For the past few years I have been a member of a Winter CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. The concept is that people buy a share from a farmer. The farmer then provides you with a box of produce. Typically these are done in the spring and summer where you would get a box filled with tomatoes, herbs, corn etc. The goal of this system is that the farmer has a set market for the products they are growing. They have a reason to grow. The reason for you is fresh produce each month. You and the farmer are in it together. Since I have a garden, such a CSA didn't work for me so, I joined a Meat CSA and Cheese CSA. Every other week I picked up a bag with 3 types of cheese and once a month I picked up a bag of meats.
In the Winter it is a but different. I pick up a box once per month and receive cold hardy greens, veggies, eggs, and root vegetables. The CSA begins in December and goes through May. The CSA is a progression of the season starting with the end of season hearty greens (Kale, spinach) going through stored root veggies (carrots, turnips, potatoes, cabbage) and ending with fresh spring greens (asparagus, pea shoots). The eggs come every month - from one to three dozen. It is just awesome.
The best part of the CSA is that you get the box and don't know exactly what is coming until you get the email telling you the week of your pick up. It is fun to look through the box and come up with ideas of what to make.
I joined the Garden of Eve Winter Share (sign up). It is an organic farm in Aquebogue with locations at farmer's markets in NYC. If you are interested in joining, sign up is now. If you live too far for this one, look for one in your area. If your farmers don't have one, ask them about it. At the Garden of Eve, there are 2 kinds of Winter Shares plus an additional egg share and a meat share.
If you join, check back on this blog for recipes. I post recipes each month on how to use the contents of the share.
Here are some links to past Winter CSA shares.
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2011/05/last-winter-share-csa-pickup-2011.html
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-2012-csa.html
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-csa-winter-share.html
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2011/02/csa-winter-share-february-2011.html
In the Winter it is a but different. I pick up a box once per month and receive cold hardy greens, veggies, eggs, and root vegetables. The CSA begins in December and goes through May. The CSA is a progression of the season starting with the end of season hearty greens (Kale, spinach) going through stored root veggies (carrots, turnips, potatoes, cabbage) and ending with fresh spring greens (asparagus, pea shoots). The eggs come every month - from one to three dozen. It is just awesome.
The best part of the CSA is that you get the box and don't know exactly what is coming until you get the email telling you the week of your pick up. It is fun to look through the box and come up with ideas of what to make.
I joined the Garden of Eve Winter Share (sign up). It is an organic farm in Aquebogue with locations at farmer's markets in NYC. If you are interested in joining, sign up is now. If you live too far for this one, look for one in your area. If your farmers don't have one, ask them about it. At the Garden of Eve, there are 2 kinds of Winter Shares plus an additional egg share and a meat share.
If you join, check back on this blog for recipes. I post recipes each month on how to use the contents of the share.
Here are some links to past Winter CSA shares.
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2011/05/last-winter-share-csa-pickup-2011.html
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-2012-csa.html
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-csa-winter-share.html
http://homemadeonli.blogspot.com/2011/02/csa-winter-share-february-2011.html
Congratulations! Not only is the number impressive, but after just 2 years! Your blog obviously strikes a chord with a lot of people.
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