Greenling!

[jenn_unplugged]

I recently started subscribing to a local service called Greenling that offers home delivery of locally-grown, organic produce. I love buying at farmer's markets and supporting local farmers, but all the good farmers markets here are on the far side of town, and I've yet to be able to get us up and out the door to go to one since Carter was born. But Greenling is sort of like a farmer's market that delivers, so that's perfect!

I signed up for weekly delivery of the "local box", which costs $35 (including delivery charges). We got our first one on Friday.

The box:



And what was inside:



There was a huge cantaloupe, okra, two kinds of tomatoes, zucchini, three kinds of squash, cucumber, a green pepper, two kinds of onions, a beautiful head of lettuce, red-skinned potatoes, and sweet potatoes.

Of course, Doug immediately said, "That's it?" He was underwhelmed by the amount of stuff in the box. And I suppose it does look like not much for $35 bucks. But if you know how much better veggies from the farmer's market are than the ones you get from the grocery store, you might be inclined to think this is worth it.

Anyway, I love the idea of getting a box of random veggies every week and then figuring out what to cook with them. We had fun with that over the weekend. For example, last night I made a vegetarian lasagna that turned out really well, using the eggplant, squash, onion and tomatoes. The melon was amazing, OMG. Fun!

Comments

[kriken.livejournal.com]

Ooo - you know, I've heard a lot about the local farming deliveries up in the Boston area lately, and I was thinking about trying it once I moved back up there (there aren't many down my way, currently). I may ask you a little down the road how you're making out with it just to confirm it's what I want to do :)

[jenn-unplugged.livejournal.com]

I'll probably post more about it down the line. So far it's fun!

[kaalee.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'll be so interested to know how it works out for you! I've started looking into finding a CSA share to buy for next spring/summer. I love the farmer's markets, but I don't branch out very often and I'd like the opportunity to try new things because I've got the food right there. :)

[jenn-unplugged.livejournal.com]

I love farmer's markets, and I wish there was one closer to me. But this works!

[merrywandering.livejournal.com]

Yay, Greenling! Did you hear about it from me, or from someone else?

Did you know there's a blog based on cooking out of the local box? It's great for when you run out of ideas, or have no idea what the hell that stuff is.

The problem for me is that it's way too much food for me to eat. I'm still trying to fine-tune a box where I'll actually eat all or most of it before it goes bad, but periodically I get the local box just because I like seeing what turns up in it. Even though I never did work up the courage to try the eggplant....

[jenn-unplugged.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't remember where I heard about it, so it may have been from you!

It doesn't look like much, but I think it will be a challenge for us to eat all of it every week. But that was partly why I wanted to do it. I thought it would force us to eat more fresh veggies.

I still can't believe you don't like eggplant! It's one of my favorite squash-type veggies. :-D

[merrywandering.livejournal.com]

I thought it would force us to eat more fresh veggies.

Me too! I do usually manage to eat all of the fruit - with ample help from Sam. He's never met a fruit he didn't like.

I'm sure under the right circumstances, I would love eggplant. And I do have only limited experience with it. Folks gave me lots of tasty-sounding recipes for it, but the eggplant turned to mush before I could get to it.

THat's another fun thing about the local box: the oppportunity for experimenting and trying new things!

[jenn-unplugged.livejournal.com]

Next time we can arrange to cook dinner for you, we'll have to make something with eggplant, then. It's a great way to do meatless Italian!

[sabrinagb.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome. I recently found a place like that here in LA and have been thinking about giving it a shot. Though my local farmer's market is like a block away, I have to say that there is a lack of great food...so many other things seem to have taken over and about all I see are good strawberries.

[jenn-unplugged.livejournal.com]

And really, there's only so much you can do with strawberries. ;-)

I love farmer's markets, and I do wish there was one closer to me. I just like wandering around and looking at everything. When Carter gets older, it will be fun to go, I think.

[sabrinagb.livejournal.com]

I bet it'll be a blast for him and the one here is great for kids, just not lots of produce.