Are there people for whom new experiences are not fraught with anxiety? Hello? Are you out there? Because sometimes I think there are two kinds of people in the world: people who freak out when they do new things, and people who don’t do new things.
I got my first farmshare box today. For years I pondered how awesome it would be to have fresh, local veggies at my fingertips, but there was always a reason not to. I lived alone. I was single. Then I wasn’t single, but I was running around too much to enjoy summer’s bounty.
When I heard that fall farmshares were an option, I decided it was time. I’m home during the week and cooking for two on the weekends. A few weeks ago I registered for the most affordable option that offered the smallest box. Today was my first pickup. And I was terrified.
What if I’m not able to use all the vegetables? What if I can’t figure out what to do with bok choy? What if I fail at this? What if I can’t cook, or my boyfriend doesn’t like my cooking, or my creativity finally abandons me and all I can come up with are the same tired dishes and all this parsley goes in the garbage?
For a confident woman I can be awfully insecure. Tonight’s menu was peppers with hummus and a green salad. Tomorrow, zucchini soup and parsley pesto, with a likely kale/blueberry smoothie in the morning. Wish me luck.
This summer was my first year in a CSA program. I couldnt even pronounce half the veggies i have been getting and was overwhelmed (at first) by the quantity. With my lady friends help, I am now 75% vegetarian, have been exposed to so many great flavors I didnt imagine existed, and can cook up some great veggie dinners or side dishes myself. Getting a CSA share was one of the best decisions I could have made. Good luck and enjoy !!! (try making Kale chips)
I would love to get one, too! But of course, I have several excuses and I’m anxious about the possibility of being anxious at the sight of all those things I didn’t know how to use. Maybe when I’m a real grown-up.