What do you see when you look at this picture? I’m guessing y’all only see a bunch of long rows covered in black plastic. Do you know what I see? I see summer. I see row upon row of bright green zucchini, yellow squash, spiny cucumbers, plump cherry tomatoes, firm purple eggplant, an array of sweet and hot peppers, juice-laden watermelons and honeydew melons……all organically grown and all full of intense flavor and nutrition.
I’m not going to lie; getting summer crops in is a labor-intensive project, which means I curse a lot. This year, in particular, I feel tremendous pressure in doing the task right and doing it as soon as weather permits. It is our first year of a formal CSA.
Happy Earth Farm has always had “special” customers, meaning those who come and buy directly from the farm. They have come to know that we don’t always bring everything we grow to market, but we do offer it up to those select few who shop “onsite”. Those special customers get first dibs on eggs, chicken or other goodies of which he have limited quantities. This year we are letting the secret out by formalizing a CSA.
To be honest, so far, Happy Earth Farm’s CSA looks more like the United Nations than a small rural southern farm. This area is home to many international business headquarters that employ hundreds of people from every continent. Word has gotten out that HEF grows and raises food the way it is done outside of the U.S., without heavy chemicals and antibiotics, so we are getting calls from every homesick transplant. Amazing! Our country-count so far: France, Russia, Japan and Iran.
I always knew that creating a community of like-minded foodies would be great fun, but I never anticipated so many cultures would be represented in the HEF “family”. I have already figured that I’m going to have to start a recipe exchange. This is going to be awesome!
There is still room to become a member of this “international” farm family….and yes, we accept those with an American accent :-)