CSA questions

[redrhodie]

I shared a share that was about $575 for the season, which I think was 22 weeks. It was enough food for 4 people. It was definitely a good deal. I am not doing it this year because I got tired of going to the farm, and I hate to admit it, but I loathe farm work. Working on the farm was part of the deal. I have utmost respect for farmers, but it is hard, tedious, awful work (to me). Time just stopped when I worked there. It would seem like an hour had passed, and it would be 10 minutes. It killed me. I so thought I'd love it. I was wrong.

We also have a nice farmers market in my town that I didn't take advantage of when doing the CSA, and I like choosing my produce. It's more expensive, but I have less waste.

[Kimmyt]

Many of the more established farms will put out an example list of their produce, but being new to the game this CSA may not want to. Lots of people don't really understand that when you sign up for a CSA you take on some of the risk of farming, of which there is substantial. They could plant a buttload of potato varieties, and you might not get any (or alternately you might be eating potatos until your eyes cross). A lot of my city slicker friends would get annoyed and would complain about getting a lot of what they didn't want and not a lot of what they did. The beauty of a CSA is getting to experience things you don't normally buy, broadening your horizons, and eating what the seasons have to give you. I find that in order to guarantee I get what I need (I never seem to get enough onions, or garlic), I supplement a bit from farmers markets or grow some additional plants.

But overall I have found that a CSA is a great deal. Much of what you get can be preserved by freezing, you just have to figure out how. In a good green bean season, I can freeze most of my beans and eat them through the winter. But a CSA takes some work as a member, in planning meals and taking the time every week to wash and prepare produce. Many of my friends didn't like it, but I made a ritual of the day after getting my produce to wash and clean everything, plan out my meals for the week, and get whatever I needed to supplement it at the grocery store. The upside of all this work is that you'll be leaving the grocery store with only one or two bags, if you're smart, because most of your food is supplied by the CSA.

I do think a full share is a lot for one person, unless you are really into cooking and preserving. I have two in my family and a half share is almost enough for us but then I do a lot of cooking and preserving when it's CSA time. Maybe you could post on craigslist and see if anyone wants to split a share with you, or email the farm and see if anyone has emailed or called them asking about half shares- you could get their info and split the share. Just a thought- and good luck, CSAs are a lot of fun and if you enjoy them you will never be the same! (I hate going to grocery stores in the winter, since we don't have a winter farmers market, I hate buying produce there an spending so much money!)

[withm]

All these replies just make me want to do this even more. In the summertime I'm practically a vegetarian anyway - unless a nice steak gets in the way. And I've done my share of canning and freezing so that's not a problem.

I've been asking around my circle of acquaintances to see if anyone might want to share, and I will call the farm again to see if they can't put me on a list of people wanting to share, or if they would consider offering a half share. This is a resort/retirement community if that makes any sense. Either you are a tourist, here for a week or a weekend, or retired and a bit older than me. We seem to have a disporportionate population of older single women for example.

[Pedal Wench]

The one I belong to gives you a weekly choice - $20 box or $30. I'm pretty sure it's more expensive than a local store, and I probably should have joined in the spring or summer, because I got lots of turnips, greens and "mixed root vegetables". For the extra $10, you usually got florida citrus and lettuce and cherry tomatoes - I like that they'll let me know what's coming in that week, so I can decide if I want it or not.

[Crankin]

We seriously considered doing a CSA, but even if we split it with another couple, it would be too much food. I cook a lot, but I most definitely do not eat that many veggies. And frankly, I don't like the idea of having no control over the items. While I am not a picky eater at all, the texture of some veggies makes me gag.
We have loads of small local farms within 6 miles of my house and one of the joys of summer and early fall is riding my bike to get stuff at the farm. One of them, I can walk to; it's about a 4 mile round trip.

[withm]

I do have a nice Farmers Market here on Sunday mornings - but if you are not there by 8am you will stand in long lines iin the hot summer sun at each booth to buy your produce. And there is NO bike parking there. (What's up with that?)??? But it's only a 10-week season for the farmers market - again catering to the tourists and weekend folks.

I saw the list of everything they grow at this farm and about the only items I would not really care for are kale or beets. I sort of look forward to planning meals based on what's really local and in season, and I like to try new things too.

But I'm still looking for someone to split this with.

[Atlas]

We love our CSA. We are trying a new farm this year that was just started by some friends so we'll see how it goes. The two of us just barely make it through a half share. When we'd pick up on Tuesday it meant soup or curry Monday night to use up any odds and ends. I bought 'How to Cook Everything Vegetarian' specifically to make sense of all the veggies we were getting that I wasn't used to.

[paiger81]

I saw the list of everything they grow at this farm and about the only items I would not really care for are kale or beets.

I blend kale up in berry smoothies, it hides the taste. And I also like to make kale chips.

LOL, I have an odd love of beets, so those are never an issue for me :-)

[OakLeaf]

There are so many varieties of kale, it's only the "classic" green curly kale that can be a little strong sometimes. If you're lucky they'll have red Russian kale, so tender and sweet and delicious that my dog used to eat it right out of my shopping bag if I wasn't careful.