Join a CSA

I’ve always prided myself on growing a garden full of fresh veggies.  I love to be outside and spend time in my garden.  However, life has its phases and right now my days outside are spent chasing my two year old daughter and caring for a newborn.  I finally had to admit it to myself that I didn’t have the time to have a big garden.  I shared my disappointment with a few friends and they enthusiastically said, “Join a CSA.”

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation and in return receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season.  Intrigued by the idea, I did some research and found a certified organic farm that offered produce from mid-May to Thanksgiving.  Every week, they drop off boxes of produce to local residents homes who have volunteered to be pick up sites.  I decided to go for it and sent them a check for the season.

For three weeks now, I’ve gone to my local pick up site to retrieve my box of goodies.  I get excited for Wednesday to come to find out what we’ll get.  This early in the season we’ve already tasted fresh strawberries, lettuce, spinach, red potatoes, scallions, broccoli and radishes. There are many benefits to joining a CSA and getting our food locally, but here are a few benefits I hadn’t predicted:

My daughter likes fresh, tender broccoli and baby spinach!  She hasn’t liked broccoli I’ve bought before at the supermarket, but the tender organic broccoli she loved.  Who knew?  Same with the baby spinach – I’ve given spinach to her numerous times before and she always puts it in her mouth and then spits it out with disgust.  Not so with the tender baby spinach that came in the CSA box.  She ate it, looked at me and said, “more, please.”

We’re eating greater variety.  I tend to buy the same fruits and vegetables every week.  I can’t remember if I’ve ever bought radishes.  Turns out my husband loves radishes – something I never knew.

It’s almost as exciting as growing them yourself.  I was disappointed that I wouldn’t have time for a large garden.  There’s something satisfying about going out and picking vegetables you’ve grown to make dinner.  But I am getting gratification from supporting a local farm.  I get updates about the farm and even can go to the farm on specific weekends in the summer.  I feel a bond with the farm that I certainly don’t feel going to the supermarket.

To learn more and find a CSA in your area, go to: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml