That's all I'm saying. I’ve debated all winter, and well into spring, the net worth of the CSA. That’s Community Supported Agriculture, like you didn’t know. Is the several hundred that could be funneled into new shoes better spent on a weekly bounty of fresh, local veggies?
Motivated by deadlines, I get an e-mail today from the good people at New Entry Sustainable about their farm to Formica program WORLD PEAS. Sign ups end on Friday. As in two days! To make it easy on urbanites, several places like C’est on Merrimack and Market Street Market have come forward as pickup locations. It could not be easier to eat like a goddess this summer. Now I really think I need to step up. It’s Earth Day after all. The importance of this program cannot be undersold. Last summer I got down in the dirt w/ a lovely African farmer in a plot off Route 38 in Dracut. She toiled in the hot, hot sun just so shareholders could make the freshest eggplant parm. this side of Sicily. OK I’ve convinced myself. You? www.nesfp.org
Tasty tidbits: Got a few quarters? Then you’ve got yourself a meal. Village Smoke House throws down a 25 cent wing ding Sunday -Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. And a pretty good margarita too.
High Times in North Andover. The High Street Grill is offering 10 meals for under $20. Hanger steak and frites is one of them and beer fans ... Pabst Blue Ribbon is $2. See ya at the bar!
I love being a part of the World Peas CSA and I think you will too GG.
This year NESFP is providing a new service to their members - each member will get a veggie guide that includes information about all of the ethnic produce along with a selection of recipes. I think it's going to be a great help to folks when they bring home their big box of tasty veggies (and I'm not just saying that because I'm helping to compile it...)
Does anyone have experience with the Winter Share mentioned in the World Peas brochure? Sounds like an intriguing possibility for getting some local seasonal veggies past October.
Yes, do it, do it, GG! I've belonged to the Bear Hill CSA in Tyngsboro for the last 4 years and it's well worth it. I think last year it came out to $28 per week. It kind of makes you think like a person on that FN show "Ready, Set, Cook!" "OK, I've got a bunch of kale, a dozen eggs, 3 ears of corn, and a couple of tomatoes. What the heck do I make?" It really makes you think creatively about what's for dinner. I'm also one of those snotty suburban breeders (tho I grew up in DTL myself...LHS class of 84!) who drags her kids to the farm every blessed week so that they can "see where their food comes from." But I swear it's working: My kids do know that Farmer Anne and Farmer Mike bust their a**es to grow our food, plus they know that pork comes from a pig, whom we've just happened to visit every week until butchering time!
I had the winter share last year, Denise, and really enjoyed it. The CSA timed the boxes so that one came right before Thanksgiving and one right before XMas which was nice.
You might want to think about sharing with someone. You will be astonished at the quantity of vegetables that you get. We did it last year, and we're now going halves with our daughter and son-in-law.
Yup, we're doing it, too. YUM! We couldn't afford the extra cash for the winter share but I bet we'll regret not finding a way to scrape up the additional bucks when November rolls around...
Thanks for the advice, Marianne. (BTW, I have also been "dropping by" to read your blog, Marianne. You are a culinary inspiration.)
GG: Like Lisad who commented here, we also belong to Bear Hill Farm in Tyngsboro which takes care of our summer needs bountifully. They are amazing people and I love going to the farm every week. So I agree with her and others who are enthusiastic about finding a CSA and taking a share -- or pairing up with another household to split a share if that works better for you.
Who else loves the Lowell farmers market? that was so easy to go to on friday afternoons - great people - great selection - and bread to die for
I belonged to Bear Hill with 2 work friends and it was nice - a great location but a bit of a drive when working so the greendrinks.org groups is having CSA do a drop off at UML if they can get enough people - I am very excited that they have DTL drop off options! forced me to be healthier ;)
I have also been a Bear Hill member for several years. It's just my husband and me...clean food, minimal meat eaters, but hardly vegetarians....and we completely devour our share. Some weeks we put some in the freezer and by Wednesday or Thursday we're often looking at the kale that has been in the fridge for almost a week thinking "can we face kale for ANOTHER meal?" but come November or Decemeber, we are missing the greens and, frankly, the routine and inspiration that the variety and quality inspires in our cooking.
A CSA is the BEST way to support local farmers AND get high quality foods that haven't travelled thousands of miles
Unfortunately, there are very few CSAs offfering half shares, so it's not feasible for me as a single person even though I do cook just about every meal. But I am a big fan of the Lowell Farmers' Market. Last summer was the first of my retirement, which meant more options for getting to area FMs. I tried Bedford, Lexington, Westford, Andover, and Carlisle, but all in all I liked Lowell the best. Although it's small, and has mostly produce, I thought the prices and variety (especially the Asian produce) were the best. It would be nice if someday they added vendors for meat, cheese,fish, etc. I don't remember seeing bread there but maybe that's because I do my own baking.
Thank you all for your positive feedback of World PEAS, CSAs in general and the Lowell Farmers' Market. One vendor at the Lowell Farmers Market has pastured beef and eggs, and several vendors should have bread this year (one may even bake it on the premises).
For folks for whom making it to the market isn't convenient, or who are compelled to use their food dollar to support the 20 beginning farmers and 2 non-profits (UTEC's Fresh Roots and the Community Gardens Greenhouse) that provide the cornucopia of produce in the CSA, please contact me asap, as it is time to wrap up registration and get into the fields!