Oops! I lost track of time, and now we’re already at the end of August. I owe you photos from two weeks worth of produce bags… as well as a recap of my entire experience with the New Roots for Refugees Early Summer Farm Share program. So, let’s get started!



During the final weeks of the Early Summer shares, we enjoyed encore appearances from some of my favorite produce picks of the season, including the carrots you see above, as well as crisp kohlrabi, vibrant rainbow chard, and this warm, rustic rainbow of tomatoes:

I’ve really grown to appreciate how every bag seems to contain some of the staple products I find myself reaching for every time I cook, things like garlic, onions, and potatoes, as well as herbs like basil and cilantro. And what farm share bag would be complete without beets?

It wasn’t all old favorites and kitchen staples… there were still some surprises to be had, like these long beans, which were tasty (even if they reminded me a lil’ bit too much of Salad Fingers’ spindly hands!)

I’ve got to say, I have really enjoyed my experience so far with the New Roots Farm Share program. There is so much to love about it! The produce has been fresh and — other than the occasional bruised tomato — high-quality. I love that I’m helping my neighbors set down roots in the Kansas City area, and that my money is going to them, rather than a mega-corporation. Keeping my fruit bowl full of fresh produce means that I’ve eaten healthier this summer than in years past, and I’ve tried new veggies that I wouldn’t have usually picked up from the grocery store.

And there’s the convenience: most of the other CSA programs in my area only offer pick-ups in the suburbs, which doesn’t work for me since I commute by bike and do not drive. I’m enormously grateful that New Roots is one of the few CSA programs in KC that offer a pick-up location in Midtown. And best of all, its only a five-minute bike ride away from home!

I’ve also really appreciated the stability that being a member of a CSA has provided me. Back in April, when we received our COVID-19 relief checks from the government, I decided to use some of the money to sign up for the Farm Share program. It felt like an appropriate “just in case” move. I work for a theatre, and my husband was finishing a degree in Urban Planning and Design. Our lives felt precarious, and I wondered what would happen if I lost my job, or if Tom couldn’t find work after graduating, or if any of the other anxieties that come with living through a global pandemic came to pass. Knowing I’d at least have a bag of fresh (already-paid-for) groceries waiting for me no matter what came to pass each week until October felt calming. It was welcome stability.

We’re lucky that things have worked out so far, and getting to enjoy this food has been a real treat. And there are still 11 more weeks of fresh produce to go!

This will probably be the last post for a while about the Farm Share program (photographing my food each week got a little old), but I might still do another wrap-up post at the end of the Late Summer season in October. ‘Til then, if you have any questions about my experiences with the program, drop ’em in the comments!