Comments on: Understanding Communited Supported Agriculture (CSA’s) and Their Benefits

By: lisa

lisa — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 22:30:16 +0000

This year we have done both a CSA as well as an organic produce buying co-op. Maybe a few weeks into it is not the best time for me to comment, but I would say that a downside is getting things you/your family don't actually like. For example: beets. We got a big bunch of them two weeks in a row. We're getting mixed salad greens & lettuces every week, but I'm the only one in my family who regularly eats salads, so I have to eat salad at least once a day. If you're going to do a CSA share make sure you like lots of greens: raw greens, cooked greens (we're getting things like bok choy, mustard greens, beet greens, etc. and we don't care for cooked greens, though I mix a little in my eggs). It can feel like a waste of money (or punishment) when you're getting food you don't actually like or use.

By: Carmen

Carmen — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:49:33 +0000

One thing that wasn't mentioned in the article, you can find local CSAs along with family farms and farmers markets at http://www.localharvest.org/.

By: Newlywed & Unemployed

Newlywed & Unemployed — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:57:19 +0000

We just joined a CSA this summer and are eagerly awaiting our first box. The Pacific Northwest has endured a particularly cloudy, cool and rainy spring and early summer, so nothing's producing well right now. I managed to get some mint out of my own garden, but that's about it. :/ So this year is an experiment. We'll see how we like it, whether the selection is usable and how much it actually saves us money. But I'm excited to try! .-= Newlywed & Unemployed´s last blog ..Grandpas Death Was a Bigger Deal Than I Thought =-.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:11:54 +0000

This is our second year in a CSA, and we really enjoyed it last year. I'm so jealous of everyone who has been getting produce since May! Our first pick up is Wednesday (June 30). The season is 18 weeks, and our veggie half-share is $300 ($16.67/week). We also got a half-share of fruit, which is a box every other week (9 weeks), and it cost $220 ($24.44/week). There are additional 4 week semi-monthly storage veggie and fruit shares for November and December, which we also purchased ($50 veggie, $55 fruit).

Our farm offers half or full shares, and a standard or epicurean choice for both the veggie and fruit boxes. The epicurean shares are slightly more expensive, and include smaller portions of everything in the basic share plus additional gourmet items.

Our farm became certified organic this year. All the veggies come from the farm. The fruits come from local farms as much as possible, but they do supplement with organic fruit that is not local. I think it's fine for CSA's to bring in products when necessary, as long as they are honest with their members about it up front. That said, I would not join a CSA that did not grow most of their own produce unless I had no other choice.

We can pick up at the farm, or at drop points. Fortunately for us there is a drop point at the health food store right around the corner from us. The farm is about an hour away. There are no work on the farm options, but they will give a free share to anyone who will pick up at the farm and be a drop point for other members in areas where there is no drop point.

I can't wait for Wednesday!!! :)

By: Ambre

Ambre — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:22:05 +0000

Haha! I'm trying to imagine how much food one would get from a purely local Alaskan CSA. *giggles!* We didn't have the greatest experience the year we did a CSA. It could have been the wet Iowa summer we had (flood year), but I was of the impression that the farmer's wife got over excited and oversold shares. Oh, well! I really love going to the farmer's market instead twice a week with my girls. My three year old has her own set of favorite vendors! :) .-= Ambre´s last blog ..Berry Picking- A Gift From God =-.

By: Shana

Shana — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:40:04 +0000

I am thankful for the CSA we have joined, and I know several people have frowned upon the type of CSA we are involved in (as mentioned), but it is our only choice. We joined a CSA that delivers year round and no- all the food does not come directly from their farm, they try to keep it to their farm and surrounding NW. Sometimes they do get from farther away. If possible I would love a local CSA and more of the food come directly from one farm, but living on an island in Alaska, I am just grateful they have offered to ship our way!! It is the closest reality we have here and our family tries new foods and enjoy the excitement of what our next box will bring!

By: Mrs. Pear

Mrs. Pear — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:39:41 +0000

We just started a CSA this year, and we love it! Ours is an unusual one in that we have some flexibility in what is in our box, we can swap stuff out, and they are able to make sure we never get potatoes or peanuts in our box - important for allergies.

We are also in the wonderful position of being a few minutes away from a pick up site - my husband picks up the box on his way home from work!

We can't grow a garden in our rental this year, and next year when we buy a home we will likely not have a big enough yard to grow all we would like, so this really works for us!

By: Sarah M

Sarah M — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:12:45 +0000

We absolutely love our CSA as well. I tried to convince hubby to get it three years, and this is our first year we've been involved with it.
We have the option that is the "biggest", the Veggie Lovers Family 4+ box, which we split 50% with my mother. The remaining 50% of produce is SO MUCH that we are often eating the last little bits of veggies the day we go pick up our next week's supply. For 280$ for the season of twenty weeks, and the amount of food we always get (in our HALF box, mind you) it is worth every.single.penny. If we were to buy this MUCH and the more UNCOMMON and nutritious veggies, we'd be spending MUCH more than the $11/week it roughly breaks down to.
Our organization (CommunityCROPS.org) also supports community gardens around town, and has the option to donate excess or an entire season's worth of produce to families in need.
Sarah M

By: Kait Palmer

Kait Palmer — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:59:26 +0000

We just joined a CSA (Jubilee Farms in Carnation, WA) and so far love it. There's just two of us who work full time, so we opted for the delivery close to my husband's work for an extra $5 a week. I love that it forces you to try new things and figure out how to include veggies at every meal! This season in Seattle has been uncommonly wet and cold, so we recieved an apology note from the farmer along with our first box...but in it was still more than we were able to finish in a week! Definitely worth the money, and knowing it helps the farmers out through lean times as well as times of plenty is a good thing (to quote Martha). .-= Kait Palmer´s last blog ..My Parents with me in Spirit...or on a Sign... =-.

By: SAR in SB

SAR in SB — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:21:26 +0000

We're on our second year of being part of a CSA farm. And actually, this is our second farm as well-- the first was great but a little higher priced. Prices in our area are actually really affordable (under $300 for the current season, and under $400 at the farm we belonged to last year), and we get produce nearly year round thanks to the temperate CA coastline climate. I feel very fortunate to have access to all the wonderful produce we have here!