I finally got to meet my CSA farmer this week, Sandy Sterret from Elizabeth Telling Farms. She was surrounded by other people so we didn't really have a chance to talk, but I think I like her already; if my mom were a farmer with a CSA, this is how she would operate: everything perfectly organized and flawlessly executed. Behind the farm stand are 5 stacks of 
identical and perfect wooden crates - not the shipping kind, but a neat, stacking kind, and each one is clearly numbered on each side. Identify your crate and remove its contents. This week's box even contained a surprise - a canvas market bag with the Elizabeth Telling Farm logo embroidered on the side! How nice! As far as edibles, this week's box contained radishes, spinach, ramps (yum!), scallions, lettuce mix, and 1/2 dozen eggs. So far, I have only tasted the eggs, which were as delicious as promised - and the yolks! The yolks are HUGE. I took a picture of the eggs in a frying pan, but you still can't really see how big the yolks are. I am looking forward to the weeks to come!
Aside from the CSA box, I continue my campaign to eat my weight in asparagus (we should still have 2 weeks left, sources tell me). I got these lovely yellow oyster mushrooms for a song - surely they will make their way into some hot butter soon . . .
I also bought the item pictured below, which I was going to buy as a decoration for the house (I don't normally buy these sorts of things, but Husband is a Bug Man), but quickly learned it was a praying mantis nest! I was told to place the stick in the yard and wait for it to hatch (the farmers promised me the squirrels wouldn't eat it, but we'll see about that); praying mantises are predators and will (hopefully) keep bugs out of the garden. Husband, of course, having studied entomology in school, knew exactly what it was and said "Just wait till it hatches! You won't believe it!" I will keep you posted.
Sources:
CSA from Elizabeth Telling Farms, probably full but PO box 178, Barnesville, OH 43713 (also has a stand at the North Market Farmer's Market)
Oyster Mushroom from Toby Run Farm 419-886-4570 (from the North Market Farmer's Market)
Praying Mantis Nest from Somerset Herbs, 740-743-3010 (also at the North Market Farmer's Market)
