Wednesday, April 1, 2009

What's a CSA?

You will start to hear more and more about how important it is to both eat healthy foods and be concerned about the environment as you make food choices. One way you can show your concern is by enrolling in a CSA each year.

"Community Supported Agriculture consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes the community's farm, with the farmer and the members providing mutual support and sharing the risks and the benefits of food production. Typically, members or " share-holders" of the farm pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation. In return, members receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as the satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather and pests. "

So, how does it work?
You pay an amount (some places allow installments) each year to enroll, and for specific months you stop by a pick-up location each week (or pay extra to have it dropped off) to get your share of produce.

The upsides are obvious. The downsides are that you have to pick up the produce (but most likely you can find one on your way home from work on a weekday), and you don't get to choose what you get. What you get depends on harvests, and you could actually see this as a plus...You are "forced" to learn new recipes and try new things.

Check out a couple of the options in our area:
www.windymeadowfarms.com
www.porterfarms.org

You can get all the details there, and also view the harvest schedule.

What do you think? Would you consider trying it?

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