During my senior year of college, I took an environmental studies class. Yes, my decision to take the class might have been influenced by there being no tests or papers. Regardless of what my motives were in taking the class, it was one of those classes that I learned more than I ever could have imagined.

One of the topics covered in the class was the concept of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). If you have never heard of a CSA, the concept is pretty simple. Before the growing season, a farmer divides their crop into a number of shares. They pre-sell these shares to consumers. Every week during the season, consumers who have pre-purchased shares will pick up their produce. What they will receive is determined by what is growing and how much grows.

This spring/summer my Mom decided to join a CSA. Every Wednesday, she picks up her CSA mystery box. So far there have been a wide variety of greens, beets, carrots, and radishes. The first picture is of some of the golden beets and carrots she picked up. Here are some more yellow roasted yellow beets that were sauteed in butter and pepper.

While the CSA arrives every Wednesday, there are still a few more weeks until the produce in my Mom’s garden is ready. Last year, the garden was a success, but there was a problem with the height of the beds.

Yes, I know they may look sweet and innocent. Looks can be deceiving. Last year’s beds weren’t high enough. Oscar and Murphy decided that the bed would be a a good place to do their business and dig through. This season, there needed to be a change.

After an afternoon of measuring, cutting, nailing, and tilling, the beds reached a height that no dachshund could scale. The above pictures were from a month or so ago before planting. Here is what they look like now.

Bed 1.

This bed is filled with basil. potatoes, squash, bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant and onions.

Bed 2

Bed 2 is home to nasturtiums…

and a whole lot of tomatoes.

At different points throughout the yards there are blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

A few weeks from now, all of this produce will be ready for picking. Until then, watering and waiting is all one can do. Once it is all ready, I will do a follow up post with the final product.

On a side note, I am headed to Seattle this weekend to BlogHer Food. I will be speaking about taking your food photography outdoors and on location. For those of you attending, I look forward to seeing and meeting you! Next week I will share with you what I discover while in the Pacific Northwest. Have a great rest of your week !