How do you like your farm share?

[Suzanne Podhaizer]

This is the place to post about your CSA, and what you like and dislike about it.

[Morganna]

As much as I like the idea of CSA, my husband just is too picky about food, and I can't usually eat enough of what we get to make it work for us.  It ends up being WAY more expensive rather than simply fairly more expensive.

I do try to get to the farmer's markets but I find myself overbuying there, sometimes, too.  I have cress in my fridge that I haven't found a use for but it's sooo good. I should just gobble it up tonight.

[JasonFrishman]

We have loved being a part of a CSA. We were part of David and Rachel's at Full Moon Farm, and were always very happy with what we received, both in terms of price, amount and (of course) quality.  They are amazing people and  always do well by their customers.  One cool tidbit is that we actually had Rachel calling dances at our wedding - and she introduced herself to our party and guests as, "Jason and Shana's farmer." That was pretty cool, and certainly a point of interest for many of our friends and family from places like New York City.

Anyway, we chose to leave Full Moon for the Intervale Community Farm this summer.  Why? the Intervale has fun and funky activities on Thursdays and seems to be a really nifty family experience.  Our son is about one and a half right now, and we thought it would be good for him to come out to the farm and pick his own vegetables, spend time with people and hang out on the farm.  David and Rachel have moved their farm to Hinesburg, where I know it is going to be amazing (this is definitely a plug for them.)  So far, at Intervale, we have been pleased.  Right now, our fridge is overflowing with greens; but we did get a great big container of snap peas this past Thursday!! 

Morganna, have picky eaters in the house can certainly make having a CSA difficult. We eat most everything, so that isn't often a problem for us, and we still have some time finishing everything week to week.  Depending on what you would have left over, you could always ferment....! (if you have any questions, email me.)

-Jason

[Morganna]

For fermenting you mean like wine or beer?  We aren't allowed to drink alcohol.  We've both had gastric bypasses to get rid of our type 2 diabetes (yes, get rid of it, ask me about it sometime, I love talking about it. ) and our surgeon feels that the studies linking alcohol to increased instances of ulcers make it significant enough that he doesn't want us drinking it at all because our stomachs have been so altered.  He feels the risk is greater than the rewards of even the very occasional glass of wine.  Though, to be fair, neither of us really -like- alcoholic beverages at all.   There are a very few wines I like, but mostly I don't care for how I feel when I drink them, so it's not that big of a loss for us.

Thank you, though, for the idea.  If I weren't a teatotaller, it'd be spot on.

[JasonFrishman]

Wine and beer are fermented, yeah, but food can be fermented as well.
sauerkraut, pickles,Kim chi, yogurt, cheese, sourdough bread, miso, tempeh, and lots of other foods are traditionally fermented.
Basically, it is a traditional method for food preservation; and it increases nutritional availability for many foods.  you could look up 'lacto-fermentation' online to get a quick idea of what's possible.
basically, if i have extra farm share stuff, i often ferment it, so i can use it later on...
-jason

[Morganna]

OOOH! I see what you mean.  Hmmm that's certainly something for me to think about.   Thanks!

[coryhtoo]

We are in our second year at Stony Loam Farm in Charlotte.  We can highly recommend this CSA.  The veggies are great, and the people may be better.  We have gotten to know our farmers over the years and Dave and Emma are two people that you really feel good about supporting.  It's a great place to take the kids to play and see where food comes from.  As a bonus we can have a dinner outside on the picnic tables from Pizza On Earth which is next door.  Picking up our share is something we look forward to every week.