold our old house a few yrs ago and the realtor asked if the garden was organic. I looked at her blankly and asked what she meant. Stumped me what she was talking about. She explained no artificial pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers. I looked at her appalled and said (basically) wtf? Why would anyone use that?

Good job doing this in town too. Keep it up. And welcome to DU.

[Viking12]

5. We have a serious cold snap on, so garden work is out

I could be doing it, but snuggling on the couch watching Maya and Miguel with my 2-year old is much more appealing. It isn't wise to plant most stuff here for another 10 days or so anyway.

This will be our second year with a share in a CSA. It is 1) economical -- we get far more produce for our money than we would from any retailer, including the farmer's market, 2) environmentally friendly, and 3) fun -- Wednesday afternoon pick-up at the neighborhood drop-off site is a great time to interact with like-mined folks, share recipes, and so on.

[In_The_Wind]

6. Thanks for the link

I was lounging around and couldn't resist kicking this one up again !:kick:

[murphymom]

8. I'm interested in your experiences with the CSA

I'm thinking of joining one that has drop-offs at our Saturday farmers market, and Wednesdays at a location about a block from me, which is even more convenient than the closest grocery store!

My only reservation is with the fact that you get what they have available to harvest every week and don't really get a choice. Fortunately I like almost all fruits and vegetables and my husband will eat most anything that doesn't move. Do you find yourself planning the rest of your grocery shopping around what comes in your weekly share? Do you find you wind up throwing out or giving away some items because you don't like them?

On the other hand, I imagine it would be a kick in the rear to get me to try new things.

[Ripley]

9. Well, I don't like broccoli...Ick.

But my partner does, so he gets big servings of that. I've gotten turnips in the past that I don't really care for, but they included some recipes that made them palatable for me. I'd say that if you like vegetables, you will be happy with 90-100% of the produce.

Wow, I have to drive about 20 miles to get mine but I don't mind because I love the country drive and the farm once I get there. The people are liberals and love to talk about the Earth which I enjoy.

Yes, I do find I plan my shopping around the share, which they let me know by email. Saves money.

Try something new...it does give you a kick in the rear...

I even ate a piece of broccoli tonight. Yum. Or uh, it was okay. With cheese sauce. Blended into my chicken alfredo. With Wine on top.

:D