My First CSA
I’m happy to announce I officially joined my first CSA! In case you are wondering, A CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture program, is a program where local farmers deliver fresh produce straight to you! Well, sort of. You pay for a share, which is usually anywhere from 20-22 weeks, usually from June to October. A share consists of a weekly box of produce that you can either pick up at a drop-off point or get delivered to your place of work (if you are lucky!) Usually farms have a large share or small (sometimes called half) share. I opted for the small share since Chris and I will be sharing the produce!
The farm that I picked is Otter Hook Farms, located in Greenville, New York, which is just south of Albany. They have an Albany drop off point which is awesome. I figured out the cost would be economical—if they have a good growing season and the weather cooperates—and it would equal out to be about $14 of fresh organic produce a week for two people. The exciting part is that each week the produce you get changes according to the growing season. One of the benefits of participating in a CSA is that it forces me to eat the vegetables that are in season, local and organic! You also feel good because you are helping support a local farm. It’s also going to force me to get creative in the kitchen with new vegetables and I will hopefully be learning to cook new foods in new ways.
I’m so excited! I can’t wait to share the experience here on the blog.
Have you ever participated in a Community Supported Agriculture program—if so, how was your experience?
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10 Comments
Jenny
I signed up for my first CSA share last summer and loved it. Our growing season isn’t quite as long here (July to September, I got 14 weeks) but it was still great value. The farm I use also offers a share in the winter storage vegetables, grains (flour and oats) and now eggs so I’ve been able to participate in some sort of CSA all year. I’ve already signed up for a vegetable share for next summer and can’t wait.
I’m looking forward to hearing about your experience and seeing what kind of veggies you get.
Jenny recently posted..Eggs! (and Winter CSA Share #6)
Kelly
I’ve always wanted to do a CSA, but I’m always afraid that there will be tons of things that I don’t like, since you never know what you’ll get each week! I guess I need to get over that fear first 🙂
Kelly recently posted..Restaurant Review: Karyn’s Cooked
Jen
Thankfully I love almost every vegetable (except cucumber) & chris will eat anything!
Michelle (Better with Berries)
I haven’t personally participated in one, but I REALLY want to once I’m truly out on my own and my boyfriend and I both have real jobs. Several of my coworkers do them and love it (except one of them keeps getting almost all radishes… lol). Yours seems like a good deal! Much less expensive than some of the ones I’ve heard of. I’m excited to see what kinds of produce you get in the summer!
Michelle (Better with Berries) recently posted..Food Awards
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes)
I really really want to do a CSA this summer! I always get sticker shock when I see how much they cost, but when you spread out the cost by the week, I guess it’s not so bad!
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Caramelized Onion Shortbread Cookies
Valerae
I just signed up for my first CSA this year too. I joined Dennison’s. I buy a ton of stuff from them at the Troy Farmer’s Market and they also have an Albany drop-off. I’m excited – it’s really going to force me to figure out what to do with a lot of items I’ve never worked with before. I love a challenge!
Valerae recently posted..Observations at the Bus Stop
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Crystal CAPow!
Greenville is my hometown, I might have to look into this CSA!
Crystal CAPow! recently posted..Epic Road Trip Brew Tour Honeymoon 2012 – Jerry’s Sno Cones
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