Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a program or agreement between farmers and customers. Customers buy "shares" in the farm, paying up-front, and then collect fresh produce weekly during the growing season. CUSTOMERS and FARMERS both can SAVE money by eliminating a middleman.
TOP 6 Reasons to Participate in CSA!
1. ORGANIC veggies -- VERY OFTEN ORGANIC, sometimes unofficially labeled as such, since such certification is expensive, too expensive for some small farms. Another post coming regarding "organic"!
2. Support LOCAL business! ...give the farmers the start-up cash they need to get their farm growing early in the season!
3. Try NEW foods and recipes! (I'll share the recipes as usual!) You will probably receive items that you are unfamiliar with, or at least don't regularly purchase!
Please share your recipes and ideas on fresh-you.com as you try new veggies!
4. Children's FARM VISIT (and adults really -- it's nice to see where your food comes from!) -- for kids, they'll be more likely to eat what they know more about, are involved with, etc. Click HERE for more TIPS for FEEDING Picky Eaters!
5. Great VALUE for awesome QUALITY (I'm hoping!) ...as discussed above -- no middleman, organic, fresh picked veggies!!
6. SAVE time AND money! -- you don't have to spend time in the grocery store picking out the best produce...also avoid buying "extra" foods at the grocery store that you don't need, ...and your health probably could also do without!
Specifics, based on what I have found here in Cleveland! THIS IS MY FIRST TIME!
I found this photo from someone who signed up with Geauga Family Farms last year.
This was a weekly pick-up stash from last September -- looks pretty good to me!
Oh, the rainbow!! Thanks for the photo from www.lifelynstyle.com!
GEAUGA FAMILY FARMS
- There are 10 family farms involved, so if something goes wrong with one of them, we won't be stuck.
- They farm organic vegetables, though the fruits that we'll get will be primarily conventional (non-organic).
- There are many pick-up locations to choose from; the closest one to my home is St Noel's on Chardon Road in Willoughby, Ohio. Here is a link to more information, including sorts of produce that come when, and the pick-up locations available.
- The cost seems reasonable -- you can check out this pricing where I signed up, as an example!
Remember to search www.localharvest.org to find a farm near you!!!
GEAUGA FAMILY FARMS
Half - $425 for 20 weeks
Full - $700 for 20 weeks, more variety, quantity, better deal!
Share with a neighbors and/or friends...a "Full" divided 3 ways costs only $11.66 per week!
Geauga Family Farm payments are due on MAY 1st!
COMING SOON: Grow YOUR OWN Garden!, Questions Answered about ORGANIC Produce, Benefits of MORE Veggies
