Farm Fresh Produce All Summer Long
Community Supported Agriculture Brings the Farmer's Market to You
Thinking about joining a Community Supported Agriculture or co-op farm? Here's everything you need to know about this growing movement.
Do you love having fresh produce all summer long, but don’t have the space (don’t be too sure – read Grow a Thriving Herb Garden and Patio Kitchen Garden) or the time to grow it yourself? Maybe a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm is the answer you’re looking for!
What is a CSA Farm?
A CSA farm is one where ordinary people can get involved with the process that brings food from the field to their table. In early spring, consumers sign up to become “members,” “shareholders,” or “subscribers.” In return, they receive a weekly basket of fresh produce, straight from the farm. Many farms also encourage their members to spend some time pitching in during the growing season.
CSA’s are a great way to learn about the importance of locally grown foods, small farming, and sustainable living. Many CSA farms are also certified organic.
How Much Does it Cost?
A farm membership usually costs between $100 - $300, depending on whether you want a full or a half share. Unless you have a very large family, or you plan to preserve some of the bounty, a half share will keep your table full of fresh, seasonal produce! This may seem like a lot, but a CSA farm membership will actually save you money over the course of the growing season, since you won’t be paying for produce at the grocery store.
What Do I Get?
You will get a basket of produce each week. Early in the season, you will probably get a lot of lettuce, radishes, and other early crops. As summer progresses, your basket will literally start to overflow with vegetables – both familiar and exotic varieties.
More importantly, you get a chance to try new varieties of vegetables and herbs that your local grocer doesn’t carry. Most of the time, the vegetables you get in your weekly haul were picked the morning of delivery – you can’t get any fresher than that! Many CSA farms include a small cookbook with recipes featuring the vegetables they grow, so have some fun experimenting.
How Do I Sign Up?
The first step is finding a CSA farm near you. Local Harvest, an online resource devoted to promoting locally grown food, maintains a database of thousands of co-op farms, CSA farms, and farmers markets throughout the United States. You can search for farms in your area at the Local Harvest website. Just enter your zip code and browse the farms near you.
Once you’ve found a farm that meets your family’s needs, contact them to purchase a subscription and to arrange for pickup or delivery of your weekly haul. It couldn’t be simpler!
