There’s something about late August and the back-to-school rush that has us daydreaming of winter greens, the sound of fallen leaves crunching underfoot, Texas football, and quality family time. It’s a time of transition at the farm with summer fruits and cucurbits petering out and fall roots and leafy greens gradually entering the scene.

Back to school and we are back to our more regimented fall agendas. For a lot of us, that means less travel and more home-cooked meals. Even if you don't have children, we know your body is craving the wholesome and nourishing flavors of autumn. Super greens and hearty soups will soon be a welcome replacement to the summertime habits of late night pizza and one-too-many trips to the ice cream shop (just to cool down, we get it!). Even though Texas summers are long, change is in the air... and if you've ever thought about joining the CSA, now is the prime time. By becoming a CSA member, you have no choice but to augment your existing diet with fresh, organic produce, all week long.

Kiddos at the farm. Photo by Casey Wiggins.

We like to think of our CSA program as a tool that ameliorates and simplifies meals during the work week. We've got plenty, but here are the top ten reasons we think that the CSA will make dinnertime the best time:

1. Home-cooked meals = priceless family time.

If you are cooking as a family, quality time with your loved ones is inevitable for better or for worse! Back to school usually also means back to dance, soccer, music lessons, etc, meaning life can get busier quickly, making time to gather around a family meal and connect with your loved ones all the more important especially in this day and age. Make dinner-time a no-screen time, and really soak up that quality face time.

2. Get kids involved in the kitchen!

Home-cooked meals are immensely healthy for your family inside and out. Why don't you start a new tradition this fall? How about integrating the whole family into preparing meals? Cooking with kiddos gets them interested in the ingredients, has them taking on difficult and novel tasks, and they are more likely to taste the final product in the end!

Playing with food. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

3. Nutrition and life skills

Cooking with your family is also a catalyst to start a conversation about health. If you get your children in the kitchen understanding why you use certain ingredients, you can also chat about the benefits of said ingredients as well. This preps kiddos for the future - it sets them up for good habits of cooking and eating that they’ll tap into for the rest of their lives! Additionally, kids need two main things to successfully adjust to a regular school schedule this time of year: good rest and good nutritious food!

4. New veggies mean new adventures

Opening your weekly CSA box is always an exciting experience. If you get your kiddos involved, it’s like embarking on a culinary adventure week after week. Every season brings a new ingredient to learn about.

Veggie exploration! Photo by Casey Wiggins.

5. Meal planning made easy!

Meal prep and meal planning are essential to being able to sustain a cooking regimen. Each week, we'll give you a list of the veggies that you will receive (accompanied by gorgeous photographs from Scott David Gordon). These veggies are an easy source of inspiration to plan any meal, can be incorporated to family-favorites, or can inspire new culinary adventures. There are plenty of nutritious, seasonal, 30-minute meals that will feed a hungry crowd. Want to cook more? Or, want to cook healthier, whole meals for your family? The CSA is a great way to delve into this practice. Not the inspired chef? No worries. Each week on our blog we publish recipes (and priceless tips like how to store certain veggies) catered to that week's offerings.

6. The convenience of delivery

Did we mention we deliver? That's right, we drop off veggies straight to your home or neighborhood. Skip the grocery store, and go straight to the source for your fall menus.

You get to see this shining face every week - Lucas, our delivery driver extraordinaire. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

7. Relish the seasons

If you join now, you can enjoy the joys of dwindling summer crops + emerging fall favorites... think: brassicas galore! With so much diversity in the fields, imagine all the different culinary treats you can create.

8. Picky eaters and food allergies? Don’t fret.

Got picky eaters or food allergies? Did you know you can customize your box? If you're a member, all you need to do is log-in to your account the weekend before your upcoming delivery, click on "My Deliveries," and you'll see your options to swap out veggies you are less keen on for ones you prefer.

Summer color scheme. Photo by Gillian Shewaga.

9. A conversation starter

Use your participation in the CSA as a starting point for talking about things that matter to you as an adult - supporting the local economy, fair treatment of workers, the impact our food has on the environment, etc. When you’re a CSA Member, you’re truly a member of something pretty awesome, and something bigger than you. Bring your kids to our farm events (Open House on October 27th!) and invite them to feel a part of the community, as well.

10. Veggies for a great deal

Because you’re buying straight from the farm, there are no third parties jacking up the price of our produce. You’re truly getting the most produce for your dollar, meaning you have extra cash to spend on other ingredients or maybe an after-dinner trip to Lick.

E. McQueen, relishing her veggie loot. Photo by Scott David Gordon.

Check out more information on the CSA here, and check out the sign-up page here. 'Til next time, folks!