All week, I’ve been feasting on delicious fresh vegetables and eggs from the Transplanting Traditions Community Farm CSA housed at our Irvin Farm Preserve. Last Friday was the first pick-up in the four week fall series. My daughter Harper and I went out to pick up our box, which was super full with sweet potatoes, napa cabbage, lettuce, mixed greens, pole beans, eggplant, cilantro and the eggs!
But then – we were away for the weekend, and my husband was traveling all week, leaving Harper and me to make use of all the goodies. So, what to do? We started with omelets with cilantro, and then I made miso glazed eggplant, which has a nice ginger snap to it. A few salads later, I tried a pole bean with sesame seed recipe, which made for great snacking. Scrambled eggs all around this morning and we still have the sweet potatoes…
Mostly, though, it’s been a fun way to connect even further with the staff and farmers at Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, one of two partners Triangle Land Conservancy hosts at our Irvin Farm Preserve, outside of Carrboro in Orange County. The farm provides members of the Burmese community access to farmland and agricultural and entrepreneurial opportunities as they learn to work in our NC Piedmont soils and climate. Currently, about 40 families are farming on the TLC property using several acres to grow healthy food.
Irvin Farm and Nature Preserve was bequeathed to TLC in 2007 by Elinor Irvin, and since acquiring the property, TLC has been busy restoring the agricultural fields and pastures, upgrading infrastructure, and protecting natural habitats. In keeping with Mrs. Irvin’s wishes to use the property as an educational space to promote local agriculture and environmental stewardship, TLC has partnered with Transplanting Traditions and Learning Outside to create broad community benefits as part of supporting local farms and food and creating opportunities to connect with the outdoor world.
And, now I’m looking forward to box number two! To learn more about our great partnerships, watch some of our videos.
Do you subscribe to a CSA and if so, which one? Have questions about being a subscriber that we might be able to answer? Let us know!
Also, if you haven't heard, TLC is premiering our new wild ideas conversation series on October 22nd with Feeding the Triangle, a discussion about increasing access to fresh food and farms throughout the region. Join us at this FREE event which features several food and farms experts as well as food by Chef Amy Tornquist's (Watts Grocery) Safe & Swift Gourmet Catering Company and beer by Lonerider Brewing Company. You can find more information about the event and register (space is limited) here.
