[cristeen]

Now that we're getting a CSA box, I'm getting away from my more "usual" vegetables into unknown territory. So I'm curious what veggie scraps do you save for the soup/stock pot?

Right now I have leek tops, parsnip peels and cabbage cores. I'm not real sure about the fennel tops though. Stems from greens?

What else do you save?

 

[MountainRose]

My dad is the most awesome soup maker in the whole world!!!

:
I am sure others are great, but I stand by him

Nonetheless he uses everything! Sounds like what you have would make a wonderful veg broth base.
What is a CSA box? I keep seeing it on here?

Fennel is great with fish or if you are vegetarian I would say it could make a neat mushroom casserole or baked tofu spice. Fennel may add a somewhat funny taste if you add WHOLE lot to anything. Did you notice it is like licorice. And fennel is really easy to grow in the garden(in case you are interested) but you are supposed to not plant it next to other plants.

:

 

[cristeen]

CSA is Community Supported Agriculture. Basically it's a subscription service to a local farm. I get 2 boxes delivered every 2 weeks, one box of veg, one of fruit. I just signed up last month. It's more produce than we were eating, but not so much that it's all going to go bad, it just makes me more aware that I need to eat more veggies.

For mine, everything is in season and mostly local (some less local, but all grown in the US), all of it's organic. This week's veggie box was chard, kale, collards, napa cabbage, butternut squash, lettuce, leeks and potatoes. The last one also had broccoli and broccoli rabe... it's just a matter of what's ready to be picked this week. The fruit box right now is apples, pears and citrus with a couple persimmons or pomegranates thrown in.

It's a great way to support local agriculture. Since it's a subscription service, they can plan ahead for how much to plant, and they can count on the income from it. From what I've seen, in most Northern parts of the country CSA boxes are spring/summer/fall only, but here in CA it's year-round.

And right now, since I can't keep up with the fruit, apple butter is on my horizon.

 

[MountainRose]

The CSA. That is a great idea.

: I am sure it helps farmers out.

: We are from Arkansas and live on a farm. It is not a vegetable/produce farm. We do grow our own garden though. This is neat. And I think it is great you signed up for it. I try to harvest our veggies and freeze them, but does not always happen. Maybe as time goes on. My family is from California and I have been out there several times. I am most familiar with the Bay area and surroundings. I

it an miss it as I have not been there for a while. But I am an Arkansas Girl through and through. Maybe at some point we will get something like that here. We do have a few good natural food stores. Prices tend to be really high and they are quite a distance as far as driving. Presently I have joined a natural supplement/health/beauty aid/soap, etc. buying co-op. It is great b/c prices are better and I don't have to drive a long distance. Do you experience better prices and ease of not traveling do to the CSA? I am so proud of you

for joining something like this!
Farming is a rough road and it is great you support these people and help yourself and family to great veggies!