This year, in an effort to go green and eat as organic as possible, my husband and I decided to sign up for a CSA. For those of you who don’t know, a CSA is a subscription to a local farm. The full name is community supported agriculture. Each farm can be different from the next  but the basic concept is the same. You pay a certain amount of money up-front for a specific number of weeks worth of fresh, organic, and local produce. For example, our CSA charged us $225 for 15 weeks.

Each week, we pick up at the central drop off location three bags of seasonal and organic fruits, veggies, and herbs. Some CSA’s actually have you go to the farm depending on where you live while others will even deliver to your house. The options are endless.

What’s Included:

Every CSA is different based on the climate and growing season of where you live but here is what we will get this season:

• Basil
• Beans
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Chard
• Chinese cabbage
• Cilantro
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Dill
• Eggplant
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Parsley
• Peas
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Radish
• Rutabaga
• Spinach
• Squash
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Zucchini

Benefits of a CSA

In a nutshell, we have found many benefits to joining our CSA:

• Ability to support our local farmers. Because we pay up front, the farmer is ensured a steady income throughout the season.
• Easy to budget. Paying the lump sum has freed our money up to pay some of the yearly expenses that we have due in the summer months.
• We are guaranteed a steady supply of produce every week for the whole season.
• We have gotten to try new things. Because we get some produce that we wouldn’t normally buy in the store, we have been able to increase our nutrient consumption as well as try new recipes.
• The produce tastes so much more fresh and flavourful compared to what you would buy in the store. Honestly, I groan with delight with each bite.
• We have the ability to support our local economy. It is a great feeling to know that you are helping sustain your own home and support your neighbours.
• We also get to support the environment. By limiting our carbon footprint and consuming chemical free food, we are looking out for mother nature.
• Better health. By consuming a larger variety of produce we are getting a better variety of nutrients as well as limiting the amount of chemicals that we consume.
• Most importantly, we feel connected to the cause of sustainable living as well as our community. Knowing that by eating the food we love, it is helping the earth as well as our neighbours is a feeling like no other.

Have you been part of a CSA? What have you enjoyed? If not, give one a try. As you can see, they are well worth it.