Yesterday we went to the park date that we host for home/unschooling peoples. It was hot, crowded (park is right next door to YMCA) and loud. We saw one person we knew and met another person. It was rather interesting watching just how mean the average mainstream kid is…not to mention how mean most parents & YMCA counselors are (I know I wasn’t mean when I was a YMCA counselor). But, I feel for these kids. They spend most of their time cooped up inside and “under control” (oppressed) by tons of crazy-ass rules and then once Summer hits and if they are allowed outside, they go at it full force and give little care about who is around them or what they are doing. I was practically knocked over three times and all three times, the child turned and game me a hateful look — like I can’t stand around at the playground…I *should* be out of their way! They practically binge on playing outside…like a child who binges on sweets when they can, because they never know when they will get more, because their parents limit & control their food. “Summer” isn’t forever for these kids.
Besides from lamenting the plight of all the otherwise awesome smiley children out and about, we had a good time. After the park we went to the Village Candy shop and then picked up our CSA and had a drink at Hoi Polloi.
Tubular
Happy
Climbing
spuds
parsley
goodness-greens & more
Crate #5 held the following:
2 lg. bunches Rainbow Chard
Huge head of Bibb Lettuce
Huge head of Red Leaf Lettuce
Sm. bag Spinach
Med. bunch Parsley
Lg. head Green Cabbage
Sm. bag Broccoli Florets
Sm. bag Rosemary & Garlic Scapes
2 Zucchini
1 Yellow Squash
Sm. bunch Green Onions (super long!)
Approx. 2 pounds of New Potatoes
Bibb Lettuce
Thyme
there's radiccio in there
Crate #6 included this awesome-ness:
2 heads Bibb Lettuce (one head was used as bartering fodder @ Hoi Polloi & is not pictured)
1 lg. head Romaine Lettuce
1 lg. head Green Arrowhead Cabbage
2 med. bunches of Kale
2 Zucchini
1 head Garlic
Sm. bunch Thyme
Sm. bunch Green Onions (super long guys again!)
Approx. 1 1/2 pounds New Potatoes
1 head Radicchio (the BEST thing in the entire world!)
Used the bus to pick up CSA #6 today. That was amazingly painless! We just have to time it right so that we avoid the after-work crowd on the bus. I still had the lettuce from CSA #5 to contend with, so when I picked up food today, I asked the lovelies at Hoi Polloi if they needed lettuce. I got a discount even though I insisted that they just take the damn lettuce! People who are nice and gracious really do exist 
Be back next week with more tasty, dirt-covered yummy-ness.
Today we got to pick up our first CSA crate of the season! BRING ON THE SALADS! I love getting these first couple of crates, because they are full to the brim with all sorts of fantastic salad greens. After a long Winter of only being able to eat salads when I break down and buy greens at the store, this is a treat for us all. However, the long Winters with very little greens has inspired me to make and use a Winter lettuce box this coming Winter — more on that later in the Year.
I promise to be more vigilant with posting pictures of our crates every week. I started off pretty good last year, but slacked off way more than what was acceptable to me. I’ll do better this year! We will be missing a few weeks here and there because of unschooling conferences and such a little later in the Summer and Fall.
first bounty of the season
sweet pea flowers & greens...yummy
rosemary, sage & thyme
What do we have here:
Large bag Spinach
Small bag Sweet Pea Greens & Tendrils
3 Huge Green Onions
3 Small bags Mixed Salad Greens (Mesclun)
5 Medium Potatoes
Small head Green Leaf Lettuce
Small head Bib Lettuce
Loaf of Bread from Friendship Farms in the Laurel Highlands
Small bag Herbs (Rosemary, Sage & Thyme)
*and next week, we should have some STRAWBERRIES!!! Yay!! (E is rather happy about that!)
This year, our pick up point is not in walking distance 
However, we can get there quickly by car and by bus 
AND the pick up point is right across the street from Hoi Polloi Coffeehouse. Here’s a picture of the kiddo playing around with the game Square by Square (hiding his face).
Square by Square
