I would be happy to write a testimonial to the loveliness of a veg box! I may be one of your longest members having had a box since 94? 95? With a few little gaps perhaps…
Firstly I did it for the planet. It has always struck me that it was a bit crazy that supermarket food travels thousands of miles, especially when its grown up the road. It is particularly galling to see imported fruit and veg that could be grown up the road that was coming from overseas – while they are pulling up orchards and small farmers are going bust. ( New Zealand apples in September anyone???) I was at uni doing geography and environment and I specialised in environmental economics, and apart from the obviously planet trashing activities of the big supermarkets, it was obvious that what mattered was what we do locally.
So supporting a local farm to do the right thing with organic farming seemed like an obvious way to go. I will admit that at first (especially as at the time I had a three year old and a rather unadventurous partner), quite a lot of the ‘odder’ veg like Jerusalem artichokes and kohl rabi ended up in curries and sometimes in the compost – but soon I got the hang of it. Now I eat a lot of stir fry but have also discovered some amazing recipes like Jerusalem artichoke fritters and best of all the amazing Vietnamese salad with the kohl rabi which is just yum. I love the challenge of thinking of new ways to cook courgettes when they are abundant (fave – Spanish pisto, especially as there are usually peppers at that time of year) and have discovered the glories of beetroot (try cooking and adding to slow fried onions, a tin of cannellini beans and some feta). For years I didn’t know what to do with chard, and then I went to Tuscany and realised it was the jewel in the crown. Sorry veggies, but it is most marvellous fried with Jamon (prosciutto to the Italians) and garlic and plonked on gnocchi. Have persuaded a number of small children to eat a whole massive bag of spinach by wilting it, squeezing it and blitzing it with a little pot of cream, adding some nutmeg and parmesan and a bit of salt, then on pasta. Tada! Green Pastas! And squash! Roasted, in soup, with couscous yum yum yum...
If you do see chard, or Jerusalem artichokes, or celeriac (puree! dead posh and mastercheffy!) in the supermarket or even at a farmers market they usually cost silly money, which I don’t have! In fact my Ashurst box is incredibly good value, especially in summer! Generally it is a lot cheaper than the equivalent organic shop from a supermarket (or Infinity), and in the bumper months compares favourably with a similar load of non organic veg. When I don’t have a box I go to a supermarket and come back with onions carrots broccoli, cabbage and some salad maybe (YAaawwwn...). And perhaps some daft out of season Brazilian squash or some such.
So why do I love my box?
1) the veg taste lovely and fresh (the carrots! The lettuce! THE TOMATOES!!!!!- my son eats them like sweeties!)
2) I have to cook more interesting and adventurous recipes.
3) I get to thumb my nose at Sainsbury/asda etc. My nectar account must have me down as seriously malnourished as I buy so little veg from them.
4) I bask in the glow of good feeling that I am supporting a local farm and family and putting something back into the soil
5) I don’t have time to have an allotment, have brown fingers and voracious slugs in my garden.
And what could I live without? The scrubbing of the mud on a Thursday night? (But its worth it not to have a dusty patch under my veg rack! And I know its real mud from a real field, not weird sandy stuff from some mega tunnel, picked by an exploited Moroccan in Almeria .) Spaghetti squash The oodles of parsnips (I like one or two at Christmas) although curried soup is good... Er ... that’s it! Much love and great thanks to you all for your hard work
Lenna
Firstly I did it for the planet. It has always struck me that it was a bit crazy that supermarket food travels thousands of miles, especially when its grown up the road. It is particularly galling to see imported fruit and veg that could be grown up the road that was coming from overseas – while they are pulling up orchards and small farmers are going bust. ( New Zealand apples in September anyone???) I was at uni doing geography and environment and I specialised in environmental economics, and apart from the obviously planet trashing activities of the big supermarkets, it was obvious that what mattered was what we do locally.
So supporting a local farm to do the right thing with organic farming seemed like an obvious way to go. I will admit that at first (especially as at the time I had a three year old and a rather unadventurous partner), quite a lot of the ‘odder’ veg like Jerusalem artichokes and kohl rabi ended up in curries and sometimes in the compost – but soon I got the hang of it. Now I eat a lot of stir fry but have also discovered some amazing recipes like Jerusalem artichoke fritters and best of all the amazing Vietnamese salad with the kohl rabi which is just yum. I love the challenge of thinking of new ways to cook courgettes when they are abundant (fave – Spanish pisto, especially as there are usually peppers at that time of year) and have discovered the glories of beetroot (try cooking and adding to slow fried onions, a tin of cannellini beans and some feta). For years I didn’t know what to do with chard, and then I went to Tuscany and realised it was the jewel in the crown. Sorry veggies, but it is most marvellous fried with Jamon (prosciutto to the Italians) and garlic and plonked on gnocchi. Have persuaded a number of small children to eat a whole massive bag of spinach by wilting it, squeezing it and blitzing it with a little pot of cream, adding some nutmeg and parmesan and a bit of salt, then on pasta. Tada! Green Pastas! And squash! Roasted, in soup, with couscous yum yum yum...
If you do see chard, or Jerusalem artichokes, or celeriac (puree! dead posh and mastercheffy!) in the supermarket or even at a farmers market they usually cost silly money, which I don’t have! In fact my Ashurst box is incredibly good value, especially in summer! Generally it is a lot cheaper than the equivalent organic shop from a supermarket (or Infinity), and in the bumper months compares favourably with a similar load of non organic veg. When I don’t have a box I go to a supermarket and come back with onions carrots broccoli, cabbage and some salad maybe (YAaawwwn...). And perhaps some daft out of season Brazilian squash or some such.
So why do I love my box?
1) the veg taste lovely and fresh (the carrots! The lettuce! THE TOMATOES!!!!!- my son eats them like sweeties!)
2) I have to cook more interesting and adventurous recipes.
3) I get to thumb my nose at Sainsbury/asda etc. My nectar account must have me down as seriously malnourished as I buy so little veg from them.
4) I bask in the glow of good feeling that I am supporting a local farm and family and putting something back into the soil
5) I don’t have time to have an allotment, have brown fingers and voracious slugs in my garden.
And what could I live without? The scrubbing of the mud on a Thursday night? (But its worth it not to have a dusty patch under my veg rack! And I know its real mud from a real field, not weird sandy stuff from some mega tunnel, picked by an exploited Moroccan in Almeria .) Spaghetti squash The oodles of parsnips (I like one or two at Christmas) although curried soup is good... Er ... that’s it! Much love and great thanks to you all for your hard work
Lenna