my organic veg box

Whilst at Findhorn i worked in the gardens, growing the vegetables that the community ate and sold in the organic shop. I was so impressed that today i signed on to an organic veg box delivery scheme. £10 a week, which i thought was a bargain, and they deliver a fresh box of organic fruit and veg every thursday.

So i picked up our first box today, whilst in the shop, and brought it home. I've now found a few recipes on the internet and have cleaned all the mud off the carrots, beetroot and potatoes. But during the cleaning process a few thoughts crossed my mind.

Firstly, Kester - the dirt king - is always going on about dirt and how detached we are from dirt in the west, and i have to agree. But here i was, upto my wrists in dirty water, after carrying muddy carrots though the house and enjoying the experience of connectedness. Connectedness to the earth, connectedness to the seasons, connectedness to the environments, and dare i say it, connectedness to God. The God of the planet, the environment and the seasons...

Secondly, when i usually shop i buy food with a recipe in mind, whereas with the veg box you find recipes that are dependent of the veg that you have got. This once again means that you are more tied in with the seasons and I'd suggest this helps to keep life slightly more balanced. I can go to the supermarket and buy strawberries and melons, even though it is nearly December. In a city, it can be all to easy to become detached from the seasons, our houses are kept at a uniform temperature and our shopping is the same all year around. Due to this we lose the pattern of the seasons and i'd suggest the patterns in our life, i wonder if this has anything to do with the rise of S.A.D.

Anyway, roast veg for tea tonight...better stop blogging or else they'll burn - and i'd end up nipping out for a curry!

Technorati Tags: Findhorn, environment

Comments

[Paul Roberts]

I've felt for a while now that it's about time Kester gave up this dirt thing and had a shower. Of course, if you're not careful about cleaning up your vegetables you'll find you develop a particular "connectedness" with some kind of intestinal worm ...

[Mark Hewerdine]

We too have recently started getting organic veg boxes, and have discovered vegetables I couldn't initially identify, and also the joy of being surprised by food. Not sure I can cope with another week of beetroot though! Nevertheless, respect to Ibrahim, or The Vegetable Man as Isaac knows him.

[Phil]

I just got my first veg box this week as well.

[Mark]

We do that for our community meal... for three reasons... 1- organic/local produce, ethics, food miles and all that, 2- a desire to be more seasonal in what we eat and 3- the surprise element as you say, we have to then build the community meal around what we get! We use these guys... http://www.boxfreshorganics.co.uk/

[adrian]

ben, are you aware that those could be satan's vegetables you're eating...?

[Jillian]

I love your blog, kinda stumbled upon it. Just started reading posts. But I totally love what your saying about the veggies. I live in Canada we don't have that kind of service, at least not that I can find. But I do think there is a connectedness (a word i am sure) to the season and to what God was trying to do with them. I love going local, and as fresh as possible. Thanks for the thoughts.