amo_mea_filiis. Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I found a local farm and was trying to read more about the csa, but im still not sure exactly how it works or what to expect. Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 They do vary some. In general, you buy a "share" in the harvest for a season. So if 500 people buy a share, they plant for that many and you get a box of produce each week divided among you all. If the plants do poorly or are wiped out, you get less. If it is a great season, you get more. You often pay upfront, but not always. The farmer has the money to plant, and shares the harvest with all investors. You get great local produce and support local agriculture. We did it here, but it varied from the above model as the farmer also sold to stores. We got a produce box each week, paid quarterly. We didn't get to pick the contents at all, but some CSAs allow more customized things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama_Rana Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Yup what WeeBeaks said. Our CSA sets up like a farmer's market. Sometimes we get tons, other times it's one of some items, like one stalk of brussel sprouts--doesn't feed very many. OTOH, it is a "value added" CSA, so I can also get eggs, meat, bread, and specialty items like honey and jams and such through them. Love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Pretty much what WeeBeaks said. Last year, we had so much rain in the spring and early summer, that our weekly boxes started two weeks after the normal start date, and they were pretty pathetic for about a month. The weather really affected the growing season. Our CSA farmer tried to make up for it during the rest of the summer by throwing in as much extra produce as she could. We could custom order, too. She used a system where she entered what would be available online by a certain time on the night before the pickup, and you could enter how much or how little you wanted of each item. I actually helped out by going to the farm on my pickup day, and helping load the boxes, then bringing them to my house for others to pick up. Ds1 hates animals/bugs/being outside, but ds2 had a blast going with me and playing with the farmer's daughter and chasing the chickens and ducks around. A lot of CSA's will have an open house where you can go and check out the farm. I joined a different CSA this year because my old one decided not to do it anymore. This one is a collaborative of 10 family farms and they've been doing it for a long while. They have meats, bread, jam, honey, eggs and baked goods available as well as produce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Forgot to say, if you go to my blog and click on the Veggies label, I had posted a few pics of a couple of my CSA shares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Here's a comparison between the first week and the eighth week. Yeah, I know it's a little weird to take pictures of one's vegetables, but I love them so much! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Here's a comparison between the first week and the eighth week. Yeah, I know it's a little weird to take pictures of one's vegetables, but I love them so much! :D Every week our oldest daughter takes a picture of her CSA box and posts it on Facebook. It's been a great way to get new ideas on how to prepare the contents! And it's so pretty! I loved seeing your pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 thank you! Now i have a better idea of what im getting into. In my search i think i may have found 2 farms, so i have to choose between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessicamcc Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I live in NEPA also. Which CSAs are you thinking of joining? I've done them for a few years and am joining again this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Anthill farm, Yatsonsky farm market, and possibly First watch farms but i think this one is too far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessicamcc Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 We're doing Anthill Farm CSA this year for the first time. I haven't used any of the other ones before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share Posted April 12, 2012 Which ones have you used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessicamcc Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 We used Skoloff Valley Farms last year. (They are certified organic) Abbotts farm, for a winter CSA. Hails Family Farm, but I'm not sure if they do it any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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