Hi everyone! I've been meaning to complete this post for weeks, however I just never got the time to do so. I've been gone for a while (again) but I'm back now. Now down to business.
One day before the school year ended a coworker was explaining that she needed to pick up her veggies from her Farm Share. I turned and looked at her like "What are you talking about? You bought a farm?" She later explained to me that she is part of her neighborhood's C.S.A. Still confused she went on the explain exactly what a CSA is.
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a unique method of getting fresh produce to communities that may not have access to it. A CSA is great because it allows singles and families alike access to fresh goods on a weekly basis at a VERY low price. I love this idea because being a city girl the only time I see fresh goods is when the farmer's market comes to town on the weekend.
Here's how it works
Your CSA works with a local farmer who delivers a variety of organic produce to a designated location in your neighborhood each week. These produce can be fruit, veggies, eggs or flowers depending on your CSA. You have the option of choosing a full or partial share where the only difference is the amount of produce you receive.
How much does it cost?
For my local vegetable CSA a full share cost $25 a week, while a partial runs about $16 a week for 23 weeks. When I join the CSA I will be doing it with two friends so that would take the cost down to about $8 a week. That's an amazing cost for a week's work of fresh locally grown items.
What do you get?
Now I will be honest, I had never heard of some of the items listed in some of the weekly shares but the good thing is that you can either trade with someone else or learn a new vegetable and ways of preparing it (usually posted on CSA site). Here is a list the items from this week's full share vegetable CSA:
2 pc Kohlrabi
Bunched Green Scallions
Bunched Mixed Radishes
2 Heads Green Romaine
Red Salad Turnips
1 bu. Red Beets
Green Iceberg Lettuce
1 Lrg Greenhse Cucumber
2 Field Cucumbers
1 Regular Bok Choy
4 Squash Blossoms
There is some fine print involved with be
longing to a CSA (having to work approximately 4hr each season) but they are minor when you look at the benefits you gain. If you're not already a member of your neighborhood CSA it's worth looking into. Do a Google search and see if your neighborhood has one or the closest one to you. I'm still amazed that this even exists. How many of you are a part of a CSA or plan on joining one?
~Black Orchid~
