What's Kale Anyway? - One Mom's Musings

I’ve just ordered kale. I’d tell you how much I ordered, but I don’t really know. Nor do I know how much 100 grams of kale is. Come to think of it…I don’t even know what kale IS.

What I do know, however, is that my neighbors are awesome. I know, in the news, our lives in Gush Etzion and throughout Israel aren’t portrayed accurately at all. These distortions make me laugh at times; other times, they make me cry.

What we are here in Neve Daniel is scholars, bankers, SEO specialists, writers, politicians, non-profit workers, speech therapists, physical therapists, accountants, social workers, and yes – even farmers.

One of my neighbors has a farm in their yard. They’ve taken a large area of land in their garden and they’ve grown an organic, completely pesticide-free farm. Each season they sell different items and they sell them throughout the area.

And this winter, it’s kale.

I don’t know why I’ve never purchased from them before. I’m actually embarrassed that I haven’t supported my neighbors in this endeavor. Never fear for them, however. I was late on the uptake with the kale, and when I turned around to ask if I could buy some, they explained that they had filled up with all of their regular customers already. Filled up? What do you mean filled up? Where’s my kale?

I was kale-offended. Now that I’d gotten wind of this activity, I wanted in. So, I put up my best kale fight and put on my favorite kale face and they agreed that they could find a bit of kale to sell me.

So tomorrow, I’m picking up my kale. I don’t know what I’ll be making with it, and I don’t even know how much we’re talking about.

What I do know, however, is that I’m damn proud of the amazing people around whom I surround myself. And I’m in awe when I think of the incredible hobbies that many of my friends have. And I feel privileged at the thought that I’ll be eating organic, pesticide-free kale grown in the heart of Eretz Yisrael by my Israeli neighbors tomorrow.

Pictures of their garden, of my kale and of my first recipe to follow soon. Assuming I figure out a first recipe! All suggestions welcome, you kale lovers out there!