So you're thinking about joining a CSA
CSA programs are awesome for some folks, but they aren't for everyone, and that's ok! Here are some guiding questions to ask yourself before you commit.
Question 1
Is having a relationship with a farmer important to you?
CSA members have a direct connection to their farmer. In our CSA, members receive a weekly email (usually from Taylor) with the latest news from the farm, or an easy to digest science lesson on why tomato plants make your fingers green when you touch them. Emails also have a list of the week’s veggies, plus a recipe or two that uses the week’s items. In addition, a farmer will be at the pick ups each week, so you can ask us gardening questions, find out exactly how we deal with pests and diseases, or get cooking tips for harder to use ingredients. We love having a CSA because we get to know the people we are growing food for, and CSA fans appreciate that they can take the guesswork out of knowing where their food comes from.
If that sounds good, then Yes, you do want a relationship with the people who grow your food!
If you don’t really mind who grows your food, or if you prefer the anonymity of the grocery store, answer No for this question.
CSA members have a direct connection to their farmer. In our CSA, members receive a weekly email (usually from Taylor) with the latest news from the farm, or an easy to digest science lesson on why tomato plants make your fingers green when you touch them. Emails also have a list of the week’s veggies, plus a recipe or two that uses the week’s items. In addition, a farmer will be at the pick ups each week, so you can ask us gardening questions, find out exactly how we deal with pests and diseases, or get cooking tips for harder to use ingredients. We love having a CSA because we get to know the people we are growing food for, and CSA fans appreciate that they can take the guesswork out of knowing where their food comes from.
If that sounds good, then Yes, you do want a relationship with the people who grow your food!
If you don’t really mind who grows your food, or if you prefer the anonymity of the grocery store, answer No for this question.
Question 2
Do you value having high quality ingredients that actually taste good?
That sounds like a leading question, but it’s an important one! Taste is what we’re all about, and we choose our vegetable varieties based on taste. We even hold a tomato tasting event each summer to have CSA members taste the varieties and help us choose which to keep for the next year! Our CSA members consistently rank “taste” as a number one reason that they come back to our CSA each year, citing carrots and greens as “actually having a flavor!” We also hear stories of long time kale haters turning over a new leaf (sorry, I just love a good vegetable pun) after tasting frost-sweetened winter kale.
So, if you have had bad experiences with flavorless ingredients from the grocery store, or you believe that delicious meals start with quality ingredients, then answer Yes to this question.
If taste isn’t high in your list of food values, maybe give this one a No.
That sounds like a leading question, but it’s an important one! Taste is what we’re all about, and we choose our vegetable varieties based on taste. We even hold a tomato tasting event each summer to have CSA members taste the varieties and help us choose which to keep for the next year! Our CSA members consistently rank “taste” as a number one reason that they come back to our CSA each year, citing carrots and greens as “actually having a flavor!” We also hear stories of long time kale haters turning over a new leaf (sorry, I just love a good vegetable pun) after tasting frost-sweetened winter kale.
So, if you have had bad experiences with flavorless ingredients from the grocery store, or you believe that delicious meals start with quality ingredients, then answer Yes to this question.
If taste isn’t high in your list of food values, maybe give this one a No.
Question 3
Are you willing to try new foods?
We find that the number one reason that people try a CSA and don’t try another is that they end up throwing some of the food away, and that doesn’t feel good for anyone. We have done extensive questionnaires to find out which vegetables are most popular, and how much of each item people can eat in a week. We do our best to give a reasonable amount of each item and not overload you, and we lean towards items that are more popular. Even better, we have identified the least popular items and pair them in choice sections so that you can usually avoid them if you want to. However, if you are new to a CSA we can almost guarantee that there will be a vegetable that you’ve never heard of before, and we hope that you would give it a try.
If that sounds doable, answer Yes.
If you aren’t that adventurous, or you don’t think your family is willing to stray from dishes that they are comfortable with, a CSA might not be for you.
We find that the number one reason that people try a CSA and don’t try another is that they end up throwing some of the food away, and that doesn’t feel good for anyone. We have done extensive questionnaires to find out which vegetables are most popular, and how much of each item people can eat in a week. We do our best to give a reasonable amount of each item and not overload you, and we lean towards items that are more popular. Even better, we have identified the least popular items and pair them in choice sections so that you can usually avoid them if you want to. However, if you are new to a CSA we can almost guarantee that there will be a vegetable that you’ve never heard of before, and we hope that you would give it a try.
If that sounds doable, answer Yes.
If you aren’t that adventurous, or you don’t think your family is willing to stray from dishes that they are comfortable with, a CSA might not be for you.
Question 4
Do you have time to cook?
As a CSA member you will have a bag full of fresh vegetables every single week. For some people that’s exciting and invigorating, but for others it’s quite intimidating. We find that most families cook at home at least 3 nights per week, and are able to finish their veggies by the following week. We give plenty of salad making supplies and foods that can be taken to work or school as snacks, so not every ingredient needs to be prepped and cooked. You will also need to be able to pick up your share each week, which might be convenient if it’s on the way home, or it might be more of a chore than you’re up for. Think hard on this one!
If you feel like you have time or would like to make time to cook at least 3 nights per week, answer Yes.
If that doesn’t sound doable, answer No.
As a CSA member you will have a bag full of fresh vegetables every single week. For some people that’s exciting and invigorating, but for others it’s quite intimidating. We find that most families cook at home at least 3 nights per week, and are able to finish their veggies by the following week. We give plenty of salad making supplies and foods that can be taken to work or school as snacks, so not every ingredient needs to be prepped and cooked. You will also need to be able to pick up your share each week, which might be convenient if it’s on the way home, or it might be more of a chore than you’re up for. Think hard on this one!
If you feel like you have time or would like to make time to cook at least 3 nights per week, answer Yes.
If that doesn’t sound doable, answer No.
Question 5
Are you looking for a “deal” on your weekly vegetables?
People who enjoy their CSA experience don’t go into it looking for lots of vegetables at a reduced price, and don’t compare the cost to grocery store prices. We are not the type of CSA that will load you up with bushels of cucumbers in the heat of the summer. Instead, we plan our season based on the number of CSA members that we have, and we try not to grow or waste excess food. Therefore, our CSA shares are priced at (about) the value that we would charge at the farmers market, but you get so much more than our farmers market customers. In return for investing in our farm, we give you 10-15% more veggie value than you pay for, plus each CSA member gets a tote bag, countless recipes, the freshest produce from our fields, and exclusive access to off-season (winter/spring) produce. Our CSA members value the fact that we are working to make a living, and most would not ask us to give them extra produce that they didn’t feel they bought and paid for. The relationship between CSA member and farmer is truly special in this way! That said, we accept EBT payments, we offer 50% off shares through the Farm Share Program, and payment plans.
If you don’t mind paying retail prices for awesome vegetables, answer Yes.
If you are on a grocery budget or would rather get loads of zucchini, answer No.
Question 6
Are you willing to change your mindset or schedule to be in a CSA?
It often takes CSA members a few weeks or months to get into the CSA groove. It can be an adjustment to let us make your produce buying decisions for you, to loosen your meal plan to fit the week’s items, or eat more seasonally. (We don’t grow tomatoes in the winter!) It is also a time and financial commitment. In our experience most new CSA members are hesitant at first, but after a month or so are having a blast, cooking new meals for friends and family and meeting other CSA members at their weekly pick up. We also notice that the most successful new CSA members had a good idea of what they were committing to.
So here it is...if you are ready for the commitment then answer Yes and take a look at our CSA shares.
If it just doesn’t sound right for you, that’s ok! You can still support local farms at your local co-op or farmers market, and you can try our Store only CSA membership if you want a taste of CSA but aren’t ready to dive right in.
It often takes CSA members a few weeks or months to get into the CSA groove. It can be an adjustment to let us make your produce buying decisions for you, to loosen your meal plan to fit the week’s items, or eat more seasonally. (We don’t grow tomatoes in the winter!) It is also a time and financial commitment. In our experience most new CSA members are hesitant at first, but after a month or so are having a blast, cooking new meals for friends and family and meeting other CSA members at their weekly pick up. We also notice that the most successful new CSA members had a good idea of what they were committing to.
So here it is...if you are ready for the commitment then answer Yes and take a look at our CSA shares.
If it just doesn’t sound right for you, that’s ok! You can still support local farms at your local co-op or farmers market, and you can try our Store only CSA membership if you want a taste of CSA but aren’t ready to dive right in.
