About a month ago, we signed up for something called a CSA. The acronym CSA

stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Basically what that means is that a bunch of local farmers contribute their produce, and I pick it up every Wednesday in a handy dandy

little box. Our specific company is Abundant Harvest Organics. Everything is organic, all chicken products are free-range and all meat products are grass

fed.

This week, I think we got a little less than we had the previous weeks. In the picture below are: oranges, tangelos, mandarins, butternut squash, carrots, spinach, turnips, shallots, baby artichokes, Chinese cabbage and potatoes.

All of that comes in the small basic box. On top of that, this week we also added on boneless skinless chicken breasts and a pound of sharp cheddar. I haven't tried the cheese yet but last week we got monterey jack that was wonderful.

In the box, there is always a newsletter that tells what's going on with the farmers and whatnot. It also includes a list of the produce, which farm each item came from and two recipes. Tonight, I plan on making butternut squash soup. That's all I have planned for this week's box, but I know it will all get used some way or another. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Last week Caleb wanted me to take a picture of his plate. I roasted a chicken with some oranges and red onions, and he made the potatoes, broccoli and carrots. It was a great meal, all provided by the lovely farmers of Southern California.

I am ready for Spring. If it's going to be as sunny and warm as it has been, I at least want to be able to plant things. This year, I plan on growing more vegetables and less flowers than last year. Last spring was my first year of growing anything. I was fairly successful, I think. Fingers crossed for another good year.

Some things I have planned for this year are: green beans, radish

es, some sort of hot pepper, green onions, lettuce and tomatoes. On top of the vegetables, I will also be doing some herbs and an edible flower called nasturtium again.

For flowers, I think I'll do gerbera daisies and zinnias. My zinnias

last year did really well. I'm also hoping to grow something to feed the hummingbirds in addition to a nectar feeder. We get a ton of hummingbirds and even still have some in December!

I love this color gerber. It's so soft and pretty.

Oh zinnias. They might be my favorite flower.