Change of plans...

A few months ago I said I would be getting co-op produce boxes for the foreseeable future... Well sometimes the future presents unforeseen circumstances that bring about change. This is one of those times, sort of. My reasons are MANY... here are a few of them.

First, the co-op changed the pick-up time from 4:30 to 2:15. The middle of the day on Saturday was inconvenient for me as I am typically in the middle of something, gardening, chores, homework.... I sucked it up and made the time for a few more weeks. But, at the same time I kept having items in my box that were unusable either due to spoilage, I had a ton of the item already (I'm looking at you potatoes), or because I didn't like the item. Yes, the co-op has a trade-in box. So you can trade stuff, but at a certain point that is a pain. I felt bad trading more than 1 or 2 items in the box, and sometimes the trade-in box didn't have anything I wanted. As far as the spoiled food, I get it, it happens. They do guarantee their product, but every week there was something and again it was kind of a pain, especially if I was planning something for that item.

While all of this was going on I made a life changing discovery.... There is a year-round farmers market 5 minutes from my house!!!! So, I didn't order a co-op box that week and we tried the farmers market instead. HOLY. CRAP.  That week I got SO MUCH fresh produce.... at least as much as was in one of the co-op boxes but.... I only spent $12 (as opposed to $20-25) and I got to hand select my items, meaning nothing went to waste. There was even vendors at the market selling farm fresh eggs and raw honey (the other two things the co-op provides). I was hooked!

We are still working on the yard but when planting season (September here in Florida) comes around our garden bed will be filled with beautiful soil and plants. The plan is to be able to grow as much of our produce as we can. Based on the research I have done, we should be able to grow most of what we eat. So, when that time comes I may not need to go to the farmers market anymore. I am growing almost all my own herbs now and I harvested my first home grown onions this week. I can't wait until I can just walk out into my yard and pick the veggies for that days meal! But for now, I will get what I need from my local farmers market :)