This year is my year, the year I finally join a CSA. In case you don't know, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It's not only a great way to get a nice variety of veggies and fruits but it's also a wonderful way to support your friendly local farmer. We almost joined one last year but we had just moved within biking distance of the Farmers Market and I wanted to make that a weekly stop. But I soon realized that we would visit plenty anyway to get local meats and other specialty goodies like garlic and green onions from Chert Hollow.
And though the snow is just now melting off of our yard, this is the time to be joining up. The best CSAs can fill quickly and if you want to split a share (a good way to ensure you actually use all that fresh produce), you will want to have arrangements settled before you sign up.
Here's a quick run down of some of the CSAs I am considering:
DanJo Farms: A certified natural farm, DanJo offers a highly customizable CSA program. You can add on eggs, meats, fruits, bread, and jams, sauces and pickles. Their summer share runs from May until October and they offer a payment plan. Like what you get? There's a winter CSA too. Click through to their information page for more details.
Happy Hollow Farm: An certified organic farm they offer both working on nonworking shares that can be bought at various levels. The summer CSA runs from Mid-May until October and if you're a fan, they also offer a winter CSA. Shares contain seasonal vegetables and fruits; the two pickup spots in Columbia, both at private homes. Click here for more details.
Pierpont Farms: In addition to veggies, this farm also offers poultry and eggs. They are not certified organic but use many of the same farming techniques. Pickup on their farm and you can also cut herbs and flowers to take home with your share. You can also pick up your veggies at the Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Summer CSA starts in Mid-May and runs for 23 weeks. Check out their flyer for all the details.
Have you participated in a Mid-Missouri CSA in the past? Please share your experiences in the comments!
We have been extremely happy with Danjo Farms for the last three years.
ReplyDeleteBoo! I've wanted to join a CSA since I read about them in my favorite cooking blog, but I didn't think about the fact I'd need to be around in the summer, too. I'll have to join a CSA as soon as I get a big-girl job and won't be leaving the city for weeks at a time!
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting you posted this, I was just discussing CSAs with some co-workers yesterday. Someone mentioned one that had an option for pick up at the Root Cellar that offered a really nice variety of products but no one knew the name of the producer(s). Does that ring any bells for you?
ReplyDeleteBest one around, and the first (and only until recently) certified organic CSA in mid-MO, is Share Life Farms.
ReplyDelete@Gwen: you could always get a winter share!
ReplyDelete@Niki: I have heard that too but there isn't any info on their website. I will head over there next week and ask.
I looked into Share Life Farms (it's one of my favorite booths at the Market) but the info on the site was scant so I did not include it here.
Share Life Farms is certified organic yet Danjo Farms is Certified Naturally Grown which is the "grass-roots alternative to the NOP government program - National Organic Program. Check this out at www.naturallygrown.org. By the way, there are many like-minded certified programs in the USA and the world. Check out www.ifoam.org for the international forums.
ReplyDeleteDanjo Farms will prorate shares as well so if you are going to be gone for a while and not able to pick up or have someone pick up for you they are easy to work with.
ReplyDelete