Joining a local CSA is a great way to support local farmers, eat organic, reduce your carbon foot print, and eat healthier!
After three miserable attempts at having a viable organic garden, the Boyfriend and I decided that we were done. Our first year we spent weeks prepping hay bails to try out the no fail hay bail gardening, only to have it ravished by slugs and deer. Our second year we started out with an aquaponics garden to grown organic lettuces using water from our koi pond, only to be thwarted by too little sun and nutrients in the water. Then we put up a deer fence in a sunny spot and created a huge container garden full of tomatillos, tomatoes, collards, melons, zucchini, and herbs – surely this would work! But once again, all of our hard work went down the tubes thanks to evil caterpillars that ate anything that wasn’t stunted by the over abundance of rain or murdered by powdery mildew. 
As we began talking about our most recent pitfalls and possibly starting a fall and winter garden, it was apparent that neither of us had the passion for it anymore. It was hard work, expensive, and we had our hearts broken one too many times. Sure we can find decent and affordable organic produce at our local grocery stores. We have a couple farmer’s markets in town, and they’re just okay. We find them to be less farmers and more products like soap and jams. And then it came to me… a CSA was the answer to our problems – it’s local, organic, farm fresh, and seasonal!! And boy oh boy, it’s been the best decision we’ve ever made!
So what is a CSA?? CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Essentially you buy a “share” and every week you receive a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables from select local farms in your area. The produce is 10 times better than anything we can buy at the grocery store and has more variety and affordability than our locals farmer’s market.
We have a few CSAs in our area, but I decided to sign up with Collective Harvest, as they came highly recommended by a farmer friend of mine. She grows the sweetest, most juicy blueberries on her farm and sells them through the CSA every summer. I lucked out and we were still able to sign up for the fall season, even though it had already started.
They had two options, a half share and a full share, depending on how much produce you want in a week. We decided on a full share since we eat and entertain 90% of the time at home, but I would say it would easily feed a family of 4. A full share was $30/week, which we paid for the season in full when we signed up. $30 a week seemed a little high initially, but when I saw the variety, volume, and quality of local organic produce I was getting, I realized it was a deal! I’ve also noticed that because everything is so incredibly fresh, it lasts much longer than what we buy at the store. So far, we haven’t had any waste. And when we go on vacation, we have a friend or family member pick up our share and enjoy it for us!
In a typical week we get a few of heads or bags of greens, a variety of vegetables, and herbs. This particular week we received arugula, kale, cabbage, broccoli, breakfast radishes, carrots, sweet potatoes, and sunchokes! As a home chef, it has really challenged me to cook outside my comfort zone and try some new ingredients. Although I had eaten sunchokes, okra, and collards many times, I had never cooked them. So it’s been fun to experiment with some new ingredients and try new recipes.
Hopefully I’ve inspired you to find a local CSA in your area. You can search for a local CSA at Local Harvest, and get signed up for a Winter or Spring share. They tend to have limited space, so I recommend signing up earlier than later. Do you already belong to a CSA? What do you love about it?
- 1 bunch of small organic carrots
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- Salt
- Fresh Ground Pepper
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Depending on the size of the carrots, halve them to be equal size. If they are all skinny, then you can leave them whole.
- Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Roast on a baking sheet for 10 - 15 minutes, until just fork tender.
- Enjoy!
- If your fresh carrots have their tops still, you can use them just like fresh parsley! It's delicious. Cut them off, wrap them in a paper towel, store them in a zip top bag. They'll keep for weeks.
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I never heard of a CSA but i love farmers markets and local produce which seems like the next best thing. I will look around to see if I can get those great carrots by me for roasting.
I was actually JUST talking to my sister in law about signing up for a CSA. We don’t grow much around here in the winter, but I think I am going to sign up for one in the spring.
I hope you do! It’s been so much fun!
We used to do CSA and it was so cool to get to try vegetables we hadn’t heard of before! I love that you did it after failing your own garden. That’s how we roll, too 🙂
We’ll celebrate and support other who do what we clearly cannot… lol!
I did a CSA last year and absolutely loved it. This year I went with something slightly different that allows me a few more options but is still a locally sourced option. I think it’s fantastic. On the other note, you get me nervous about one day gardening outside. I’ve a few things in my apartment but I hope to have a house and a garden one day but it’s so hard to do! Sucks you didn’t have any luck doing it.
Honestly, I’ve never had such a hard time having a garden. We’re convinced that this yard is just cursed. LOL. But don’t let our folly stop you, I’ve had very successful gardens in other places that I’ve lived.
I’ve been trying to source a good CSA over here in my neck of the woods for awhile. There seems to be so many in the states that it makes me wish I lived over there! You can get such a great haul
I wish there was a CSA in my area, though $30 a week would be a bit steep for me currently. I love the idea behind CSA though. I have carrots in my house and I would like to try out this simple recipe tomorrow.
Most CSA’s offer a lower price option. We decided to try the full share, and we’ve been happy with it. You can also go in on it with another family or friend, that’s a nice way to offset the costs. But the quality of what we get is so worth every penny.
There’s not a CSA in my area, but if I had one then I would totally use one! I really love fresh produce.
I did a CSA a few years ago and loved it. I don’t know why I stopped honestly, I need to give it a try again this year.
I hope you do!
Now that we’ve moved to a new city that really is farm country I need to look into a CSA for us! I think they are so worth it and would be great for our family!
I hope you do. We’ve found it to be so rewarding and delicious!
I’ve always wanted to try a CSA. We have a farm in my town that does this but they only have sign up once a year so if you miss it, you have to wait for the next time. I do love going to the Farmer’s Market as an alternative. It’s nice to support local farmers.
There is nothing like fresh, organic vegetables. It would be so nice to be a part of a CSA. I don’t know if they have one in my area but I’m going to look into it.
Check out http://www.localharvest.com – you can search your area for a local CSA!
Wow, another great option to help local farmers. I just recently signed up for Blue Apron and really enjoying it. Will have to check out CSA to see if we have any locals in our area.
If you don’t have a CSA, then Blue Apron is also a great choice. I use it on and off during busy times of the year, and it’s a life saver (and a money saver!).
I’m not sure if we have a CSA but I’m interested in finding out now. This seems like such a great option for finding fresh produce and making healthier meals.
I so wish we had a garden. It is officially winter here! Ahhhh!
We have a few communities near us with a shared garden and it’s a great concept. Share the work and share the bounty – these offer great opportunities for the neighborhood to help each other and eat healthy.
I too have tried to grow an organic garden and it was an epic failure! I would love to join something similar in my area.
I have never been to a CSA. I have always wanted to be havent been. I have heard tons of great things about them. I need to find one in my area.
I wasn’t even sure what CSA stood for I read this post, but I am definitely gonna check it out and see where one is near us. This was some great information!