Thursday…the one morning each week that I do not mind the 5:30 am alarm clock. I grab my coffee, eat a banana, and pedal my bike on down to our local organic farm. I am a work share on a CSA organic farm.

A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become “members” (or “shareholders,” or “subscribers”) of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season. www.localharvest.org

I have been a CSA member for 5 years. Eating fresh, organically, and locally is the driving force through those winter days. If you live remotely close to an organic farm I suggest becoming a CSA member. Whether you only buy into a share or commit the time to work on the farm, you will love the experience. Your body will also. Aside from the obvious nutritional values of eating organically, the taste is unmatched. Organics can convert even the most pesticidal patron of produce.

Don’t believe me? Okay, here is a little test. Go to your local grocery that also has a selection of organics. Buy one bag of “ACME” brand spinach and one bag of organic spinach. Go home and eat up. Please email me if you can actually go back to the ACME brand.

But wait…don’t throw away that Acme brand spinach. Let’s not be wasteful. The only thing you can do now is to perform an organic Rite of Passage. Take that spinach and blend it up in a food processor with the local organic garlic, some oil, and Parmesan cheese (organic if possible). PESTO…the only thing you can do to make that spinach edible.

Please do some research on a local CSA organic farm near you. Eat locally. Be Well. Happy Memorial Day weekend!