Nativity House: CSA - Planning the Harvest

 It's that time of year! Again. That's the thing about the seasons; they are cyclical. In the deep cold of the winter, there is always the hope and advent of the Spring. It is this time of year that I revel in the arrival of seed catalogs, perusing the inventory of promise that comes in these catalogs.

So far this year our seeds have been ordered almost entirely from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co.  In choosing the mix of veggies and fruit there is always a sense of  excitement and anticipation. This year I was intent on the old-stand-bys - seedless cucumbers, roma tomatoes, yukon gold potatoes, basil. But in reading the Baker Creek catalogue I couldn't help but get adventurous - wonderberries, flame tomato, royal golden watermelon, purple dragon carrot - to name a few.

***

Each year when I choose our seeds, I remember a book that changed my perspective on farming and food choices drastically: Fatal Harvest by Andrew Kimbrell. There were two very striking things about this book. The first was the photo essay depicting images of industrial farming right along side farming the same vegetable/fruit organically. Images of industrial farming are cold, grey, sterile. Images of organic farming are green, diverse, abundant. The second point was diversity in food production. There were images of varieties of fruits and vegetables. I will never forget gazing on the page with pictures of all the different varieties of apples. I was dumbfounded. There were over 100 kinds of apples. I had only ever heard of the standard, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Fuji... it's only in the last few years that we have come to know Honey Crisp, Jazz, Pink Lady.  The book presented the issue of the need for bio-diversity and the importance of varieties of produce for our health.

The year that I read Fatal Harvest  Justin and I were living on the farm at Hershey Montessori Farm School. We spent the year soaking in the farm life, growing our own food, caring for the farm animals (not to mention being steeped in Montessori Philosophy and Culture!) That was where we learned that farm life suited us.

***

So, here we are at the beginning of the 2016 Community Supported Agriculture season. This will be our third season. The last two years of growing our produce with CSA members has brought tremendous growth and joy. Families come out with their children, passing on the knowledge of caring for the earth and reaping the benefits, literally. 

Consider joining us for his growing season. Work in the garden two hours a week and take your share of "mostly organic" produce home with you. Our kick-off meeting is coming up, Sunday, February 21 @ 7pm. Come and peruse the seed catalogs, see what varieties tickle your fancy! 

View the Nativity House Blog-Thread