Need Advice CSA Recommendations

Anyone have a good experience with a local CSA (Community Support Agriculture)? I'm trying to decide which one to sign up for and would love to hear your experiences. Thanks!!

 

Oops, Supported not Support

 

A friend of mine and I did a "split" of weekly deliveries from Great Country Farms a few years ago. I love that place. Really. We love going there for family fun things, etc. If you are a member, your admission is free all year. So that's a great benefit. But I have to admit, that I wasn't all that impressed with the quality or types of the produce we received that year. In their defense, I think it was a pretty wet year, so they had issues with many crops/yields. Other people participating in other years might have had a better experience. And, I thought there were WAY too many greens for the average family. Even in a split, I couldn't or wouldn't possibly have had any use for the kale they sent. I'd recommend finding someone to split with so that you lower your cost and your risk. I wasn't all that upset or disappointed because I spent have the money of a full membership and we definitely saved money on alot of admissions and first access to U-pick, etc.

 

I always use Potomac Farms on Rt 7 in Vienna, great vegies

 

My cousin is in Purcelville (sp), and she ONLY uses this type of arrangement for milk, beef, pork, veggies, just about everything. I'll get the contact info if you are interested in going that distance.

 

That would be great. Milk and veggies would round out my localvore shopping list. We've signed up for a Meat CSA in Purcellville, so I'll be out that way already. Thanks!

 

What is this meat CSA? Where do you get milk? The only place I found to get the milk is through the Amish Farmers and it's only whole milk, which we don't drink.

I've done Great County Farms for many years and this year, I'm splitting it for the first time. I think they do a great job. You have to realize that every year is different, dependent on the weather. You also can't expect perfectly formed fruit and veggies. Commercial growers have made their products look "perfect", but at the cost of flavor.

Another bit of advice I would give is that you have to like to experiment with what you get. How many different ways can you make Kale? Perhaps we should start a CSA thread on here where we can share recipes based on what we get each week. All the CSA's will be fairly similar as they all grow what is in season.

 

The Meat CSA that we joined is from Chicama Farms. We "discovered" them during the Fall Color Farm Tour and love their meats and eggs. They do a lot to support the farm community in Loudoun and the 4-H program. Our son loves to go to the farm and pick the eggs right from the chicken coop.

I love to experiment in the kitchen and plan to chronicle our families localvore adventure on my cooking blog - http://inallyskitchen.blogspot.com. I would love to see a CSA thread where we can share recommendations, recipes, etc. We are so lucky to have access to such great food grown locally in ethical and sustainable ways. In a small way, we're sending a message to big food that we are tired of the junk they are selling us.

 

We used Great Country Farms. They still send Kale and Greens but not as much as they used to which is good. Keep in mind when you buy a share, you are not buying just veggies...you are actually buying in to the farm. If the weather sucks, the produce sucks...but if the weather is great then the produce can be great. I do reccomend Great Country Farms. Their farm is close and has a lot of activities for kids and they have lots of special events. At the farm store you can buy local eggs, meats, jarred veggies and sauces etc....

If you want to do local, they are the way to go.
http://www.greatcountryfarms.com/

 

Check out my posts/threads regarding CSA(s), milk delivery, etc. We have a 100 acre farm in Lucketts, VA (recently added more acreage) and will be starting a CSA this Spring 2010 as well as getting our Mennonite Bulk Foods business off the ground this year 2010.

We are members of the Lancaster, PA Farm Cooperatives, Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative, and others. If you need anything, feel free to PM me.

As far as meat (from farms), I can supply you with info on Farm Buying Clubs (dairy, meat, veggies, etc.).

Foodie

 

Hi again,
The CSA's my cousin is using are:

DaySpring Farms for Milk (Jesse)

AND:

Elaine Boland

www.fieldsofathenryfarm.com
for meats and veggies. They also deliver around here! Sorry, she didn't give phone numbers. My cousin is Madalyn, tell them she sent you!