Farm shares?

[disneyfreakk]

We seriously thought about joining a CSA this year, but the more I thought about it, the less I liked the idea.

1) I like to plan my meals for the week and then shop for what I need based on what I WANT to eat that week. The idea of being forced to eat things I might not want/like did not appeal to me.

2)We eat vegetarian 5 or 6 nights a week and I was not sure that we would get enough to eat for the week

3)if we were going to have to meet up with the farmers that were about an hour out of the way each week, why not go to the fabulous farmers market that is about the same distance away and be able to get fresh meats and cheese and other wonderful fresh stuff, all in one stop?

Anyway, just something to think about.

 

[Sadie22]

I am even more convinced of what a bargain our CSA is. When corn was in season I always had a farmer's dozen (13 ears) with my full share. My share was always almost more than I could carry. It would fill a huge reusable bag (provided by the farm) to overflowing. I never felt skimped.

I took a pad of paper with me every week and wrote down what I got, and as I used the produce I would write down what I did with them. Every week was different. Some weeks there were lots of huge tomatoes. Other weeks there were little ones. Here's one week's listing of what I received:

13 ears corn
2 huge candy onions
2 large cucumbers
3 yellow squash
3 zucchini squash
( I could have chosen beets or green beans instead of either kind of squash)
5 large peaches
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 medium head red cabbage

 

[sherry7]

I am even more convinced of what a bargain our CSA is. When corn was in season I always had a farmer's dozen (13 ears) with my full share. My share was always almost more than I could carry. It would fill a huge reusable bag (provided by the farm) to overflowing. I never felt skimped.

I took a pad of paper with me every week and wrote down what I got, and as I used the produce I would write down what I did with them. Every week was different. Some weeks there were lots of huge tomatoes. Other weeks there were little ones. Here's one week's listing of what I received:

13 ears corn
2 huge candy onions
2 large cucumbers
3 yellow squash
3 zucchini squash
( I could have chosen beets or green beans instead of either kind of squash)
5 large peaches
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 medium head red cabbage

Just curious, how much was it per week? I could buy the above list for around $14 to $16 at my local farmer's market.

I had never heard of a farm share before this post. I live in PA, so maybe it's not popular here.

 

[Sadie22]

Just curious, how much was it per week? I could buy the above list for around $14 to $16 at my local farmer's market.

I had never heard of a farm share before this post. I live in PA, so maybe it's not popular here.

I just picked a corn week at random. Some weeks included more items. The average cost was $17 a week. The term is community-supported agriculture, and it is just as popular in rural areas of Pennsylvania as in Maryland.

 

[deawd]

Sadie, which CSA in Maryland do you use? I'm in Anne Arundel County and am looking at a few CSAs now. Thanks!

 

[Sadie22]

Sadie, which CSA in Maryland do you use? I'm in Anne Arundel County and am looking at a few CSAs now. Thanks!

Sorry, you're too far away for this one. I'm sure there are good ones near you.

 

[luv2sewtjr]

Are you in western MD? If so, can you PM me...

I used to belong to one in the Hagerstown area and I miss it...that farmer relocated and doesn't do it anymore.

 

[karen l]

I did a csa for the first time last year & we loved it. It's a little different than most csa programs. You buy a full or half share & receive a card - like a gift or debit card. You can then use the card to buy whatever you want at the stand. I even used it when we went apple picking. Hope they have it again this year.

 

[crisi]

We've benefited from the bounty that is other people's participation in a CSA.

You get a share of 1) what the farmer plants at 2) what yield. If you want squash, and the squash does poorly and don't really have a use for kale, and kale does well, you'll have kale coming out of your ears and need to buy squash at the grocers anyway. We've seen some strange things come in - my friends who do it and enjoy expanding their palate love it and find interesting recipes for previously unknown vegetables- for those that don't, sometimes we've ended up with "do you want rutabagas?"

I've found it more effective to shop at the farmers market for ourselves. But if you like produce, a CSA is a great way to get fresh produce and support your local farmers.

 

[christygobar]

I also belong to a bi-weekly CSA. Mine differs a bit from others in that it is a co-op of farmers and not just one farm. So the company has more of a network to work through, but they still do as much local business as they can, and everything is organic.

I pay $30/wk for a half-share which is a great amount of produce. I always get some staples - apples, citrus, carrots, onion, celery, starches (potatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes) and a ton of greens. Usually some salad greens and then a couple of darker/leafier greens like spinach, kale or chard. On top of those, they add in the bonus seasonal/local stuff like berries, squash.

There are weeks we eat nearly the entire box and there are weeks where we just don't, but overall I love it. We also have the option to purchase local eggs which is a great addition too!

 

[Karenj2]

Just curious, how much was it per week? I could buy the above list for around $14 to $16 at my local farmer's market.

I had never heard of a farm share before this post. I live in PA, so maybe it's not popular here.

There are CSA's in PA - I live in SE PA, and there are a few near me (and they deliver to the Philly area, too.)

A good place to check is: http://www.localharvest.org/

 

[wallawallakids]

I have done a CSA the last two years. First year was great. We did a full share for $500. We got a huge box of food every week. Great berries, cool vegetables. Really worth the $25 a week. It was much less than if I went to Whole Foods and bought it. Also, although we garden, I don't ever get enough to feed all 6 of us off my own garden. It was fun having different things that I have never grown. They also gave us 10% off everything in the store. I did it again last year. Totally different experience. It was a horrible growing season in Oregon all around, so that is a risk I guess you take with a CSA. But I felt like I got no where near $25 a week worth of food. No berries, lots of lettuce, just nothing I really wanted or needed. I canned so much the year before that it made this year look pitiful. We recently moved cross country from Oregon to Maine and I am thinking of trying it again here. Things are different locally here though. You buy in, and get to spend that money at the market buying what you want with a percentage over what you spend. I like that. I can pick how much I want to put in, and what I want to eat. I think I am going to just try a little bit and see. In theory I really love supporting local farmers. I love knowing where my food is grown and that it is fresh. I have also had the privilege of picking organic farms which is important to me. I think only you can decide if it is worth it in the end. My experience has been both positive and negative. But that first year was so worth it, that I will be trying again. Good luck.

 

[Judique]

Sadie, which CSA in Maryland do you use? I'm in Anne Arundel County and am looking at a few CSAs now. Thanks!

Not Sadie, but I was able to find a link to a list of CSA's by googling Maryland csa's. That brought up www.MarylandAgriculture.info. It is from the University of Maryland Extension Dept. There were 71 choices throughout Maryland listed. Click 'farm' and then 'community supported agriculture' in the list.