Meet CSA Members Emily And Matt
Members Since 2022
I want to introduce you to Matt and Emily. They are fairly new to the CSA, having joined in the last 6 months. Emily is an engineer working in environmental services and Matt works in business development for a data analytics company.
Both work from home and enjoy the outdoors in their free time. They love to ride bikes around Portland, generally to a brewery or to get food! They are big foodies and really saw their cooking improve as they found themselves at home more during the pandemic.
Emily and Matt have brought their adventurous spirit and curiosity to their cooking. Their motivation and commitment make them great additions to our CSA community!
CSA Share Pick-Up Location
Portland
Type Of Membership
10# Standard Share
How The CSA Found Them
Emily and Matt had friends who were members of the CSA. When those friends moved to New Zealand, they asked if Emily and Matt wanted to adopt their CSA share for the remainder of the season. They jumped at the opportunity and when the season ended, happily signed up for another round.
“I didn’t proactively seek out the CSA but loved it once it came to us.
We were like, “Oh my gosh, why weren’t we doing this before?””
A Seamless Transition
Even though they were thrust into the CSA quickly, they didn’t experience any hurdles or challenges in the transition. Emily and Matt were able to purchase a chest freezer from their friends before they took over the share. There was no concern then about where they would store the meat.
There have been a few times where they weren’t able to pick up their share but they found it convenient to talk with Katia and set up a pick-up for the following month.
The transition to learning to cook with what was in the freezer was more helpful than expected. It gave them an opportunity to think more about what they would make.
Everything To Love About The CSA
Emily and Matt love that being a part of the CSA supports local food and helps the environment.
“We appreciate the farmers. You know who you’re supporting, and you know there’s quality of what you’re getting as a locally sourced food. ”
Emily admits that the thought of their carbon footprint weighs on her but vegetarianism to help offset her impact didn’t work for her. But having local, sustainably raised meat allows her to feel more conscious about the choices they make that impact their health and the environment.
There is also so much meat to choose from in the CSA. Whether it is using My Choice selections to customize your share or purchasing extras each month in the online store, they find there are many ways to mix meal time up. It is also why they find themselves looking through the Swap Cooler at pick-up!
“I like the variety more than just one specific cut. ”
A Way To Live Out Shared Values
Being a part of the CSA gives members so many tangible opportunities to live out their values. It is important for Emily and Matt to find time to connect after spending all day at work.
“We like cooking these meals together. We split cooking 50/50.
We both work remotely still. We are at home all the time. But it’s nice to meet in the kitchen at the end of the day to make a meal together. ”
Emily grew up in Portland and feels like the culture really emphasizes a connection with nature and the environment. Becoming a member of a CSA was just a natural progression of these deeply held beliefs and early experiences.
For Matt he thinks a lot about how globalization has impacted our ability to access local food through our grocery stores. He looks at the CSA as a way to live seasonally with agriculture.
“I like living seasonally and as different things come available. What’s available when it should be available. I think it’s a really cool aspect.
It’s really nice to support local people that are doing something quite amazing. ”
Best Cuts And Meals
Emily really enjoyed cooking the whole chicken as a part of a Sunday night dinner, roasting the chicken and all the sides.
One of the first meals they made with their CSA meat was Shepard’s pie with ground beef. It was hearty and exactly what they needed after being sick!
They love the breakfast sausages, bacon, pork chops, pepperoni sticks, and the fresh eggs!
Emily and Matt still feel like they are in a learning phase of the CSA. They are still exploring the best recipes for each cut and the different ways to cook the cuts.
Mealtime Inspiration
Emily and Matt’s go to inspiration for mealtime is the New York Times Cooking app. Emily also references her collection of cookbooks for everything from main dishes to sides.
She recommends Melissa Clarks’, Dinner: Changing The Game. This cookbook is what taught Emily how to roast a chicken.
Another cookbook she recommends for side dishes is Diann Fisher’s, Smitten Kitchen Keepers.
Looking Forward
Emily and Matt look forward to continual growth as they explore new cuts.
Emily’s admits that sometimes it can be a bit daunting and intimidating as a newer member. Her hope is that she will grow in her confidence and abilities.
As Matt looks to the future, he wants to continue building his confidence as well with the hope that his cooking will develop into more of a skill.
Seeing the larger pork and beef roasts gets Matt excited about smoking meats on his Traeger grill.
Final Thoughts
“The main thing is that we happened into this and just couldn’t be happier with this opportunity.
We have learned a lot. We have developed a bit more of a ritual and positive feelings around cooking, doing that together, and it’s not a chore.”
Thank you, Emily and Matt, for sharing your experience with us! -Rachel