CSAs

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I really like my CSA, but they will not be delivering to Davis Square next year, and I am thinking about changing. They sent me a list of CSAs that deliver in or near Somerville. Although I’d prefer to pick up within walking distance of my house (that is, Davis Square), after looking at the websites, I’m leaning toward Enterprise or Farmer Dave’s because of the variety of produce in the shares (assuming, I guess, that the weather cooperates). The others may be good too, but the websites do not provide much information.


Here is the list of CSAs:
Enterprise Farm (Davis Square)
Luna Farm (Davis Square)
Parker Farm (Central Sq., Davis? Porter?)
Red Fire Farm (Somerville Community Growing Center near Union Sq. and Central Square)
Farmer Dave's CSA (East Somerville near the Stop and Shop off of McGrath Hwy)
Bay End Farm (Porter Square)
Drumlin Farm (Porter and Central Squares)
Brookfield Farm (Richdale Ave. in Cambridge, near Broadway in Arlington)

Do any of you wise folks have experience with any of these CSAs? I’d actually prefer a farm with more staple foods and not mountains of lettuce and braising greens (which are fine in limited quantities). I prefer foods that freeze well or store well because I can’t wolf everything down every single week in the summer (because sometimes, you know, we’re busy in the summer or it’s too hot to cook).

Farmer Dave’s and Parker Farm are already enrolling for 2009. Most of the others don’t open enrollment until January.

Thoughts?

Comments

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

just as an alternative to CSAs - bostonorganics.com delivers right to your door, and you can pick your % mix of fruit/veggies and what you don't want delivered. we love it.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

FYI, using Boston Organics doesn't necessarily support local growers (or even get you any local produce at all), and isn't much of anything like a CSA. Which isn't to say people shouldn't use the service, but BO is a lot more like shopping once a week at Whole Foods than it is like having a CSA share.

[kalliejenn2.livejournal.com]

i totally wasn't implying that is was exactly like a CSA - but they do use a lot of organic produce, and a good amount of it does actually come from locally (less so in the winter months, but they try to do local stuff as often as they can). they also have an option to *only* get stuff from local growers (this option is a new one).

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

They're adding a "as local as possible" option.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I understand, but it's still more like going to a crunchy supermarket than it is like a CSA.

And to the OP, you can add me to the chorus of Parkerites. I've also been logging my weeks, though before a certain point, they're f'locked: here (http://surrealestate.livejournal.com/tag/csa).

And I still have at least 20 pounds of winter squash to deal with, as well as potatoes and other roots. Plus the assorted items I've frozen and otherwise put by. Who needs a winter share? :)

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Hear! Hear! It may be snowing outside, but I still have summer produce in my freezer. And for some reason, that always makes me happy.