Any CSA Recommendations?

[pegkerr]

I am thinking about investigating getting a share with a CSA farm (Community Supported Agriculture). The idea is, you pay a certain amount of money, and they will deliver organic, locally grown produce to your family. Pluses: encourages the family to eat fruits and vegetables, and support local farmers. Possible minuses: would my picky family let the food go to waste?

Is anyone doing this here in Minneapolis and have a farm they can recommend? Thoughts on your experience?

(kiramartin, might you be interested in splitting a share with me?)

Comments

[sraun]

If kiramartin isn't interested in splitting, Irene and I possibly / probably are interested.

[daedala.livejournal.com]

I'd love to, too, but I have that car problem.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Seward Co-op is doing a CSA Fair with lots of info about the various ones. I don't have the dates, but it's soon.

Your picky family will let the vegetables go to waste, btw. CSA shares as I know them are long on beets.

K.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

When I have beets, I make Bilbo's Underground Stew, which I love, but nobody else in my family will eat it.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

How many times a week, over how many weeks, can you make that? Even we found the amount of beets to be too much.

B

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

There's also the Redwall Deeper ' n Ever Turnip 'n'Tater 'n' Beetroot Pie, which our daughter discovered on line when she was a Redwall fan, and made (with help) when she was about twelve and otherwise hated root vegetables. It has lots of cheddar cheese in it, which helps.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Seward Co-op is doing a CSA Fair . . . I will stop by and see if they have a flyer. Thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Hi! I've been reading your journal for awhile, and know of a community homestead in Osceola, WI, but have strong ties to the Twin Cities. I have an acquaintance who lives there -- feel free to check it out! www.communityhomestead.org

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I don't recommend it for your family. One, it's more expensive than buying your produce at the grocery store. Two, you're going to get a bunch of things each week that your family won't eat. Three, you're going to get even more things that your family won't eat.

It's kind of like Iron Chef: Produce. If you like figuring out how to cook and eat random produce, and are cooking all your meals at home, then it's fine. But otherwise, it'll just be another source of stress -- and one you get to pay extra for.

B

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

If you do want to try it, look for a CSA that will let you opt out of certain foods -- the ones I've been in let you pick a few (3 in one, 5 in the other) that you never want to see (for instance, beets!) and they'll give you something else instead. Of course, that may mean you get twice as much kale, which your family might not eat either, but it adds a little flexibility.