From time to time I'll share our family's experience as a half-shareholder in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) garden down the road.

August is payday for CSA shareholders, and our family's garden investment is hitting big. Colorful veggies are rolling in faster than we can eat them.

Beyond eating organically with the seasons, investing in a CSA garden is automatic inspiration to prepare unusual vegetables you wouldn't see in the grocery store or wouldn't normally think of buying over the summer. I've also researched freezing methods so nothing is wasted. We scored this giant Italian squash last weekend, although I have no clue how to cook it. Luckily, many CSA-folk are outstanding cooks with creative recipes to share.

To date we've received peppers, potatoes, eggplant, basil, cilantro, beans, three different types of squash, four different varieties of tomatoes, turnip and snap peas. The pumpkins are ripening beautifully on the vine. Check out the gallery of photos to see it all -- especially the monster Italian squash. Anyone have a good recipe for that one?