Community-Supported Agriculture

Yesterday we picked up our first CSA (community-supported agriculture) share of the season. Have you heard about CSAs?

Community-supported agriculture (in North America sometimes known as community-shared agriculture) is an alternative, locally-based socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA also refers to a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA members or subscribers pay at the onset of the growing season for a share of the anticipated harvest; once harvesting begins, they receive weekly shares of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme, and also sometimes herbs, cut flowers, honey, eggs, dairy products and meat, as well. Some CSAs provide for contributions of labor in lieu of a portion of subscription costs. (from Wikipedia.)

We didn’t sign up for a weekly share, but a local farmer brings shares to our natural food shop every other weekend. And we are so happy about it! Our box this week included:

• carrots
• red leaf lettuce
• kale
• tomatos
• shallots
• garlic
• radish
• yellow squash
• green squash
• string beans

I’ve taste-tested everything in the box, and one thing is better than the next! Later this week, I’ll share a “how-to” post for putting all of the produce to good use. For now, here are some photographs of the bounty.