Around town: Martha Stewart to the rescue

Something wonderful always happens at Adat Ari El Synagogue. Case in point — the collection bins. One month we collected toothpaste for a homeless shelter. The bins overflowed with Colgate, Crest and Tom’s Organic Toothpaste. Then it was diapers. This month, there are racks upon racks of what is beginning to look like a mini dress shop — prom dresses for girls in foster care.

And then, there’s the food.

Last year, the rabbis suggested a community sponsored agriculture project: Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, refers to local farms from which individuals commit to buy seasonal produce. Whether we are concerned with our personal health, the economic strength of local farms, or the well being of our world, joining a CSA enables us to help ourselves, others and our world.

I immediately joined the Tierra Miguel CSA thus entering the world of high stakes kale and organic herbs.

Every week, organic produce was delivered to Adat Ari El. Every other week, we would pick up our produce.

The best part was that I was suddenly cool. Lots of people under 30 eat tofu and join CSAs. And now we had vegetables. Lots and lots of vegetables.

But then, I discovered a top secret Tierra Miguel CSA pickup point on El Camino Corto in La Cañada. Suddenly, life was easy.

Do you crave cream of broccoli soup? No problem. I can make it.

Do you hate broccoli? No problem. I can make you a nice bowl of cream of broccoli soup.

Got a yen for beet borscht? Easy. We have cream of broccoli soup.

Seriously, we are awash in vegetables. Kale. Garlic. Mini-carrots. Radishes. Weird green stuff that no one knows the name of. The many, many colors of the tomato.

And now, we are more au courant than before. Why? The latest issue of Martha Stewart’s Living has finally discovered Community Supported Agriculture, what she terms a revolutionary approach to organic farming and food distribution.

Do not underestimate the importance of Martha Stewart. There are five prerequisites to happy living in the 91011: stay away from city council meetings, a Brighton purse from the Apple Cart, the Thursday Club, cloth napkins and a deep, non-subliminal understanding of the inner meaning of Martha Stewart.

Which is why I was thrilled to open this month’s issue of Martha Stewart’s Living. There, in its hallowed pages, was an entire article about community sponsored agriculture, including photos and recipes

featuring...

wait....

A farm in Maryland.

Not La Cañada Flintridge?

Whatever, Martha.

Please pass the broccoli. I’ve got work to do.




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ANITA SUSAN BRENNER is a longtime La Cañada Flintridge resident and an attorney with Law Offices of Torres and Brenner in Pasadena. E-mail her at anitasusan.brenner@yahoo.com.La Cañada Valley Sun: La Cañada Flintridge, California

See also: THE MINIMALIST; Three Parts Make a Whole Soup - The New York Times