Experience with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

A half share is a good way for someone who doesn't think they'll eat all the food. You don't even necessarily need to know the family/person with whom you are sharing - the CSA might be able to put you in touch with someone. Misty Meadows' model is one that might be good for a "trial" since you can sign up for either the spring or fall season rather than automatically committing to both.

Also I've found that preserving the food that comes in huge quantities (or that you simply grow weary of) is a good way to extend the season. For example, I still have some shredded zucchini (good for making zucchini muffins) and several packages of blanched and frozen greens (these are good in lasagna, for example). We're still eating the sweet potatoes from last November. I also still have some turnips and butternut squash left.

I also know that Ralph & Kathy of Misty Meadows are trying to move to a CSA-only model so they're adding more members and slowly easing their way out of the farmers markets. Ralph said that this year he'd like to plant more foods that can be over-wintered, like beans that can be dried.

Deb, I'll add Field 51 to the list. Thanks for the fyi. (Disclaimer - I am in no way associated with any farm other than as a CSA member, nor am I making a profit or even recouping my costs for the csa site. I just think buying locally produced food is the way to go and I wanted people to have one location where information could be easily found. And I wanted to teach myself a new programming language, lol. )

Does anyone know anything about Earth's Promise and/or Harmony Fields? Both in Shelbyville. Thanks.

Deb, I'll add Field 51 to the list. Thanks for the fyi. (Disclaimer - I am in no way associated with any farm other than as a CSA member, nor am I making a profit or even recouping my costs for the csa site. I just think buying locally produced food is the way to go and I wanted people to have one location where information could be easily found. And I wanted to teach myself a new programming language, lol. )

Great, Tina! I already sent Dave a note to contact you when I realized he wasn't on the list...

Thanks for doing that site- I find it to be a great resource ( and have referred many people to it)!

Deb

Does anyone know anything about Earth's Promise and/or Harmony Fields? Both in Shelbyville. Thanks.

Bonnie,

I know the farmer at Earth's Promise- they've been selling these incredible chickens at the market for several years. Unfortunately no experience with their produce though. My remembrance of a conversation I had with him in the Fall was that this will be their first year as a CSA.

Deb

Also I've found that preserving the food that comes in huge quantities (or that you simply grow weary of) is a good way to extend the season. For example, I still have some shredded zucchini (good for making zucchini muffins) and several packages of blanched and frozen greens (these are good in lasagna, for example). We're still eating the sweet potatoes from last November. I also still have some turnips and butternut squash left.

Tina,

Those are great suggestions! I'll add- I cooked and froze pumpkin puree, froze strawberries for smoothies right before they got too soft, and made (and froze) simple oil-packed oven- roasted tomatoes.
A thought- if you have the time and can find a place for it on the site - I think the the above suggestions would be a great addition to your site. I think a lot of people are scared off by the quantities, and also looking for ways to extend the season.

Deb

Thanks for all of the great information. I'll post back after our CSA deliveries begin.

My brother-in-law and sister are considering Grasshoppers. They would only be doing the vegetable option, which is $590 for 26 deliveries, or about $23 per week. You have to pay in advance, either by check or credit card (adding 2% to the cost). Since we're trying to encourage each other to save money, not spend it, I am wondering as to the advantages of this program over, say, going to Paul's Fruit Market or the Farmer's Market each week and picking up the vegetables you want, as opposed to having someone else pick out the veggies for you. I mean, you may be spending money on vegetables you don't like. For example, it says that in May-June, your box may include spinach, peas, lettuce, radishes, kale, mustard, arugula, salad mix, asparagus. I personally can never recall a time I have ever heard of my sister eating any of those vegetables, except spinach, and then only when it's hidden in something like a veggie burger.
I understand that they are trying to buy local and that's a great idea that I support. I am just wondering if this is the best way to go about it. There are just the two of them. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.

Ellen,

It really depends on what they are trying to accomplish. If they are trying to buy local, reduce food miles and support local farmers, the main options are Farmers Market or a CSA ( While Paul's may be locally owned, very very little of what they carry is locally grown - they, like Kroger/Meijer/Doll's etc source from all over the world).

Having belonged to CSAs for years, it's doubtful in my mind that belonging to the CSA will save you much money over buying the items you choose at the Farmer's Markets, if that's the goal. That's really not what belonging to a CSA is about. To me, It's about sharing the risk with the Farmers, learning to eat what the season brings, knowing who you buy your food from, guaranteed high quality produce and being exposed to a whole range of foods ( like the ones you mention), that you'd never just go out and buy on your own. I'd never cooked or eaten greens ( didn't grow up around here) until I got them in my CSA basket for weeks and had to figure out ways to use them, same with ramps and a number of other things that have arrived in my basket. I also find that we ( a family of four) eat many more vegetables when we belong to a CSA, as opposed to when we buy at the Farmers Market, because it's "forced upon us" every week and we have to figure out how to use it all.

Does that help at all?
Deb

Yes, thank you, that is very helpful!

When I was researching local CSAs, I had a lot of success with this website http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

It lists a lot of local places, what they grow, how they work their shares, if they offer half or whole, the cost, etc. Each farm writes their own profile, so you can be confident that the information is acurate. It also lists how many shares are available, if any are left, drop off poitnts, etc. It really is a plethora of iniformation. For those that get stuff they don't like, I remember that one of the farms had a "share" table at their drop off point where you could leave items you wouldn't use in exchnage for someone's unwanted items. I can't remember which farm though.

If you really want to do it, I suggest that you sugn up for the share you want now. In my experience many of them fill up rather quickly at the end of winter/begining of spring. Also, several of them begin next month.

I used to have a CSA share through the Family Farm Project and they delivered to 8th and Market, across from Glassworks. Les and Pam Snyder from Bedford ran it and I was always super pleased. I did it with them for several years until I was off one Summer after back surgery and wasn't downtown. I didn't save any money doing it, but that wasn't my goal. It felt great supporting the co-op farmers and forced me to really do lots of veggies and not waste. I split our share with another couple and would highly recommend splitting unless you have more than 2 serious vegetable eaters at home. With the Zirmed tower being built in the adjacent parking lot, not sure if they are still doing their thing but if they are, super people and very convenient for those who work/live downtown.

To answer an earlier post, I've bought Earth's Promise produce and chicken at the Norton Commons farmers market and the quality was great. The farmer is VERY enthusiastic and willing to chat about their products and methods. A lot!