Community Supported Agriculture
Jan. 12th, 2021 04:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithCommunity Supported Agriculture offers a way to connect food shoppers with local farmers. Most CSA farms do their planning for the next season in November-December, then open subscriptions in January-February. Now is the time to think about joining a CSA this year. Some farms offer shorter subscriptions or even let you buy a box whenever you want, but this time of year typically has the best bargains and selection, because shares do sell out.
CSAs offer many benefits. This is a good way to minimize shopping time and effort, and to promote healthy eating, because you get a bundle of fresh produce all at once. Some farms offer different sizes (individual vs. family) or styles (for cooking, juicing, canning, freezing, etc.) of share. They may have shares or add-ons that include animal products like honey, eggs, or meat in addition to produce.
There are drawbacks too. Sometimes crops fail, other times you get stuff you may not like. Consider the pros and cons before deciding whether CSA fits your foodstyle.
It can be a delicate balance between offering lots of fresh produce in your home and feeling pressured because there's too much. A good start in CSA is to buy a share that's smaller than you think you'll use up. You can always get a bigger one next time. Remember that most people eat what they have, so if you have fresh produce and see it sitting in your kitchen, you will probably eat more of it.
On the flip side, if you wish to eat less meat, consider investing in a meat share and eating only that meat instead of buying whatever you want. Look at what's in your box each time and parcel it out over the time until the next share.
Learn how to choose a CSA that's right for you.
Find a CSA near you. Here is a CSA directory that also has a search function.
CSAs offer many benefits. This is a good way to minimize shopping time and effort, and to promote healthy eating, because you get a bundle of fresh produce all at once. Some farms offer different sizes (individual vs. family) or styles (for cooking, juicing, canning, freezing, etc.) of share. They may have shares or add-ons that include animal products like honey, eggs, or meat in addition to produce.
There are drawbacks too. Sometimes crops fail, other times you get stuff you may not like. Consider the pros and cons before deciding whether CSA fits your foodstyle.
It can be a delicate balance between offering lots of fresh produce in your home and feeling pressured because there's too much. A good start in CSA is to buy a share that's smaller than you think you'll use up. You can always get a bigger one next time. Remember that most people eat what they have, so if you have fresh produce and see it sitting in your kitchen, you will probably eat more of it.
On the flip side, if you wish to eat less meat, consider investing in a meat share and eating only that meat instead of buying whatever you want. Look at what's in your box each time and parcel it out over the time until the next share.
Learn how to choose a CSA that's right for you.
Find a CSA near you. Here is a CSA directory that also has a search function.
