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

[ron_newman]

Just curious -- why are they stopping delivery to Davis?

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

I've been with Parker Farm for several years now; they had a dropoff spot that's between Porter and Davis this year and it was very convenient. Good variety and Steve is great.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Where can I find out more info about these CSAs? (prices, basically what to expect, organic/not, when to enroll, when they deliver, etc).

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

I use Red Fire. The beginning of the season was heavy on greens, but the rest of the season has been a good mix. They have an inordinate fondness for kale, and would probably consider it a staple if you asked about that... I thought they had a chart up for what comes when?

They are now accepting enrollment for all locations.

I have their extended season, which goes until this week. So many root vegetables...

meet the meat

[wolftone.livejournal.com]

Your question implicitly is asking about veggie CSAs. If anyone else is looking for a good meat CSA, I recommend Chestnut Farms (http://www.chestnutfarms.org/). Good quality, friendly folks, and their Arlington delivery is easily accomplishable by bus.

[jadelennox]

the Arlington drop off point for Brookfield is a 30 minute walk from Davis. It is also on the 87 -- the stop is across the street from the drop off point for the Brookfield CSA. The Cambridge drop off is an uphill haul from Porter Square. Depending on where you live, one or the other might be more convenient for you, but the Arlington drop off definitely has the advantage of the bus. It's a very nice CSA, but maybe you want to pick somewhere closer (they have great pick your own, for example, but how often can you realistically get out to Amherst to pick your own?).

[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.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I've had Red Fire Farm for the last three years, and I've been very happy with them (extended season! :-).

If you want to see what the share tends to have, I've marked all the posts in memories (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=magid&keyword=farm+share&filter=all) (only the last 3 years are RFF though).

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

I may not be drinking the Kool-Aid here, but what is a CSA?

[fredrickegerman.livejournal.com]

We were with Brookfield for a number of years (5-6 at least) and switched to Parker this year. Brookfield is much more salad-y; lettuce, celery, cabbage. Parker was super-heavy on green beans (which we love) and lighter on, say, arugula (which I also love), and had veggies arrive with slightly different timings (mid-summer potatoes). Both gave plenty of tomatoes (adjusting for a bad year) and squash. Parker ended 3 weeks - a month earlier (end of Oct vs Thanksgiving), but the giant pile of squash and pumpkins lasted until mid-December anyway. We've renewed for Parker this year.

I have the impression that you should get used to cooking a lot of kale no matter what CSA you join. It's the local robust green of choice. Luckily I like it a lot.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

Speaking of kale, Enterprise Farm still has some shares available in their weekly Winter CSA, (http://www.enterpriseproduce.com/boston.htm) which includes local produce as well as good stuff from farther away. They have a few shares left for Davis Square pickup, and I believe more available for Arlington. (I don't know where in Arlington the pickup is.) We've been pretty happy with the first three boxes and are looking forward to lots more!

[bobobb.livejournal.com]

I'm doing Luna Farm this year for the first time. They are doing a drop in Davis and have an information session in January if you want to find out more...