Experience with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

I'd be very grateful to hear people's experience with organic CSA in Louisville. I'm curious who has the best produce, prices and drop off points.

I'd be very grateful to hear people's experience with organic CSA in Louisville. I'm curious who has the best produce, prices and drop off points.

I have a friend that is with Grasshoppers. http://www.grasshoppersdistribution.com/

I can't speak to the prices and drop off points, but the produce has always seemed top notch. Call and ask for Berea - she can field your questions I'm sure.

Misty Meadows Farm does a good csa. Ralph and Kathy Packard. 270 496 4218. I am not sure if they are certified organic or not though.

[Robin Garr]

I have a related question: I've always wanted to support community supported agriculture, but have felt it was impractical to commit to a weekly box for a family of only two that (1) eats out a lot, (2) haunts the produce markets at Beargrass and Bardstown and (3) grows a fair amount of backyard veggies considering we live in an urban neighborhood. Is there a way to get just far enough into CSA to get some special goodies every week without having to commit to a big box that will mostly end up in the compost pile?

I have a related question: I've always wanted to support community supported agriculture, but have felt it was impractical to commit to a weekly box for a family of only two that (1) eats out a lot, (2) haunts the produce markets at Beargrass and Bardstown and (3) grows a fair amount of backyard veggies considering we live in an urban neighborhood. Is there a way to get just far enough into CSA to get some special goodies every week without having to commit to a big box that will mostly end up in the compost pile?

I suppose split shares is one way to deal with this problem. The other is to negotiate directly with the CSA provider.

Last year my husband and I got a half share from Gary farms. My observations? They weren't the nicest people and our selection wasn't that great either. We decided this year we are not going to do the CSA. Mostly because of all the veggies in the world, the only two we don't like are peppers and green beans and we received so of those much in the height of summer.

I would say that two people could never eat a full share, but maybe I am wrong. We eat A LOT of vegetables and the half share was plenty--even with me giving the peppers and green beans to the neighbor. I also wouldn't get my share from Gary farms again. I think that they were fairly new to the CSA, but their selection just wasn't what I have seen from other providers.

If I ever do a CSA again I'll do a lot more research on the farm before I commit. I would check to see what all they are growing and I would hope that they were more friendly and communicative. Honestly, I felt a bit like I was a pain in their side when I came to pick up my basket and they would have rather been dealing with people who were buying on the spot. Maybe CSA's are less profitable, I don't know.


Robin, I doubt you would need to do a CSA since you say you eat out a lot and keep a garden of your own.

And I should clarify, I would do a CSA again. My mediocre experience the one time I did it would not stop me from trying it again. I loved having fresh vegetable all summer long and not knowing what you're going to get is fun. I learned 1000 ways to cook greens and I tried a couple of things that I'd never had. If I had gotten some herbs and fruit or berries at some point then I would not be complaining about the selection.

I have a related question: I've always wanted to support community supported agriculture, but have felt it was impractical to commit to a weekly box for a family of only two that (1) eats out a lot, (2) haunts the produce markets at Beargrass and Bardstown and (3) grows a fair amount of backyard veggies considering we live in an urban neighborhood. Is there a way to get just far enough into CSA to get some special goodies every week without having to commit to a big box that will mostly end up in the compost pile?

Robin,

We have the same issue- mostly due to numbers 2 & 3. So last year we split a share with my parents- 1/3 them, 2/3 us. That was much better than previous years where we couldn't eat everything. I will say though, that I found I was making a lot fewer trips to the Farmers Market ( which in my book is a negative).

I did also find this on the http://www.louisvillecsa.org site: Earth's Promise Farms- with those wonderful chickens- is doing a CSA this year and sells half shares:

A half share is half as much per box per week or a full share every other week .Pick -up is at the farm, at the Shelby County Farmers Market, and in the Highlands in Louisville. We are open to exploring other locations depending on need. A full share is $550.00/yr.

Deb

And I should clarify, I would do a CSA again. My mediocre experience the one time I did it would not stop me from trying it again. I loved having fresh vegetable all summer long and not knowing what you're going to get is fun. I learned 1000 ways to cook greens and I tried a couple of things that I'd never had. If I had gotten some herbs and fruit or berries at some point then I would not be complaining about the selection.

We did Family Family Cooperative CSA last year after a hiatus of 4 years ( neither of us were working downtown any more). Here are my thoughts: Great people, absolutely the opposite of Michelle's experience. The selection was very good as they are a cooperative of farmers including fruits and herbs; We had Peaches, Strawberries (yum!) and basil on occasion. Last year wasn't overwhelming with greens as in the past, but the early spring weather wasn't great for them last year. Quantity was siginificantly lower than in the early days ( 2003-4)- I don't think as much from the weather as from adding more shares. I thought it was still a deal and love the experience- Brian doesn't think it's worth it now that we have Beargrass. Haven't decided what we are doing yet this year...

A helpful list of local CSAs can be found at http://www.louisvillecsa.org. Remember, these folks are farmers- not marketing people, so sometimes it takes a while for them to get back to you.


Deb

I have a related question: I've always wanted to support community supported agriculture, but have felt it was impractical to commit to a weekly box for a family of only two that (1) eats out a lot, (2) haunts the produce markets at Beargrass and Bardstown and (3) grows a fair amount of backyard veggies considering we live in an urban neighborhood. Is there a way to get just far enough into CSA to get some special goodies every week without having to commit to a big box that will mostly end up in the compost pile?

I don't have much to add to what others have said, other that I have a group of friends that split shares through Grasshopper (Grasshopper doesn't do 1/2 shares, I don't think). They were happy with what they got, and it led to a lot of collective dinner parties. I didn't participate last season, but am strongly considering it this season. It's pretty convenient, with weekly pickup locations including Cakeflour on East Market, Rainblow Blossom on Lexington Road, and a spot on Barret (I did some research since my previous post). They also offer various meat, fish, cheese (including Capriole), milk, and egg options to add on to the produce.

As someone who personally says every week that he's going to make it out to the farmers' markets on Saturdays but never actually ends up doing it, I think this is a good option for me.

We love Adam Barr and Barr Farms. http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M15623 I think he has a program where you buy a full share, but 1/2 of it is donate to Urban Fresh so you get a tax deduction and 1/2 a box each week. He is a great guy and we got some really cool an unusual things last year (fresh shitakes, purple haze carrots, white watemelon, etc.)

We love Adam Barr and Barr Farms. http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M15623 I think he has a program where you buy a full share, but 1/2 of it is donate to Urban Fresh so you get a tax deduction and 1/2 a box each week. He is a great guy and we got some really cool an unusual things last year (fresh shitakes, purple haze carrots, white watemelon, etc.)

Robin,

That one sounds intriguing- where is their pick-up?

Deb

For those of you living out on the East End/ Oldham, I wanted to mention another CSA that's not on the list I provided. They are Field 51 Produce in Goshen. The owner Dave, is a board member with me at the Food Literacy Project. I know they have pickup at their Goshen location, and they are the only CSA I know who also delivers ( for a fee). They are at: http://www.field51produce.com.
Deb

We love Adam Barr and Barr Farms. He is a great guy and we got some really cool an unusual things last year (fresh shitakes, purple haze carrots, white watemelon, etc.)

Adam is top notch. I know he does csa pick ups at the Phoneix Hill market( Mellios former location) Tuesdays in season.

Hi Deb,

We pick ours up on Saturdays at Smoketown (Mezyeek parking lot). I think he still does the one day a week at Phoenix Hill too. Let me just say, those carrots made an awesome cake!

We also had a share from Ralph and Kathy at Misty Meadows Farm last year and are doing it again this year. I actually blogged the entire experience (I traded the write-up for our share). We're paying for it this year, which should show what we thought of it

I still found myself at farmers' markets many weekends filling in the gaps. When you go with one farmer vs a group (that Kathy will tell is is *not* very local) you may miss out on things when weather doesn't cooperate. We generally ate most of our food, though I made the mistake of telling a Washington Post writer that and I am forever known as the CSA member who wastes food.

If you're interested in a blow by blow, week by week account of the experience we had, take a look here:
http://travelingmcmahans.wordpress.com/mistymeadows/
If you like pictures more than words, I shot every week's share and the results here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingmcmahans/collections/72157605583338245/


Most important to me was knowing who grew my food. I also really liked reconnecting with the seasons and eating (as much as I could) only seasonally. Thursday nights (pick up night) were like a cross between Halloween and Christmas and it taught us to be more creative in the kitchen. This was the ultimate pickup dinner night:

Fried potatoes, poached egg, tomato and pesto