Deb Ward, GWS, OWS, PWS, WSI - WATERCOLOR/WATER MEDIA - My passion is teaching adult “beginners”. Weekly classes in my home; workshops; classes for Cincinnati Recreation Commission. My work is nationally recognized and published - see “Featured” on my sidebar. I’m a Signature Member of Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana state Watercolor Societies, Cincinnati Art Club, past-President of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society. Contact info below under “Class Information”

Monday, June 20, 2016

CSA PEAS

For those of you unfamiliar with the term "CSA" it stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  It's a "sustainable" way of life.  Or, as I think of it, going back to the way things were during our grandparents (and parents?) time.  In other words, getting back to basics the way a farm should be - no row crops and quarter million dollar harvesters.

For us this means we are getting summer produce from one of our neighbors.  It's a win/win - we help them start and grow a business and we get healthy food to eat.  

So far there has been lots and lots of lettuce and spinach and chard.  (Not a big fan of the chard, but will give it another go soon!)  The large bag of spinach blanches down into a sandwich bag!  That gets frozen and I will use it in quiches.  I've also blanched the chard to use in the same way.

Each week we get some of whatever is ready to be harvested.  Some turnips this week, along with green onions and - - - PEAS.

Now, I love peas and was so excited to get them.  However, I didn't realize how much trouble and time it takes to get the delicious peas out of their pods. 

This first photo is at the start - washed pea pods on the left in front of a plastic bag of MORE PEAS.  The shelled peas are in the aluminum bowl and the beginnings of the "pig pile" on the counter. 

And here we are - ONE HOUR LATER!

All I can say is, next time I go to the store and buy frozen peas, there will be no complaining about their price!!!


4 comments:

Deborah Nolan said...

Yes those peas are certainly a bit of work. I grow some every year and question why?? Once they are finished producing I yank them out and say not again but once spring comes around all those good intentions get lost:)!
Yes 1977 was a good year. Deb next year it will be forty. Ate we getting old?? Hugs

debwardart said...

Yes Debbie - we ARE getting old!

juliefordoliver.blogspot.com said...

I have strong memories of shelling the peas. Mother would sit us down and that would be our job. I found it very relaxing listening to the radio and pulling the "thread" to open up the shell. muttering when I didn't get it right.
I was good with my hands and could do it far faster than my older sister...or maybe she was being clever and letting me do all the work.
The only decent peas in a can at that time in England were LeSueur peas and very hard to get. No fridges in most homes back then so fresh were the only way to go.
Your post brought back happy memories - thank you!

debwardart said...

Julie - so glad I could bring back a happy memory for you! Actually shelled more this week - went quicker. Either the peas were larger and easier to open, or I'm getting the hang of it!