The time to begin eating locally is now!
**You can meet some Farmers this Wednesday, April 1st at Wild Goose**
Let's start with CSAs, since I receive the most questions on this issue. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. You are buying a share in the produce for a certain period of time. You will receive a variety of vegetables, and sometimes fruits, throughout the growing season. If it's a good year, that's fantastic. If there is massive crop failure, well, then you have at least contributed to the farmer to ensure they can keep their farm. It's rare that this would happen to all crops. In 2007, however, it happened on a massive scale to fruit. An early spring tricked everything into blooming, and then a frost killed everything.
There are many different types of CSAs; sometimes you can get a small share or a share with fewer weeks; some farms require that you work on their farm; some CSAs offer meat and eggs. You can see there is a lot of diversity. If you are new to a CSA, it might be good to share your take with someone else; this is cost effective and will give you an idea of what to expect.
Is a CSA right for you? If you cook frequently for more than yourself and eat healthily, a CSA might be right for you. If you travel a lot or rarely cook, it might not be the best idea.
If you are busy and want to eat locally but don't have time to stroll the farm markets between hauling the kids and/or partner around, work, classes, and everything else, a CSA would be great for you. You might consider choosing a farm who has a pick up location close to your how or work so you don't have to go out of your way. Considering there are now farm markets almost every day all around the city and suburbs, you shouldn't have too much of a problem finding a CSA which fits your lifestyle.
Be aware that your CSA share will start out very light, but will grow as the harvest grows. Some farms use greenhouses and other methods to allow them to harvest vegetables earlier in the year.
Some farms will allow you to pay in installments. Other farms will allow you to work for some of your share.
I had a CSA from Elizabeth Telling Farm for 3 years, and from Wayward Seed for one year. You can look over my farm reports from the past 4 seasons to get a feel for what you will find.
What farms offer CSAs
Here is a listing of farms I know who have CSAs. If your farm is left out, please don't take it personally - instead, let me know about you and I will be sure to add you to the list!
Elizabeth Telling Farm (Contact Sandy Sterrettfont-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; ">740-484-0243) offers CSAs beginning at $550. Elizabeth Telling grows quite a few vegetables for Alana's, and she definitely has some of the best eggs I've ever had. ET owner Sandy Sterrett knows a lot about nutrition and cooking - she always has recipe ideas. Sandy is one of the few farmers I know who forages for things like ramps, stinging nettles, and chanterelle mushrooms (she sold me one box last year and they were amazing) You can expect to find a lot of greens - braising, wild, and lettuce - along with all sorts of vegetables. This year you will be able to pick up your CSA at the North Market as well as the Clintonville farm market. Sandy is also offering a gourmet CSA this year for an extra price.
Wayward Seed Farm (long time readers might recognize some of their photos!) (contact Adam Welly & Jaime Moore (614) 226-8548 ) offers lots of different CSA options - for one person to an entire family. They are the only farm I know of to offer a fruit CSA. I had it last year and it was really great. Besides, with fruit, a lot of times you don't have to do very much to freeze it if you can't eat it all. Shares may be collected at the Worthington, Clintonville, and Worthington Farmer's Markets.
Toad Hill Organic Farm (contact Tim Patrick 740.599.9809 is new to the CSA fold this year. I love Toad Hill for their huge range of green and potatoes, their eggs, and the fun things they make like tempeh (their tempeh is really great) Shares begin at $300.
Paige's Proudce (contact Brian Helser 740-477-7291) has a wide range of options, from shares of eggs to flowers to apples vegetables or a combination. They also have many different price levels and pick up options. I buy of veggies from them at the Pearl Alley Market - they always have sugar snap peas, and those are one of my favorites! Shares begin at $40 for a half share of eggs and continue to $700 for a full share of everything (for a family); half shares of everything are $350). Paige's offers pick up at the Clintonville Market, Pearl Markets and at the Upper Arlington Market.
The Bangalore Farm will grow your seeds for you for a small fee (contact Srikanth Shivakumar
614-658-0382)2 Silos (contact Denise Anderson 419-947-1009, email eggs4u@gmail.com) is the only farm I know of to offer a meat CSA! They offer everything rabbit, lamb, beef, pork, and even goat! The CSA does require 2 shifts on the farm. Shares are picked up at the Clintonville Market.
Green Edge Organics (contact Becky Rondy 740-448-4021) is the only CSA I know of to offer milk and bread as part of their shares; they also have a winter CSA! Shares begin at $275 for a half vegetable share and go up to $860 for a full share with milk, bread, and fruit. Pick ups are at the Bexley CoOp and various residences throughout the city.
Bergefurd's Farm Market (contact Brad or Marcia 937.383.2133) will be offering a CSA for the first time this year. They plan to offer a bounty of vegetables each week, along with 1/2 dozen eggs. In addition, they will customer grow things like hanging baskets, mums, honey, and popcorn for their CSA members.
The Sippel Family Farm (contact Ben and Lisa Sippel 419-946-1394) was one of the first farms in Central Ohio to begin offering a CSA, and there is a waiting list to get on; you will have to apply now for the 2010 season. The Sippels grow fun things like lunchbox-sized watermelons and artichokes. Shares are $620 per year.
