These pictures are of the kids helping us pick fruit and veggies last Friday at our CSA, Maysie's Farm. We coupled that with a fruit share this year (we split a share with friends) and we are eating almost 100% local and organic produce this spring/summer/fall. Our weekly ride to pick up our vegetables is a fun ritual, and I have loved watching the kids learn to pick and eat warm sunny vegetables right off the vine. The blackberry's were just turning ripe this past week and we had a blast picking together as a family. I love feeling like my kids know, understand, and participate in the process of growing and eating food. I know that it gives me a lot more appreciation for what I am eating, and I hope that it does the same for them.
Food was/is a huge part of my childhood and my relationship with my family. Most of our family celebrations are centered around food, and I associate almost all of our fun childhood memories as being linked to some sort of food ~ The 7 fish dinner at Christmas or eating crabs in old bay at the beach, etc. My Mom always cooked, and I grew up cooking along with her. One of my big goals when I found out I was pregnant was to raise good eaters. I believe that enjoyment of food is a big part of enjoying life, and I wanted to share that with my kids. I don't know if its just dumb luck, or lots of cooking, but our kids love food. Luke has just one food he will not eat, raspberries, and I can't think of a single thing that Jules will not eat. They shovel in things like kale, or salmon, or salsa hand over fist. I get a lot of pleasure out of watching them eat, and I feel like it helps them in innumerable ways.
I was talking a friend of mine recently. We were talking about the importance of food, and cooking and being a conscious consumer. We live in a country where food is manufactured and marketed specifically to toddlers, and where it is normal for toddlers to eat special "toddler food" instead of just "people food" like we eat. It has just been resonating so much with me how true and how strange that is. I went grocery shopping today and was just amazed at the entire aisle of "pick ups" and pre packaged "toddler meals" and whatnot. I know a few of you who read this live in other countries, is it that way there? (Wen, Carrie, Jen etc????) or is this a USA thing?
I hope that my kids grow up continuing to love going to the farm, and that we can continue to get closer to our goal of using 100% local pastured meats as well (They are SOOOO expensive it makes it painful to get there right now). Hopefully as demand goes up prices will go down. I encourage anyone who reads this to look into joining a CSA, this site is a great resource. I will say this ~ Do NOT join a CSA if you do not like to cook. I feel overwhelmed with the quantity and variety of things we have coming in right now, and spend pretty much every nap time cooking and freezing to ensure that nothing gets wasted. From purple green beans to garlic scape's to Oullins Plums and Delight Pears, the variety and quality has just been awesome. Its a lot of work, but well well worth it.
