Meet veteran CSA members David and Linda. They’ve been in the CSA since 2011 - showing their community support for over a decade.

They are avid gardeners, tending to a bountiful garden teeming with produce and fruit. They enjoy the adventure of travel. David plays guitar and they both love to sing. As passionate locavores, they find joy in the creativity of cooking.

JOIN DATE

2011

CSA PICKUP LOCATION

Portland

SHARE TYPE

10 pound share with lamb

CSA INTEREST BEGINS

Linda and David first heard of Double F Ranch’s pastured Meat CSA subscription through friends. The Community Supported Agriculture model was not a new concept for them. As passionate supporters of local food, they’ve participated in vegetable, fruit and seafood CSA programs.

Joining the CSA made sense for them. “We were attracted to the quality of the food and supporting local”. Valuing small, family-owned farms, they wanted to support Nathan, Katia and the ranch.

LONG TERM MEMBERS

Over the years the CSA has continued to add value to Linda and David’s lives. As the CSA has evolved, so has their cooking. Being members has pushed them to cook more and try new things.

They also enjoy the social aspect of the CSA. “We like the CSA pick-ups. It has been a nice punctuation in our monthly schedule: Like oh! We get to go and get our meat, chat, and eat some snacks.” It has been a fun way for them to connect with other people.

Seeing both younger and older generations a part of this community has been inspiring and an important aspect of their relationship to the CSA. “I think we live in a fairly age segregated society and the CSA pickup is a time when there's a nice generational mix happening in terms of older adults and young families. “

As long term members, they’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Nathan and Katia and watching their family grow. Over the years this has brought many sweet memories as they have seen the farm kids grow up. It is a solid reminder of how connected our community is to one another through our shared experiences and interactions.

COMMITMENT TO LOCAL

Linda and David love spreading the word about the value and connection that Community Supported Agriculture brings and share their CSA experiences with friends, family, and coworkers.

They regularly seek out locally sourced items. From farmers markets, to their own garden, to foraging for less common fruits and vegetables, they are continually on the look out for ways to connect with local food. They are currently scouting for better access to local seafood.

DAVID’S CSA SUPERPOWER

Both Linda and David enjoy having access to fresh-ground, whole wheat flour as a perk of being a CSA member. With a strong family interest in baking - David’s been baking bread for many years and their son went to culinary baking school - David cracked the code of how to bake 100% whole wheat bread and revealed his “CSA Superpower”.

Check out this blog post where David shares his whole wheat bread baking secrets so YOU can create hearty, chewy loaves at home too!

FAVORITE CUT

Lamb chops, roasts and tri-tip top the list of favorite cuts but Linda’s all-time favorite is one of the newest additions to the online store - pork belly!

This cut only made an appearance based on the feedback of another member and has since become a CSA favorite. Yet another perk being a CSA member - farmers Nathan and Katia raise food FOR YOU and incorporate the feedback of members when deciding what to offer. They’re always open to suggestions for new cuts to try.

FAVORITE MEALS

Pork belly of course! “It is a fatty cut but is really rich in flavor and texture that is very filling.” Linda recommends several preparations:

• Sprinkle with sugar to make bacon

• Braise it in the oven with some broth

Being a member of a vegetable CSA and having a garden means lots of spare veggies for stir-fry’s. Other favorite meals include:

• Korean short ribs in the slow cooker

• Ground pork and polenta

• Lamb meatballs with red lentil soup.

The exploration of new meals is part of the fun of being a CSA member. “I think we’d figure out how to make do with whatever we get, but is so nice to have variety”

MEAL PLANNING TIPS

Linda and David love to experiment but also keep an eye on the time when they are in the kitchen. They like efficient recipes and find the pressure cooker they purchased a few years ago to be very helpful in the kitchen.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Linda and David look forward to supporting the CSA for years to come.

Thank you Linda and David for your time and for sharing with us about your CSA experience! -Rachel

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