Earth Day at Tanaka Farms

One of my hopes for Sylvie is that she will have a connection to the food she eats. I want her to understand that food doesn't just come from the store, the box and the bag, but from the earth and our labor. Not only because I want her to love the taste of natural foods (and I am so happy that she really does), but I also hope that she will have a sense of appreciation and gratitude for the truly hard work that so many people do everyday to bring our food to our table.

So what better way to celebrate Earth Day than by tagging along on the Long Beach Moms Group trip to Tanaka Farms for a strawberry tour? (We're not members of LBMG, but our friend Piyuthai is.) We've been to Tanaka Farms before for the pumpkin patch (2007 and 2008), but this was our first time on the strawberry tour. The strawberry tour is FANTASTIC, and we can't wait to do it again.

First up, waiting for the tractor with our friend Koa.Once everyone was on the tractor, our driver Alvaro took us all around the farm, with stops along the way to taste the different veggies they're growing. Green onions...
Bok choy...

Carrots...

And also celery and cilantro. Then, the best stop of all, strawberries! Everyone gets a one pound basket to fill, plus all-you-can-eat. Our friends Piyuthai, Panalee and baby Veejida...

Sylvie finds the perfect strawberry...

Mama was left in charge of filling our basket. As you can probably tell by that face, Sylvie ate everything she picked.

Koa, Sylvie and Dylan, back on the tractor...

Before we left, we hit up the produce stand to buy some of that yummy bok choy, broccoli and carrots. What could be a better Earth Day dinner than a stir-fry with veggies from our trip to the farm??? And of course, one pound of strawberries for dessert.