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CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and though this can mean different things in different places, what it generally refers to is a scheme in which you help a farm or group of farms to plan their growing season more pleasantly and securely by paying for a "share" before the season starts. In return you get a box of assorted fresh organic produce every week for a very reasonable price. The assortment is usually up to the whims of the farmers and the elements, another reason why it costs you and them less money, but the unexpectedness is nice. You have lovely fresh inarguable food, and now you have to figure out what to do with it, which can spur one to some inventive methods, and often means that you wind up discovering how much you like things that you never would have thought of to buy for yourself.
Everyone I know who participates in a CSA loves it. I've wanted to get a share for a long time now, but somehow it never seems to work out. Either I think of it too late in the season to sign up with anyone, or all the drop spots for all the farms I can find are far too far away. But this year, thanks to this weekend's combination of the suddenly warmer weather and a repulsively expensive trip to replenish the contents of our refrigerator, I have managed to find something really lovely. (This has been the most exciting achievement of my weekend, though I also have some pleasantly brewing ideas for a pair of new academic projects, and we've run a good dozen necessary other errands, so I am feeling just generally, er, fertile.)
A standard share from the aptly, if unimaginatively, named Fresh and Local CSA provides 20 weeks' worth of organically grown food from a farm near Harper's Ferry. They offer a remarkable variety of vegetables and a drop spot very near our house. We've also signed up for an egg share, which gives you a dozen fresh eggs a week. And the whole thing works out to something like $27 a week, which simply blows my mind. I only wish our growing season started earlier!
Posted by redfox at March 01, 2004 12:19 AM (news) | Comments (7)
Comments
I hope you like it! I am unfortunately not returning to my CSA - it's too much money to put out at one time. I also have a fear that this year will be rainy, like last year. If I eat that much bok choi again I will cry. I will be buying away at the Waverly Farmers Market.
Posted by Amy at March 2, 2004 08:43 PMI guess not everyone I know likes their CSAs after all! Last year was really a terrible year for produce, it's true. I have to say that I found even the farmer's market to be pretty uninspiring. Here's hoping that it was an abberation and not a trend.
Posted by redfox at March 3, 2004 09:06 AMPS to Amy: All that produce will coincide nicely with my being done with my exams (unless dire disaster should befall me) and having a spare brain cell or two for interacting with others, so maybe you can help us eat up our veggies.
Posted by redfox at March 3, 2004 09:08 AMI would be honored! I am fully aware that the impending doom . . . er, that is, exams and such, mean you and Amber technically do not exist right now. I look forward to greeting you when you emerge from the educational mire.
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Thanks for the explanation... I was a little confused there about the CSA thing. Sounds like fun, though. Do be sure to keep us posted on how that all works out. :)
Posted by teep at March 1, 2004 05:25 PM