November 7th, 2007 - Sauerkraut update and CSA talk
Almost 2 months ago, I wrote of beginning my first attempt at sauerkraut. After watching it carefully every few days and removing the scum that appeared, it began to smell off and some bugs appeared. (The same bugs that appeared in the worm bins and around the litter box. No clue what they are.) So I thought it was done for and a few days later threw the mess out.
At the compost pile, I stuck something into the kraut to see what it was like, out of curiosity. I was disappointed to discover it looked and smell like what I expect kraut to be! Unfortunately, I hadn’t used a clean hand and there was no way I was going to keep it now. (Plus, those bugs.) But, it gave me hope for trying again next year.
In other vegetable news, I signed for a half share in a CSA* for next summer, Polasky’s Farm Market. (I believe it’s the same farmer from whom I bought the cabbage I used. Maybe not. I know I bought the red cabbage I used for drying from him.) My first choice would be the place we buy our meat, but they only have pickup every other week and up in Neenah. We don’t get up there all that much anymore since we’re reducing our driving, so I hesitated to get a CSA through them. At the last market of the season, Polasky’s had an info sheet out. The price is reasonable–$250 for 10 weeks (half share)–and delivery is right here at the Oshkosh market that I hit almost every Saturday anyway. *CSA = Community Supported Agriculture, pay upfront, get fresh produce during the season.
Now why would I want to get a CSA when I have a lovely garden? Because I still go to the market, as I said, and because I want to be challenged. I don’t usually buy quite a few things that would be good for us that I bet will be in our share. I want to expose Maggie to these. Yes, I could buy them and I’ve done that to some extent, individually. But I find that I rarely do so. But I’ve already paid for these veggies and don’t have to think about it each week. I think I can also rely on it for some staples, like green peppers, and plant the multicolored ones I really like to plant. I miss plain green ones, however! I also won’t be bothered as much, perhaps, when a crop fails in my garden, such as the onions and first two carrot plantings did.
I didn’t sign up for the poultry CSA as I think that would be too much chicken for us. And I’ve never tried theirs before. I plan to buy a couple next summer and see. Maybe we’ll get it the next summer, then.