Eight to ten women from the northern suburbs meet every other week or so at each other's homes to cook the food, eat together and share stories and recipes. With several countries represented, they usually find multiple ways to use the same ingredients--all learning of each other's' tastes and cultures in the process. They'll be meeting again this coming week and, like you, they'll be finding out through this sneak peek what to expect in their boxes on Thursday and start their planning.

Lucky for us, they're writing about their gatherings and sharing beautiful photos and recipes both on their blog and facebook album. And they manage to find uses for everything--even celery leaf made its way into acorn squash soup, chimichurri, and more! Creativity abounds, and nothing goes to waste.

We're so pleased to be a part of this effort! Open Communities still has programs in areas related to housing (foreclosure prevention/ landlord-tenant/fair housing), but generally works to foster welcoming, inclusive and just communities in the sixteen northern suburbs they serve . Please check out what they do, and keep abreast of their efforts--and you, too, might learn something new to do with your produce!