Are your friends and neighbors raving about the local organic produce they are getting for their “shares” from a “CSA”? Do you want to know what that means and how you can participate too?
CSA means Community Supported Agriculture and that is actually a local farm supported by its members - consumers who purchase “shares” and benefit from what the farm growns and harvests. Members help pay for the seeds, fertilizer, labor and equipment for the farm.
This arrangement benefits both the farmers and the shareholder or consumer. The farmer gets paid at the beginning of the season and doesn’t have to wait till he harvests and sells his crops. The consumer knows exactly where their food is coming from and can establish a relationship with the farmer. They also get to experience new items that they might not have tried before and are assured that their produce is fresh. Commonly, shareholders do not know what is going to be contained in their allotments and pick-up is usually in bi-weekly increments.
Some farms offer items other than just produce (eggs, dairy products, etc.). And, some farms offer winter shares and half shares. It may be too late for this season’s harvest, but you can glance at their web pages and plan for next year.
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Some CSA’s in the Framingham area are:
http://www.stearnsfarmcsa.org/
http://www.hansonsfarm.50webs.com/csa.html
Eastleigh Farm (eggs and milk)
http://www.eastleighfarm.com/
Silverwood Organic Farm (Sherborn)
http://www.silverwoodorganicfarm.com/
Siena Farm (Sudbury)
http://www.sienafarms.com/
Outpost Farm ( Holliston)
http://www.outpostfarm.net/csa.htm
More information can be found at the Local Harvest website, here. http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
http://extension.umass.edu/vegetable/resources/csa-information-listings
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