I don’t even like to camp, much less dig up dirt with my fingernails and root up a carrot or potato, but I had a rare opportunity to visit a local farm.  It was awesome!  My daughter’s class had a field trip to Miller Farms in Platteville, and it was a great experience.  Sure, it was a crisp, cold 30-degree day in early September, but we managed.  The kids couldn’t feel their fingers and toes by lunch time, but they managed to still pack a bag or two, three or four of fresh, organic produce to take home.   Miller Farms has a fun play area for kids, and places to take pictures, and burn off steam.  If the weather would have been nicer, the kids might have played harder too!

Since the field trip, we are enjoying the yummy eats so much, I am considering going in on a farm share or visiting a farmer’s market weekly.  The tomatoes taste fresh and so darn good that you can just bite into them.  The fresh sweet corn is edible without cooking.  In fact, kids were removing the husk and eating the corn on the tractor, as we went from field to field, picking fresh produce right off the vine, husk, or digging them up from the dirt.  The potatoes were great, and the carrots are sweet and perfect.  We got peppers and onions, and enjoyed green beans.  With all this great produce, plus the squash and zucchini from my neighbor’s garden, we are eating very well in our house.  Menu planning for tomorrow: DONE!  Carrots as snacks, mashed potatoes, and corn, with a pasta dinner.  Tonight, I made a quinoa salad with spinach, black beans, garlic, and the tomatoes and fresh peppers we picked.  YUM!  I made samosa puffs with the potatoes, added peas and wrapped them in croissant dough – baked up and yummy.  Last night, we enjoyed vegetable stir fry with the green beans, squash and zucchini,  buttered corn on the cob, and peeled carrots.

If you know of a good organic farm share, let us know your thoughts in the comments.  I think I am really liking the idea of making fresh, yummy things at least a few times a week.