Anyone ever do a CSA? (Community supported Agriculture)

[Captain Hindsight]

Considering doing a CSA  with a local farm here this summer, but I haven't done one before. Anyone have any experience with one? Would you recommend it?

Edited February 3 by Captain Hindsight

[Augie]

I had to look this up. I suppose you are referring to Community Supported Agriculture and not Canadian Standards Association or child sexual abuse. 

 

I have nothing to add, but I am very curious to learn something here. Is this some type of communal farming program? What is required of you? 

[DrDawkinstein]

Yeah, we have a couple options here in Atlanta, and were subscribed to one for a while. It was great, until it wasnt. But I absolutely recommend trying it out.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Augie said:

I had to look this up. I suppose you are referring to Community Supported Agriculture and not Canadian Standards Association or child sexual abuse. 

 

I have nothing to add, but I am very curious to learn something here. Is this some type of communal farming program? What is required of you? 

 

Nothing required except a paid subscription, and going to pick it up.

 

It's basically a monthly (or weekly) box of fresh produce from a local farm for a monthly subscription. Saves you from having to go to the farmers market.

[Augie]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Yeah, we have a couple options here in Atlanta, and were subscribed to one for a while. It was great, until it wasnt. But I absolutely recommend trying it out.

 

This is very interesting to me. There is one that has a drop off very close to our house (Lovett School), and several a little farther away, like Marietta Square. How do you choose one? Just roll the dice? How big is the pickup window? Does that mean I have to be somewhere at a certain day and time every week? I’m not sure I love that level of commitment. 

 

.

Edited February 3 by Augie

[Captain Hindsight]

6 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

This is very interesting to me. There is one that has a drop off very close to our house (Lovett School), and several a little farther away, like Marietta Square. How do you choose one? Just roll the dice? 

We have one really close to my house here in Rochester. I've heard good things, but I want to make sure Its worth the money. Its around 400 bucks for a "half share"

 

Sunscape Farms https://www.sunscapefarms.com/csa/share-options/

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said:

We have one really close to my house here in Rochester. I've heard good things, but I want to make sure Its worth the money. Its around 400 bucks for a "half share"

 

Sunscape Farms https://www.sunscapefarms.com/csa/share-options/

 

The one closest to me is $30/week with a 14 week minimum. No work is required and there are 130 shares.

 

I have commitment issues. Does that mean I have to be at the pickup at a certain day/time every week? That might not be convenient, and we go away for a couple weeks every summer. That alone might cause me some pause. I suppose I could have the vegetarian DIL pick it up. Or…..I could just look for a better farmers market that gives me more flexibility. But I am very curious. 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Augie said:

 

The one closest to me is $30/week with a 14 week minimum. No work is required and there are 130 shares.

 

I have commitment issues. Does that mean I have to be at the pickup at a certain day/time every week? That might not be convenient, and we go away for a couple weeks every summer. That alone might cause me some pause. I suppose I could have the vegetarian DIL pick it up. Or…..I could just look for a better farmers market that gives me more flexibility. But I am very curious. 

 

Yes, you have to be there at the specific time. I've seen some that have larger windows for pickup, like if they utilize another place of business as their location. But most are pretty specific.

 

"Gifting" the task to someone else when you are not available is pretty common. We usually luck out with a few neighbors who send us if/when they are out of town.

[Draconator]

My wife and I strongly considered joining one, until we found that we could get everything offered in the program at the local farmers market and community co-op market. Saved a bit of money in the process as we only bought what we needed for a particular time. 

[NoSaint]

17 minutes ago, Draconator said:

My wife and I strongly considered joining one, until we found that we could get everything offered in the program at the local farmers market and community co-op market. Saved a bit of money in the process as we only bought what we needed for a particular time. 

That’s roughly where we landed. 
 

The savings weren’t worth the loss of flexibility 

[Augie]

41 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

That’s roughly where we landed. 
 

The savings weren’t worth the loss of flexibility 

 

I value my flexibility a LOT. Plus, it’s not really a savings if we don’t eat $30 worth of vegatables every week. I’m intrigued by the concept, but I’d probably give up on it after one season. 

 

Loosely related, there was a community we where lived in Hilton Head that had a communal farm where people could rent a plot each season to grow their vegatables. It was well organized with storage and irrigation and people could drive or bike there to tend to their produce. We’ve never had the proper yard or sunlight to grow much of anything, but I think I’d love that, especially now that I’m retired. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Brussel sprouts.

Swiss chard.

Kale.

Who do I speak to regarding my allotment? 🤨

[US Egg]

Went to some near me to inquire couple years back. Mostly run by younger, pleasant folks. Though, one particular was quite put off with us asking details to the point of hostility. Walked away thinking “Children of the Corn”. 
 

That said, we do go to one, though it seems more a hit and miss thing in that it’s not consistent with product.

[Jauronimo]

3 hours ago, Captain Hindsight said:

Considering doing a CSA  with a local farm here this summer, but I haven't done one before. Anyone have any experience with one? Would you recommend it?

Colleagues of mine had CSAs and they were drowning in produce.  From what I have seen, make sure your canning, jarring, pickling skills are sharp.  

[DrDawkinstein]

1 hour ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

Brussel sprouts.

Swiss chard.

Kale.

Who do I speak to regarding my allotment? 🤨

 

13 minutes ago, US Egg said:

Went to some near me to inquire couple years back. Mostly run by younger, pleasant folks. Though, one particular was quite put off with us asking details to the point of hostility. Walked away thinking “Children of the Corn”. 
 

That said, we do go to one, though it seems more a hit and miss thing in that it’s not consistent with product.

 

That is the rub. You have to be ok with the "you get what you get" approach, and be ready to make the most of it.

 

Like, I didnt expect to have 10 lbs of radishes in my fridge. But now I do. So what can I cook with them...

[Just Jack]

In my area, Syracuse, there is a program run through the Food Bank, called Food Sense.  Similar concept, except it's more than just produce.  And it's not a subscription, you can just buy in the months you want the package.  No income requirement either, anyone can purchase.  There's a pickup point a block away from my work, so it's convenient for me.  

 

Food Sense - Monthly Package and Specials

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

Tried a livestock farm for a similar selection of meat products.

*
Got:

Ox tails.

Beef tongue.

Head cheese.

*
Just thankful they skipped the Rocky Mountain oysters this time. 🤫

On 2/3/2025 at 1:10 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

Like, I didnt expect to have 10 lbs of radishes in my fridge. But now I do. So what can I cook with them...

Cook?!  Guess again.

 

[DrW]

On 2/3/2025 at 12:10 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Like, I didnt expect to have 10 lbs of radishes in my fridge. But now I do. So what can I cook with them...

 

I really liked this recipe

 

https://www.seriouseats.com/roasted-radishes-butter-herbs-recipe

[Logic]

Have done, yes.

Very much worth it, in my opinion, BUT....

It can be A LOT of produce. It can particularly be a lot to deal with in, say, the winter months, when the produce you're receiving is not as attractive and easy to work with as what you're getting in the spring and summer.

My best advice, if you do it, is to either share it with another family/friends, or to ensure that you know ahead of time the AMOUNT of food you'll be receiving with each share. Some companies that do this have different sizes of order you can get each time, etc.

Aside from ensuring that you're receiving a reasonable amount of food (what good is it if you throw a bunch away?), I can't recommend it highly enough. It'll bring a bunch of delicious, diverse produce into your house that will superior from and oftentimes DIFFERENT from what you'd get at the store. And it'll likely diversify your cooking and force you to learn how to use some things you're not familiar with using. And on top of all THAT, you're also supporting local farmers, which is always a win.

As long as you're willing to be a little adventurous and flexible (and do a little research as to quantities being sent), I say "give it a go"!

Edited February 4 by Logic

[Golden*Wheels]

We love ours but things we didn't know at first, at least with our farm:

 

You gonna clean all them vegetables yourself. They are gonna be fresh picked which is the point, but DAMN are they dirty. I don't even think they SHAKE ours.

As mentioned, you're gonna get stuff you may not like, or have never had, and the amounts can force you to get creative.

It's a real farm....you'll have greens when ready, tomatoes when ready, onions when ready. But seasons don't always line up to make a perfect salad or whatever you are looking to cook, so you still may have to supplement from the store.

[Logic]

31 minutes ago, Golden*Wheels said:

 

It's a real farm....you'll have greens when ready, tomatoes when ready, onions when ready. But seasons don't always line up to make a perfect salad or whatever you are looking to cook, so you still may have to supplement from the store.

Yeah this quote from GoldenWheels is a great point.

The typical mode of meal conception and preparation for most people is to think of a meal they want to make, then buy the ingredients to make it.

With CSAs, I've found that it's more helpful to be able to work backwards. That is, to see what you get in your produce haul, and then to conceive or find dishes to prepare based on what ingredients you have on hand.

It can also be helpful to have (or gain) a passable knowledge of food preservation, be it canning, pickling, or making preserves, so that if you have, say, too much red onion, you can pickle a bunch and freeze it rather than throw it away. Not necessary, but helpful!

Edited February 4 by Logic