What's it like to be part of a CSA?

I thought it would be fun just to write about why I love being a part of a CSA program.  Sometimes I think people believe it's going to be too much work to figure out what to do with the veggies and fruits in the box or that it's more expensive than going to the store.  Yes it does take some getting used to cooking with what you have but what I've found is that it forces me out of my comfort zone and I explore more cookbooks and recipes.  There's even an app for your iphone and ipad from Real Simple where you can plug in the ingredients you have on hand and how much time you have to cook and it will give you recipes.  I mean you can't get much easier than that.  So if your pantry and fridge are stocked with some basics - pasta, breadcrumbs, rice, chicken or veggie broth, olive oil, vinegars, beans, canned tomatoes, parm. cheese, feta cheese, milk then you can make just about anything.  So for me being a part of a CSA is just fun!  I get to be creative and I know that the food I am eating was just picked within 24hrs.  This may not seem like a big deal but most of the nutrition content of food is gone within a few days of being picked.  So how much nutrition is left in that apple that's been sitting on the grocery shelf and before that in the back room and before that on a refrigerated truck and before that in the cold storage of a warehouse? 

You can taste the difference that the freshness makes...just ask your kids.  Do an experiment...get carrots, apples, celery, and lettuce from the store and then do a side-by-side blind taste test and see what they choose...then ask them why they chose it.   Kids have no biasis and are open books - they will tell you the harsh truth.  I am curious, let me know how your experiments go.  I will do the same and get back to you!

Another reason I really love being a part of a CSA is that I know where my food comes from, I can meet and have a conversation with the people that grow the food we eat.   That's awesome!  That connection alone makes a huge difference in how I prepare, eat, and enjoy my food.   Having a connection with your food growers is an amazing gift!  If you haven't already done so give your farm a call or send them a message to let them know how much you love your produce box and what you've made with it.  Nothing makes them happier than to know you love their food as much as they do! 

I came across this little 5 minute video on you-tube about what it meanst to be part of a CSA....hope you enjoy!

Create a delicious life for you and your family!
Leslie

Be Part of Our "Vital" City!

2011 is bringing lots of "VITAL" Changes to the Beach Cities!

Last week was very exciting for everyone here in the Beach Cities of Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach....the Vitality City Initiative had it's big kick-off and lots of amazing focus groups for residents, business owners, teachers, etc to participate in.  We are blessed that Healthways and Blue Zones have teamed together to form this amazing 3yr program called Vitality City...they will be working with our local Beach Cities Health District to institute programs designed around what our citizens want.  We were chosen to be part of their pilot program and will receive fantastic overall "well-being" benefits as a result.   Here's just a few of the changes that will happen over the next 3 years:

Improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure - it will be safer to walk and bike to school, work, and around the beach cities
School and workplace policies - for better nutrition choices and wellness plans
Healthy Plant-based cooking classes
Restaurant menus will have healthier choices
Opportunities to improve social connectedness through walking groups, volunteering, purpose workshops, community gardens

This is a huge undertaking and I commend and applaud and completely support the Vitality City Plan.   I urge all of you to become involved.  You can register at www.vitalitycity.com and sign up for focus groups that you want to give your opinion on.  That's the great thing, your voice counts ...so let it be heard.   If you can't make a focus group then fill out their online feedback form to let them know what changes you want to see in your city!  Join Vitality City on facebook and keep yourself updated to upcoming events and focus groups.

The goal of this plan is that we will live longer, healthier, happier lives as a result of the vitality city plan.  Yeah!  And even better...our kids will live longer, happier lives!  Click here for more media info on the plan.  Did you know that the residents living in the 5 Blue Zones studied around the world lived an average of 12 years longer than us!  I certainly want to live 12 healthy and happy years longer as a result of this plan.

Did you know that in 2005 it marked for the first time in American history that our kids future was worse than their parents?  Previous generations (before 2005) could always say their kids would be better off than their parents.  This is devistating news to me.  I will do everything in my power to make sure my kids will have a bright and healthy future.  This is the very reason I started Farm2Table Connect, I wanted everyone in my community to have an easy way to get healthy farm-fresh produce.  I hope you are enjoying our program...help us spread the word to others in your community or even friends and family in other areas!  We will help connect them with their local farm...we're growing and have many new farms in CA and other states that are interested in reaching all of you. 

Send your friends, family, and neighbors a message through our site and invite them to participate.  The more the merrier!

I will keep you all updated on the progress of the Vitality City and how we can all help bring healthy change to our cities!

Leslie

Yummy Granola Recipe....great for last minute gifts

I almost forgot to share this with all of you.  I decided to make some homemade goodies this year for my holiday gifts and wanted to give you one of my recipes.  It's delicious! Wrap it up in a beautiful cellophane bag and tie it with ribbon for a delicious homemade treat for your guests or as a party favor!

Scrumptious Energy Boosting Granola

1-1/2 cups oats

¾ cup sunflower seeds

¼ cup ground flaxseed

½ cup dried cranberries or any other dried fruits

½ cup slivered almonds or any other chopped nuts

½ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened

3 Tbsp. natural peanut butter or other nut butters (unsalted)

1 Tbsp. organic extra virgin coconut oil

¼ tsp. sea salt (do not use if nut butter contains salt)

¼ cup agave nectar

1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup

½ tsp vanilla or almond extract

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 300.  Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Press mixture into a baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes.  Store in an air tight container.  Serve with plain goat’s milk yogurt, coconut yogurt, or rice milk and fresh berries and bananas.  

SIMPLICITY

Welcome to the first ever Farm2Table Connect Blog -  I hope all of you will enjoy reading my entries as much as I enjoy writing them.  For me this is a way to share with all of you the many interesting recipes, nutrition tips, and other companies who share our vision of reconnecting people with their food. 

I am a research and knowledge junkie – I love to learn and read about all sorts of things but my passion lies in holistic health and (as you probably already guessed) with food.  I LOVE FOOD!   Really good food, high quality food.  Food grown and produced with love.  Food that is still alive and jumping with energy and nourishment when you eat it.   There are so many small farms and artisanal craftsman out there growing and preparing amazing food, food that is grown naturally without pesticides or chemicals or filled with preservatives.  It’s like the food I had when I was little and visited my grandparents and helped them pick fruits and veggies from their gardens.  

As we are all moving thru this fast-paced life (especially here in LA) that we’ve created for ourselves, we often forget to come back to the simple things in our lives.   When was the last time you spent enjoyable time in the kitchen preparing a meal, really savoring the process of creating food for your family and friends that will nourish their bodies, their minds, and their souls?  When was the last time you sat down at the dinner table with your entire family and talked about your day, gave thanks to the farmers who grew your food, and actually savored each bite that went into your mouth?  Are these days of connecting with people over food gone?  I don’t think so..  I think sometimes we just need to be reminded to slow down, simplify our lives, and breathe.  This company was created because we want people to reconnect with their food, reconnect with their families and friends, and reconnect with the simple pleasures in life.   We encourage you to slow down, turn off the cell phone, Nintendo ds, and ipods… say “Hi” to your family, friends, and neighbors.  Get to know each other over a delicious and healthy meal prepared in your home....filled with love and nourishment and laughter. 

I know, I know….Finding time to actually cook a whole meal and not pour it out of a box or can or order it over the phone seems like an impossible task to so many of us.   We will find any excuse not to have to do it.  Kids soccer games, helping with homework, working late, or just plain exhaustion all seem to pop up just when we could be in our kitchens enjoying some of the delicious produce that is available all year around for us here in Southern California.   So start small, start simple.  Set aside one day a week to try a new recipe using seasonal produce (check out our Tasty Tidbits weekly newsletter for recipes), have your kids or spouse or friends join you in the kitchen….make it a celebration for all of you!  Then sit down at your table and actually enjoy your creations.   Notice how truly satisfied you feel after eating the meal….that’s called made with love….you did that….you created this beautiful meal.  Rejoice in the fact that you just gave your body and your family a meal filled with love and nourishment and vibrant health.   You will sparkle from the inside out and then the most miraculous thing will happen, your body will crave more.   You will reset your eating and cooking patterns and then watch out because you will be filled with more energy, your skin and hair will glow, you will be more focused and clear, and your kids will actually want to eat less junk food and ask for fruits and veggies.

 Go ahead, give it a try… challenge yourself.  Try preparing more meals at home using fresh ingredients (remember simple is the key, it doesn’t have to be fancy).   Make it your New Year’s Resolution….you may be pleasantly surprised at how simple it really is.  

I would love to hear how it goes for you and any great recipe ideas you come up with or funny stories about your kitchen creations!  As this blog and website evolve I hope to have a place for you to post comments and stories and recipes to share with everyone else in the community.   Connecting and sharing with others is a wonderful gift and the foundation that this company is built on.  Thank you all for allowing me to share myself and my company and my vision with all of you.  Until next time….bon apetit!

In Gratitude,

Leslie