PUTTING THE "CS" IN CSA.
Today, in the midst of our lazy, rainy morning, one of our shareholders brought us lunch. A beautiful quiche, still warm from the oven, and potato salad. This sweet gesture means so much more to us than you could know, because we have been without a working stove for almost a week. For us, who cook three meals a day and buy very few groceries, this has been tremendously difficult. Our kitchen is literally crowded with baskets of food, and we are unable to eat it! And so, this quiche, this small gift of food, was really a very big gift. It reminded us what a CSA really stands for. "Community Supported Agriculture" is just that - a community. Jesse and I are members of that community as well. We share the bounty of what we grow with others in the community, and in turn, when we find ourselves without, the others share with us. It is not just about the exchange of goods and services and money and vegetables, it is a system of support. It truly brings tears to my eyes to be fed by those we normally are feeding. It has humbled us, reminded us, that we should remember to ask for help when we need it. Reminded us that any feelings of guilt or failure we feel are only what we have placed upon ourselves - we have neverfelt anything but love and support from all our CSA members. We are so grateful for this little meal, for these new friends in our lives, for all of you who have been there for us from the beginning. The shareholders, those who have donated, those who prayed for rain, and those who simply follow along with our ongoing story - you truly are everything to us. So, with our bellies full, we watch the rain come down, softly renewing the dry and dusty soil and bringing hope back to the garden and its farmers.- Hannah.
