Getting Connected to Your Local Farm

Today’s “Shout Out” is none other than my most favorite Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm: Abundant Harvest Organics. Some people may totally know what I’m talking about, they’re into veggies & the organic thing & getting it locally is just something that they are connected to, through their community or co-op. What? Huh? Am I speaking another language? If so, keep reading, the times they are a changin’! Best keep on learnin’!

Now for me that wasn’t the case. I grew up running to the drive-thru on my way to soccer practice. That’s just the way my family did things in large part. And when we did sit down to a meal often times it was food that came from our local (chain store) super market. We were not connected to any kind of food sources that I knew of. So for this city chick to go from urban drive-thru to organic herbivore was a bit of a challenge, a culture shock & it took a little getting used to. But once you begin to see & feel the benefits of contributing to your local farms you’ll never want to go back!

What usually comes in a Community Supported Agriculture (C.S.A.) Box?

Organic, fresh, seasonal fruits, and vegetables. This may vary greatly depending on what part of the country you live in and the weather. A good example is: strawberries, oranges, apples, bananas, celery, lettuce, beets, tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini & basil. Often we have a large number of various items, but these at present are staples. Hearty, seasonal veggies. The CSA Farm will generally have a list of what fruits and vegetables to expect in the box available on their website. In our area, a CSA box can cost around $25-35/box and many farms have a small or large box option depending on how much your family will consume in a week.

Benefits of getting involved with a CSA:

Save $$$ (Most CSA’s are comparable in price & you can save gas)
The taste is phenomenally better-try it & you’ll see the difference!
Save time! Being that I loathe grocery stores period. It’s nice to get the groceries from a pick up point (like a local church parking lot, or host home). Some even deliver!
It’s Healthy! You’re getting more whole foods directly from the source (even if you don’t know what to do with the produce most farms will provide you with a recipe idea list for the veggies they grow on their website)
Support your local economy (who wouldn’t in this recession?)

So many great ways to find a local Community Supported Agriculture Program or Farm is to do a simple Google Search in your area. Or go to your local Farmer Markets & check out the farms that are there. Do they have a box they deliver already? Most likely yes, but maybe you live in a small area & they just need a little nudging to get a group going. Offer to be a “host” save some money, maybe you can get your groceries at a discount. There’s lots of ways to save money. Start thinking outside of the box a little. It can really pay off!

It’s also really important to me as a Mom of two young children to make sure that they are provided with the highest quality nutrition. Some say its “hard” to get kids to eat right. That’s another post altogether, but what I CAN tell you from experience is that if you set the example as a parent your children will follow suit.

Something that seems like a small decision is actually a very important one. And it just might be the deciding factor between a long & healthy life for you & your family to enjoy together.