Community Supported Agriculture = WIN

This year we decided to join a CSA, or a community supported agriculture group.  These are basically farm shares where you pay and get a weekly box of local produce grown on your selected farm or on farms nearby, (many farms work with each other to give their CSA members a greater variety).  We looked through a few online before finding the one we settled on and then Shaun noticed that they also offered work shares.  Every Friday, Shaun goes for 4 hours or so and works at the farm and in exchange, our share is free.

Here's a sampling of our first week's loot:

 

(The picture is horrendous, I know)

We got spinach, broccoli, radishes, green onions, asparagus, butter leaf lettuce, strawberries, mushrooms, potatoes, a small sample of cream cheese (not pictured), a dozen cage free farm fresh eggs (not pictured), and two loaves of bread (also not pictured) .  Shaun bought the small container of local honey on the bottom left.  

They said we'd get enough to feed a family of four for a week.  I'll say!  All this would have run us about 30 bucks if we were to be paying for a share.  

And another bonus?  All organic.  You couldn't spend $30 at the grocery store and get all this organically, no way. 

They also offer cut flowers at a discount, free herb trimmings, and free ice cream for the munchkins if we visit the farm. 

This is our first CSA, so I'm not really sure how it compares to other local farms in quantity or price, but we're impressed.

Anyway, I'll probably post week to week updates about what they offer to give those considering this for next summer, (or those who can find them this summer with openings!), a taste of what to expect!

And for those of you nearby, keep in mind that we have our monstrous veggie garden which will hopefully bear some considerable fruit this season...  so give us a call, we'll share.