BIG NEWS! We’ve joined a CSA for the summer. For those of you unaware, CSA stands for “community supported agriculture.” Essentially, one gives a lump sum of money to a farm to help with start up costs for that year’s growing season. Then, when the vegetables arrive, you eat! Some farms have days where you can even come to the farm and help work. Here are the advantages according to Local Harvest:
Advantages for farmers:
- Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
- Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow
- Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow
Advantages for consumers:
- Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
- Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
- Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
- Find that kids typically favor food from “their” farm – even veggies they’ve never been known to eat
- Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown
I’ve been doing a lot of research online and making phone calls and have chosen to support….Jake’s Farm! I saw a sign at Greenlife advertising that some of their summer produce comes from Jake’s. It’s local and organic. Plus when I looked online I only saw positive reviews. It is also only 15 min from our house and was accepting half shares (we will only receive a box of vegetables every other week). When I emailed Missy, the owner, she got right back to me and has been very helpful. So we are mailing in our check today! Only $350 because we’ve joined early. And I hear that while it is a lot of money up front, we will save money over the longterm. We’re cutting out the middleman and buying our produce straight from the source! The produce will be ready starting at the end of May and will continue until October. I’m excited to eat fresh produce again! Check out what Jake’s Farm says was in a typical box last July:
arugula, beans/french, beans/snap, beets, cabbage, celery, cukes, carrots, greens (Kale, chard, mustard, or turnip), eggplant, fennel, okra, onions/yellow/red, peppers hot/sweet, potatoes yukon/fingerling/red, scallions, squash (3 varieties) cantaloupe, basil, an assortment of up to 10 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, kohlrabi, fresh herbs, and head lettuce or salad mix
A ton, right? So get ready for lots of fun recipes this summer! Here’s a bit more info on Jake’s Farm and their CSA if you’re interested….Have a great day!
(All pictures are from their website.)
Appalachian Appetites 