YES! For five years and counting. I love knowing the farmers who produce my food. I can ask them questions about their growing methods and ask advice about what to do in my own (failing) garden. I love knowing that my veggies are locally grown and that they use organic methods. (When I shop at my local supermarket, there's a label on the food, but who really knows what happens to those veggies between South America and here?) I also know that I'm not paying to have my food transported half way across the globe. My farmers know me and we always have a nice little conversation when I pick up. It's also much cheaper than buying from the grocery store. The only downside is that I pay for the entire season up front, instead of as I shop each week, although farmers are offering payment plans more and more often.
We belong to a local CSA, and we just started our third growing season. We love the opportunity to try new veggies, and the fact that everything is locally grown and organic is a huge bonus. Plus, our CSA has partnered with a local gourmet shop to offer free cooking classes to the members once a month. The menus for the classes are based on what is available and in season at that time. Our CSA also offer fresh breads, honey, jams and jellies, fresh eggs, and free-range chickens. It's been a great investment!
I agree with everything you said except that it doesn't feel good to tip. While I always tip what is 'expected' because I agree, it's part of the cost of the service - I do enjoy it when the service is good enough for me to tip above that - it's one of the few times I get to set the price and reward merit in a society where that is less and less relevant
I always rely on Marla Walters postings for great ideas, recipes that are tasty and healthy, and new ways of looking at ordinary things! Keep the posts coming!
The key to a successful retirement is to start retirement planning and saving/investing early in life, be consistent, take advantage of any employer matching plan, max out contributions when possible, eliminate debt, avoid risks with your nest egg and plan for multiple streams of income once retired (social security, pensions, dividends, part time work, etc.). And you should stay healthy by being physically active, remaining mentally sharp, socially engaged and following a good diet. I use several sites for retirement information including the site Retirement And Good Living which provides information on finances, health, retirement locations, part time work and also has a great blog of guest posts about a variety of retirement topics.
I have a neighbor that lets his small children ride a golf cart in the street in front of my house and they swerve in front of cars, hit cars parked in the street and mailboxes. Is this something you can call the police about?
I was looking out of my window and caught my neighbor when she threw a rock at my dog. I went over to her house and told her what I saw and she told me that she didn’t do anything and that she was going to call the police on me for harassment. My dog is really sweet and now he is afraid to go outside and barks at my neighbor whenever she is outside. I also caught her trying to steal a pair of shears that I left on my porch and when I confronted her about it she told me that she thought I was getting rid of it and she did not apologize. The same neighbor also; shovels her snow into my driveway, uses my garbage cans for her trash, lets her dog poop in my yard, and lets her children play in my yard, which I wouldn’t mind if they weren’t throwing a baseball near my windows. I have never done anything to this neighbor, so I don’t understand why she is acting this way. None of the other neighbors seem to have a problem with her when I confront her she does not admit that she did anything wrong. I am so sick of this neighbor that I want to move. It almost seems like she is doing these things on purpose, so I don’t know what to do.
I have a CSA and love it. I appreciate that I support the local economy, biodiversity of crops, regional crops, and support of small farms. The benefits I receive are getting tips from my farmer on recipes, her knowing my particular food preferences, and seeing her love of her work. Practical benefits include: not having to do a big run to the supermarket, cost savings, and healthier eating habits. There are no cons.
I'm not part of a CSA, but it's something I'm interested in for sure. I think it would challenge me to try other fruits and vegetables more regularly in dishes.
Good tips. However, the use of "I" could be off the mark for some companies. For example, I interview new grads for entry hire into our company. It's an arduous process for them, complete with online exercises, group activities and multiple individual interviews. On the "professional" portion of the interview, we ask them about experiences they've had in certain focus areas. We WANT them to say "I did...". We want them to have a "look at me, look at me party". When they DON'T, we push them harder to find out specifically what they did. We don't want to hire someone who just rides on the coattails of their team, but actually has input, takes action, and is accountable for the results.
I belong to a CSA and love it - it forces us to eat more fruits and vegetables, and to eat more variety. It also supports the local agriculture and reduces shipping waste. Our CSA also has a farm where you can go and pick bonus produce, which my kids love.
I wish!! We did it several years ago, one that we worked a few hours a week and it was $200 for the season. But honestly, the director was not the most pleasant person and if he wasn't happy, he took it out on everyone working that day. One season was enough! Plus, I'm allergic to many things that would come in the box (probably close to 1/2 of it), so we had to give away a lot of it anyway. I would love a CSA where I could choose what my family could actually eat healthily. (Being allergic to garlic, onions, peppers, radishes, cucumbers, and a few other things really stinks at times.)
My partner and I are part of a CSA. We have been part of the same one for two years and prior to that I worked as a volunteer at a CSA. I would recommend a CSA for anyone who enjoys cooking or wants to switch up their vegetable intake diet. If the cost freaks people out-- they should look into volunteering at the CSA-- a couple of hours a week, helping on the farm sometimes they give their volunteers a box of produce.
The best part of our CSA is that we know it's local, organic and that it's healthy. Our CSA provides a newsletter that gives us recipes, what the "unknown" vegetables will look like and taste like and then offers a yearly "pulling" of potatoes, garlic and onions for it's members at it's annual potluck.
We just became members a few weeks ago. What I dislike about it is that the farm is 40 minutes away, so this takes up a chunk of my Saturday. What I like about it is that our farm has PYO included on certain days of the week, it's an organic farm, they have a payment plan so the whole wad doesn't come out of your budget all at once, we have fresh organic greens every week, everyone we've encountered so far has been really nice.
No, but i'm currently looking for the right one for my family size! Or...a friend to split the large portion with. :)
YES! For five years and counting. I love knowing the farmers who produce my food. I can ask them questions about their growing methods and ask advice about what to do in my own (failing) garden. I love knowing that my veggies are locally grown and that they use organic methods. (When I shop at my local supermarket, there's a label on the food, but who really knows what happens to those veggies between South America and here?) I also know that I'm not paying to have my food transported half way across the globe. My farmers know me and we always have a nice little conversation when I pick up. It's also much cheaper than buying from the grocery store. The only downside is that I pay for the entire season up front, instead of as I shop each week, although farmers are offering payment plans more and more often.
We belong to a local CSA, and we just started our third growing season. We love the opportunity to try new veggies, and the fact that everything is locally grown and organic is a huge bonus. Plus, our CSA has partnered with a local gourmet shop to offer free cooking classes to the members once a month. The menus for the classes are based on what is available and in season at that time. Our CSA also offer fresh breads, honey, jams and jellies, fresh eggs, and free-range chickens. It's been a great investment!
Yes I am! I love it. I get tons of fresh produce delivered to my door for only $35/week.
I agree with everything you said except that it doesn't feel good to tip. While I always tip what is 'expected' because I agree, it's part of the cost of the service - I do enjoy it when the service is good enough for me to tip above that - it's one of the few times I get to set the price and reward merit in a society where that is less and less relevant
I always rely on Marla Walters postings for great ideas, recipes that are tasty and healthy, and new ways of looking at ordinary things! Keep the posts coming!
Some excellent cocktail party recipe ideas!
The key to a successful retirement is to start retirement planning and saving/investing early in life, be consistent, take advantage of any employer matching plan, max out contributions when possible, eliminate debt, avoid risks with your nest egg and plan for multiple streams of income once retired (social security, pensions, dividends, part time work, etc.). And you should stay healthy by being physically active, remaining mentally sharp, socially engaged and following a good diet. I use several sites for retirement information including the site Retirement And Good Living which provides information on finances, health, retirement locations, part time work and also has a great blog of guest posts about a variety of retirement topics.
I'm not part of a CSA
I have a neighbor that lets his small children ride a golf cart in the street in front of my house and they swerve in front of cars, hit cars parked in the street and mailboxes. Is this something you can call the police about?
I was looking out of my window and caught my neighbor when she threw a rock at my dog. I went over to her house and told her what I saw and she told me that she didn’t do anything and that she was going to call the police on me for harassment. My dog is really sweet and now he is afraid to go outside and barks at my neighbor whenever she is outside. I also caught her trying to steal a pair of shears that I left on my porch and when I confronted her about it she told me that she thought I was getting rid of it and she did not apologize. The same neighbor also; shovels her snow into my driveway, uses my garbage cans for her trash, lets her dog poop in my yard, and lets her children play in my yard, which I wouldn’t mind if they weren’t throwing a baseball near my windows. I have never done anything to this neighbor, so I don’t understand why she is acting this way. None of the other neighbors seem to have a problem with her when I confront her she does not admit that she did anything wrong. I am so sick of this neighbor that I want to move. It almost seems like she is doing these things on purpose, so I don’t know what to do.
Nope.
We are not members. Where we live there are limited numbers of of them and they are very expensive
I'm not a member but am definitely interested in joining one, if I can afford it. I need to do research to see if there is a CSA in this area.
I have a CSA and love it. I appreciate that I support the local economy, biodiversity of crops, regional crops, and support of small farms. The benefits I receive are getting tips from my farmer on recipes, her knowing my particular food preferences, and seeing her love of her work. Practical benefits include: not having to do a big run to the supermarket, cost savings, and healthier eating habits. There are no cons.
No, but I wish I were!
I'm not part of a CSA, but it's something I'm interested in for sure. I think it would challenge me to try other fruits and vegetables more regularly in dishes.
Yes, my sister and I share a fruit CSA from a local farm.
Not yet. A gal at work is putting one together for the summer, so I'm eager to give it a try!
Good tips. However, the use of "I" could be off the mark for some companies. For example, I interview new grads for entry hire into our company. It's an arduous process for them, complete with online exercises, group activities and multiple individual interviews. On the "professional" portion of the interview, we ask them about experiences they've had in certain focus areas. We WANT them to say "I did...". We want them to have a "look at me, look at me party". When they DON'T, we push them harder to find out specifically what they did. We don't want to hire someone who just rides on the coattails of their team, but actually has input, takes action, and is accountable for the results.
I belong to a CSA and love it - it forces us to eat more fruits and vegetables, and to eat more variety. It also supports the local agriculture and reduces shipping waste. Our CSA also has a farm where you can go and pick bonus produce, which my kids love.
I wish!! We did it several years ago, one that we worked a few hours a week and it was $200 for the season. But honestly, the director was not the most pleasant person and if he wasn't happy, he took it out on everyone working that day. One season was enough! Plus, I'm allergic to many things that would come in the box (probably close to 1/2 of it), so we had to give away a lot of it anyway. I would love a CSA where I could choose what my family could actually eat healthily. (Being allergic to garlic, onions, peppers, radishes, cucumbers, and a few other things really stinks at times.)
My partner and I are part of a CSA. We have been part of the same one for two years and prior to that I worked as a volunteer at a CSA. I would recommend a CSA for anyone who enjoys cooking or wants to switch up their vegetable intake diet. If the cost freaks people out-- they should look into volunteering at the CSA-- a couple of hours a week, helping on the farm sometimes they give their volunteers a box of produce.
The best part of our CSA is that we know it's local, organic and that it's healthy. Our CSA provides a newsletter that gives us recipes, what the "unknown" vegetables will look like and taste like and then offers a yearly "pulling" of potatoes, garlic and onions for it's members at it's annual potluck.
I'm not a member of a CSA but would really like to especially during the summer months.
We just became members a few weeks ago. What I dislike about it is that the farm is 40 minutes away, so this takes up a chunk of my Saturday. What I like about it is that our farm has PYO included on certain days of the week, it's an organic farm, they have a payment plan so the whole wad doesn't come out of your budget all at once, we have fresh organic greens every week, everyone we've encountered so far has been really nice.