The KInd Life Community Forum

Hi everyone!

I wanted to post this information about CSA's, since I know a lot of people have never heard of a CSA and don't know what they're about.

A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a program where a local farm (or a collaboration of a few local farms) will offer a "share" in their crops for the growing season. The general cost (at least in Massachusetts) is anywhere from around $350-$400 for a 1/2 share (feeds 1-2) to $550-$650 for a full share (feeds 3-4). This will get you a box of fresh produce each week for about 20-25 weeks depending on the length of time your CSA offers. Each week members of the CSA pick up their box of fresh vegetables from their pickup location. This can be the farm if it's local, or oftentimes if the farm is located outside of a large city the farm may set up a pickup location somewhere in the city so you can get farm fresh produce even in an urban city!

Each week the box will contain a bunch of different vegetables, depending on what is ripe at that time. Boxes are a little less packed in the early weeks but by August the are over flowing with all different kinds of fresh, local vegetables and fruits. You'll need to check with each individual CSA to see what kinds of vegetables / fruits that they grow.

Joining a CSA is such a great way to not only eat fresh, local produce, but also to support your local farmers and to support the environment! Although the price may seem high at first glance, when you average it out over all the weeks that they run, it really is less than what you'd pay for comparable organic produce from supermarkets. And it tastes so much better!

I highly encourage anyone who loves eating fresh vegetables to consider joining a CSA. Check out www.localharvest.org to find CSA's in your area. It's also a great website to find local farmstands if you're not ready to join a CSA.

thanks for posting this! another great thing about the csa is you end up with some things you may never have thought to have eaten - its a great way to explore new veggies!