Community Supported Agriculture

CSA's are not a new idea but they have changed over the years. It used to be that a group of people would get together, buy some land, and then hire a farmer to tend the land and provided them with fresh produce. Now it is more often a farmer who owns land already that will sell "Shares" of his or her crop. This way any family can basically pre-purchase all of their vegetables and sometimes fruit, eggs, honey, and on occasion meat.

There are both pros and cons to a system like this. Some of the major pros include being organic, being local, being fresher, and getting to try new veggies. Some of the major cons include having vegetables that you will not eat, having a bad growing year (you are accepting the risk along with the farmer), and having to learn to eat what is locally in season.

We are currently looking at a CSA from a farm about 30 miles from here that has a pretty good variety of food including some fruit, but no honey, eggs, or meat. The thing that is drawing us to them the most is that if you are willing to come to the farm at least 12 out of the 22 weeks and help pick then you get everything at half price. Not only that but we will also get the opportunity to learn some of the tricks of the trade. And by we I mean Tami since it is only on Wednesday and Sunday mornings (but hopefully I will be able to go at least once sometime).

Check it out in your area.
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/
http://www.eatwild.com/