Last week, largely because of an article in the Cville, I decided to join a CSA. CSA stands for "community-supported agriculture," so maybe it's more correct to say I joined CSA. Or maybe CSA needs an F for farm or O for organization at the end. It's a little weird to say "I joined a Community-Supported Agriculture." But I digress.
Probably everyone knows, but in CSA, one buys a share of the harvest for a particular farm. You pay in advance for the entire growing season, and then you pick up a weekly box of fruit and veggie goodness. It's a chunk of money up front, but averages out to only about $20 a week -- great for a vegetarian, especially, because then I can just add some grains and viola, food for the entire week. I think I'll actually be spending less on food than I usually do, because I normally procure many prepared foods.
Of course, this also means that I will have to cook. We'll see how I do with that. I think it will be good for me to eat fresh food and to prepare it myself. I always feel better when I eat healthier and this could be just the ticket.
Or I could make a weekly plea for someone to come get the veggies that I can't possibly eat in a week.
I decided to join Best of What's Around, not because it belongs to Dave Matthews, whose music I, um, don't actually know (but don't tell anyone I said that as I believe I would be run out of town on a rail), but because it's the largest concern around, with the most diverse crop list. It's also fairly close to me, but they, like most CSA's, have pickup locations in town as well.
Probably everyone knows, but in CSA, one buys a share of the harvest for a particular farm. You pay in advance for the entire growing season, and then you pick up a weekly box of fruit and veggie goodness. It's a chunk of money up front, but averages out to only about $20 a week -- great for a vegetarian, especially, because then I can just add some grains and viola, food for the entire week. I think I'll actually be spending less on food than I usually do, because I normally procure many prepared foods.
Of course, this also means that I will have to cook. We'll see how I do with that. I think it will be good for me to eat fresh food and to prepare it myself. I always feel better when I eat healthier and this could be just the ticket.
Or I could make a weekly plea for someone to come get the veggies that I can't possibly eat in a week.
I decided to join Best of What's Around, not because it belongs to Dave Matthews, whose music I, um, don't actually know (but don't tell anyone I said that as I believe I would be run out of town on a rail), but because it's the largest concern around, with the most diverse crop list. It's also fairly close to me, but they, like most CSA's, have pickup locations in town as well.
5 comments:
Wow that's pretty great. I have not heard of that practice before. Maybe I should look around online for something here in New England.
I'll report on it periodically. I've heard stories of getting overwhelmed with particular veggies (think "zucchini") so I'm hoping the crop diversity at BOWA will keep that to a minimum.
I think it's a great idea for small farmers as well as great for consumers -- can't buy any more local than this!
To misquote something I read long ago...the only time you lock your car doors in a small town, is during Zucchini season.
Still makes me laugh to think about it.
There are lots of great zucchini recipes out there! Here's one just found and plan to try soon: http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/appetizers/snacks/south_beach_diet_parmesansticks.html -- Happy cooking!
snacks/south_beach_diet_parmesansticks.html
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