FARM VEGGIES

On weekends when I was a kid my Mom used to take me to a local family farm for fresh vegetables. I remember how sweet the tomatoes and corn were. That farm is long gone as are many of the family farms on Long Island. A few remain and fortunately one is not too far from where I live now. I don't get there as often as I wish, but when I do I remember those Sunday afternoons with Mom. It was at that farm where she taught me how to pick the perfect ear of corn without opening the husk and other produce selection secrets! Years later the corn and tomatoes are never quite as sweet as they were so many years ago, but it is still worth the trip for fresh local produce.

SWEET ONIONS

I walked through a local farmer's market today filled with fresh produce. The colors of all the produce made me think of a crayon box. I was drawn to the color and shape of these onions. I liked the gentle curve of their stalks and the sense of texture created by their wiry roots. There were plenty of vegetables that would have made a really pretty picture, but I thought this was an interesting composition.

FIRST OF THE SEASON

I was crazy busy this morning getting ready for work tonight but as I passed my tomato plants I spied a red cherry tomato! I was so excited I picked it although it probably could have stood another day or two on the vine. I haven't eaten it yet, and will probably let it sit on the window sill and ripen a day or so. I thought it was kind of neat that the first tomato of the season was picked exactly half way through the baseball season on the day of the All Star Game at Yankee Stadium which is in its final season. There are all kinds of seasons in life.

SONIA SALAD

Mom always said, "Eat your veggies" and to ensure that we did, there was always a salad on the table before our entree. Since my Mom is essentially a vegetarian, I learned to like salads and vegetables at a very early age. I guess that's why every night my dinner entree is preceded by a very big salad. Tonight's salad was comprised of all the organic greens I picked up at my CSA share. The spicy arugula was especially yummy. Salads are kind of like life, a little bit of this and a little bit of that...just enough of everything to keep them interesting.

MY SHARE

Like Kermit the Frog, I am going green. Okay everybody is buzzing about "green", but this year I joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) and every week about a mile from my house I pick up "my share" which is trucked in from the farm in Aquebogue. The share changes weekly depending on what is harvested but it always includes farm fresh eggs, vegetables, fruit and a fresh bouquet of flowers. It's a small step but I like the idea of supporting local farmers and besides my eyes are green!