a community farm in autumn
The farmers’ markets are opening up next month and I’m really looking forward to not only mingling with the veggie-eaters and growers of the community, but also having access to the wide range of plants available as the local growing season progresses. Greg and I usually take about $40 to the market, can’t resist spending it all, and come home with our reusable bags heavy with produce (especially when we go for the cruciferous sort – cabbage & cauliflower, so heavy!). But this year, we’re going try a new route to fresh vegetables, one that takes less time and less money overall ($24/week), our local community farm, or CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture), which will prepare a box of seasonal veggies for us every week for pick-up.
not just for country folk
Over the past two years, it seems like more and more people I know are signing up for these programs — And I know this because they are always giving me the extra vegetables that they can’t eat in one week when I tell them how much I like veggies. Even in large cities like Chicago farms outside of the city provide locally-grown, organic produce for city denizens for pick-up at a designated spot in the city. Greg and I realized that since moving to California, we now live very close to our CSA, just right down the street, closer than our grocery store, and I never would’ve realized that this farm existed if it weren’t for that casual google search investigating local CSAs. For someone who will be 9 months pregnant in June (me!), this is going to be ideal. But if I’m the one to pick up the box, I might accidentally eat all the fresh strawberries on the way home!!
eating locally (a.k.a. yummm)
Buying produce directly from farmers at the market or at a community farm is an easy way to support your community and your planet! (Just think about how much less fuel it took for those veggies to get to your table.) Your fruits and vegetables are so much fresher and more delicious — really, you won’t believe how much flavor can be packed in a sweet pepper or a handful of cherry tomatoes, or how visually-pleasing food can be… I’m drooling just thinking about summer eating!
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Comments About Community-Supported Agriculture
// 5 comments so far.
Sarahfae // March 30th 2010
Love THIS! mind if I link to it with the pic over at AtV?
kristen // March 30th 2010
Of course, dear girl! You have my eternal permission to repost anything on your wonderful blog! (^_^)
Sarahfae // March 31st 2010
yay! done!
<3
Rachelle // April 05th 2010
I just clicked over from Addicted to Veggies. I’m loving your blog- it’s gorgeous! We’re on the list for a CSA share this year. I’m really hoping we get one since we were late to the party. I was shocked to find out how many CSA’s there are in our area- even a grain CSA. I’m always so envious to see friend’s CSA boxes overflowing with fruits, veggies, even flowers. It’s Christmas and birthday all rolled into one.
Greg // April 07th 2010
Welcome! Addicted to Veggies sends us lots of visits. Hopefully we return her the favor.
How wonderful it is to love vegetables! Thanks for leaving your kind words. Hopefully our pictures and posts continue to interest you. Money is tight for us this summer, and we just found out we are staying in our townhouse for the rest of the year, so it’s time to roll up my sleeves and turn my backyard into food!
Also, I just became your 10th Google reader subscriber, I’ll have some new reading to catch up on now.
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