During the spring and summer in Northern Virginia most residents think that the local farmers market are the only way to enjoy great produce and baked goods.
However for some of us we know there is a way to have farm fresh produce, eggs, meat, cheese, meet and even organic wine delivered to our door or a convenient pick up spot. For those who aren't familiar with the term Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) it is a way for anyone to support local farmers by buying directly from a farmer. You buy a "share" of the farm and in return every week a box of fresh food is available for shareholders.
Each week most farms will post a "what's in the box" list so that you will know what to expect. The food is seasonal and you aren't restricted to just spring and summer. Many CSA's also have fall and winter boxes as well. Our family enjoys year round deliveries and even my daughter who lives in the UK has organic food delivered to her home from local farmers.
Touring local farms that participate is a great way to introduce children to how food is grown and a chance for adults to talk directly to very passionate small farmers. The benefits to the farmers are financial support for their farm and the chance to get their food out of the field and on your table while it is at its peak.
If you are interested in buying local and supporting local farmers then consider buying a share in a Virginia CSA. You can find a great list of CSA's in VA and anywhere in the country at the Local Harvest website. Since the spring season is well underway most farms are already sold out of their shares for the summer season but you can get on the list for the fall in some locations.
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Military Relocation Specialist serving military families relocating to and from the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico MCB and all of the Military District of Washington installations.
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Hi Cindy,
What a great post! A wonderful way to eat healthy and support the community!
I hope you'll remember me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC" and I will do the same!
Best regards.
Michael Caruso, Broker ABR ABRM CRB CRS GREEN GRI
2007 President, Orange County Association of Realtors
www.MichaelCarusoRealEstate.com
Hi Cindy~ I love the fact that you have farm fresh food delivered to your door! I am going to have to check and see if we have it here! We started last year planting blueberry bushes on the farm we just bought about 20 minutes from where we live in Owensboro, KY (It is actually in Hawesville, KY) and we will have fresh blueberries hopefully next year. We can't wait to have and to be able to sell the blueberries. It surely is a labor of love on my family's part....
There are many opportunities in Maryland for Community Supported Agriculture and it's amazing how inexpensive it is. Support your local farmers and eat better food too!!
June-my daughter was the grocery manager at the Takoma Park Co-op and I give her credit for introducing our family to the CSA idea. We visited a number of the local CSA's and I was impressed by their passion for the environment and making sure that we could all eat better.
Vickie-fresh blueberries what a treat. Having one set of grandparents who were farmers introduced me to fresh food at a very young age. Milk directly from a cow is not the same as what we get in a cartoon at the store. Hopefully you will find a CSA in your area.
Michael-eating locally grown produce is one of the best ways to both help the small farmer and our environment at the same time. You just have to get used to eating what is in season vs what is shipped in from another continent in the off season.
For anyone who wants fresh produce but isn't ready to commit to a CSA, you can also try Washington's Green Grocer (http://www.washingtonsgreengrocer.com). They deliver weekly produce boxes across DC area. Oh, and hi mom! ;-)
I think you owe me an email :-) How is your garden doing?
Cindy,
I too am going to explore if anyone does this locally. What a great idea - thanks for sharing the concept!
Irene-it is a wonderful opportunity to eat local and fresh!
We subscribe to a CSA in northern Cal. It's called Full Belly Farm. Although, our boxes aren't delivered to our doorstep -- that would be way too cool. But we pick them up about a mile away at a subscriber's house. It's fun never knowing what we might get -- well, except when it's winter squash. After squash soup, squash casserole and squash whatevers, it's a bit too much squash.
Elizabeth-learning to get creative with the season is what fresh food is all about. Though you are correct. I felt the same way about zuchinni when I had my own garden. Though I did at one time know how to disguise it in zuchinni bread but after awhile there are only so many ways to make it work.
how cool is that.
almost like a local webvan... Do you remember that IPO?
your friend in Charlottesville Virginia!
No I must have missed that one, to busy with Palm :-) I have a friend who has tried PeaPod by Giant Foods and liked the delivery to her door.