Growing some of your own food is a great way to reconnect with Nature, get your hands dirty and be a bit more self-sufficient. But when you can’t do that, signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program is fantastic alternative. Sure, you can support local farmers and producers at any of the farmers’ markets nearby, but when you take part in a CSA, you drive your connection with our local food system a bit deeper.
With a CSA you pay an upfront amount for a “share” of the farmer’s production for a specific period of time. This helps the farmer secure much-needed funds early in the season to kick-start things and helps them gauge how much should be planted for the season. Then each week you reap the benefits of the harvest as your fresh produce makes its way to your home.
But just like any venture, you are also sharing a bit of risk with your farmer. Rains can hit hard or not at all. An ailment can hit the crops. Your produce is not always guaranteed. But your farmer bends over backwards to give you the best that s/he has to offer.
With that, here are a few local CSA programs you might want to check out this year:
- Mello’s Farm Stand (Tiverton/Portsmouth)
- Simmons Farm (Middletown) (website down; phone: 401.848.9910)
- Wishing Stone Farm (Little Compton)
A complete listing of CSA options in and around the 02878 zip code can be found at Farm Fresh RI.
Good luck and stay tuned for a round up of all the great area farmers markets in the coming weeks!
Be well,
Bill
2 comments:
We've already signed up for Kettle Pond Farm CSA in Berkley, MA.
Vince -- good to hear from you! It's been a while. Thanks for supporting your local farmer. Kettle Pond Farm looks great. That pic of all those tomatoes has me thinking of summer! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
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