Despite the growing popularity of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, there tends to be some confusion around what it really means. While being a member of a CSA certainly entails an uber fresh harvest box on a regular basis, for the farmers, it means much more.
Each membership in a CSA is a purchased share of the upcoming harvest. And each harvest has its successes and failures. CSA members are not unlike investors, reaping what’s been gained and grieving what’s been lost right alongside us.
Take, for instance, our high hopes of a delicious French Shallot harvest this year. We planted hundreds of shallot bulbs in the fall, watered accordingly and... they grew. But they grew in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, our winter and spring temps didn't remain low enough to direct the growth of these plants towards their roots and, instead, we had foliage overgrowth, early bolting, and underdeveloped bulbs.
And so here you see how you, our CSA member, share in our highs and our lows. Your current lack of fresh Prema shallots in your summer dishes is the direct result of our struggles with an unpredictable climate. And yet, the fresh bounty landing in your meals each week is only possible because of your support before the plants were even in the ground. Indeed, the real power of the CSA model is its ability to support small farms like ours when production is at its lowest point in the year. We open our CSA list in January and have it nearly full before the end of March, offering us the capital we need to make the large seed purchases that a robust season ahead demands.
CSA’s make small, organic farms like ours possible. They keep us connected with those we
nourish. They offer more transparency about how your food is grown. And in many ways,
they’re helping to transform our food economy into something sustainable and nostalgic.
From the soil that carries us to the plants that nourish us to the hands that care for us to the people who support us. Our harvest is your harvest.
Inside Your Box This Week
Broccoli Raab*
Heirloom & Slicer Tomatoes
Spring Mix
Spinach
Butter Lettuce
Purple Radishes
Hakurei Turnips**
Napa Cabbage
Mizuna
Dill
* Broccoli Raab wasn't quite ready when we went to harvest last week so we gave it some time to bulk up. Thanks for waiting and we hope you enjoy this yummy summer treat!
** Basil will be in CSAs at the Village Market this week. Sorry for missing that last week!
Recipes Worth Trying...
{click images to go to recipe}
For supporting our small organic farm.
For helping pave a way forward for regenerative agriculture.
For investing in young farmers.
For buying local.
We're honored to nourish you!
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