Join a CSA!

There's no better time than now to join a CSA! What is a CSA you ask, CSA stands for community supported agriculture. It's the perfect way to support your local farmers, know where your food is coming from, save money and trips the grocery store, reduce your chemical intake and carbon footprint. How do they work? Search in your area for local farms or organic farms that offer a CSA program. You can usually choose small, medium, or large shares for your CSA. A small share will usually feed 2-3 people a week and a large should feed between 6-8 people. Everything is seasonal so remember, you won't get tomatoes till at least July because of they're growing season. Totally different then going to the grocery store and buying tomatoes shipped from Mexico. Those tasteless tomatoes are picked green and sent to the store while it ripens in the box. It's know it's hard to wait for these summer indulgences, but they are well worth the wait and it's totally okay to overeat them all summer! So, as the seasons change and you move in to each growing season you will receive different fruits and vegetables in your basket each week for your CSA pick up/delivery.This is also a great way to try new produce and new recipes. A CSA will usually last 20-24 weeks depending on what each farmer has decided to grow for the year. So remember in spring, you'll most likely get lots of lettuces, greens, onions, peas, and root vegetables. Summer is everyone's favorite, corn, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, beans etc. And fall is filled with squash, pumpkins, greens, beets, carrots, and turnips.Even with the garden I grow every year, there are somethings I just don't grow because they take up a lot of space like squash, corn, watermelons. So this year we decided to join a CSA and do a half share for the summer. It'll give us fresh, organic produce that I don't normally grow, on our table for 20 weeks for less than $13.75 a week. Can't beat that! I'll pick up my basket of fresh produce every week from a designated drop location and rush home completely excited to cook! It's that simple! Less trips to the grocery store, plus I know I'm getting fresh, organic, local produce, it's a no brain-er!So... is it making you think maybe you should join a CSA this year? Here are a few local farmers that do have CSA's. You can check out their websites, most of them are only taking applications till the end of the month so jump on the opportunity quick, time is running out!

• Taylor's Fresh Organics- My family decided to go with this farm this summer, after I met one of the farms head honchos a couple weeks ago. Their drop is right down the street? (They also travel over the bridge to the metropolitan areas as well as all over the Eastern Shore and lower Delaware.) I loved what they had to offer for the 20 weeks and its going to make my life so much easier, save me time and money, and I am supporting my local farmers. At $13 a week to feed 2-3 people, there was no decision to be made. If you do go with Taylor's tell them I sent ya! :)
• Greenbranch Farm- I love this farm! Located in Salisbury. They always have a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from, as well as local honey, organic eggs, chicken, pork and so much more. Every time I'm in Salisbury. I run by their huge pole barn to stock up on as much as I can!
• Provident Farm- Love these guys too! They're my Berlin Farmers Market one stop shop every Friday! Their produce is delicious and gorgeous every week. I stock up on their leeks, kale, Swiss chard, and salad turnips this time of year!
• The Good Farm-This farm is perfectly located to all us Berlin, Ocean Pines, Ocean City locals. You can find them right on 611. You can't miss them on the left as you're heading towards Assateague. They also offer egg shares as well as chicken/duck shares!

These are just a few local farms offering CSA's to our local areas, be sure to check out there websites for more information and what they have to offer. Hope this information helps a little and maybe you'll try a CSA this summer and see what all the hype is about! :)