Dark Days Challenge, Week 1

A couple of years ago, I participated in the Dark Days Challenge and had a lot of fun doing it.  Last year it started but the women in charge was overwhelmed and the challenge fizzled.  This year it is back with more groups involved in organizing it.  The idea is to eat one meal a week that is SOLE - Sustainable, Organic, Local and Ethical.  Not really a problem for me since the freezer is full of local, organic vegetables and meat.  The meal this week is pork from my CSA (I don't remember what breed this year), salad from my garden and pickled collard greens, from the local farmer's market.

Arugula from my garden.  This year I tried a tip from a fellow gardener. I let my arugula go to seed this summer and more regrew.  This stuff is good but potent. 

Lettuce, mustard greens, mizuna from my garden.  Also lettuce from Richard's garden - his plot is near mine and he offered me some.

Pork chop with fig jam, salad and jar of pickled collard greens.  I bought 1/2 hog this year from farmer Allan.  Raised on his farm.  The fig jam I made last year with figs from the community garden.  Salad from my garden.  I was in Charleston, SC recently and tried pickled collards at a farmer's market so I decided to try and make themself.  I bought the collards at a local farmer's market in the Palisades area of DC and soaked them in hot water and covered with a spicy brine.

The greens are delicious

Chop and figs