CSA recommendations, advice

[Anonymous]

Op, check out tikvat Israel synagogue, there's a Csa you can pick up there and you don't have to belong to the synagogue to join.

[Anonymous]

After being members of a few CSAs, we have settled on Bending Bridge Farm. We like that they are certified organic, they are local (Pa), they have a good variety (they seel what they grow and what is grown by other organic farmers in their co-op), you have the option of choosing what you want to purchase or the more traditional "farmer's share", they have summer and winter programs and I really like Cameron and Audrey (the couple who own the farm)

http://bendingbridgefarm.com/how-it-works/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, we've never done a CSA before but am interested to try a subscription this summer. Does anyone have any recommendations? And any general advice as to how it works would be helpful too. Are they all delivery or do you pick up from the farm for some. What happens if you are away one week? Can you ever make any requests? Do some include eggs or milk? What should I expect regarding cost? Is any of the produce organic? I assume it must vary according to the CSA.

And how much does location matter? Do most CSAs deliver anywhere in the metro area?

If any of you would be willing to share your experiences, I would appreciate it!

I recommended Bending Bridge Farm, but forgot to answer your other questions.
Most CSAs have a few pick-up points - - a farmer's market, someone's home, a church, a business, etc. - - and I only found one that actually delivered to your home.

The rules for what happens when you are away vary -- the first two we did, they would let someone else pick-up the box or would donate it, but there was no credit. This makes sense because you are paying in advance for a share of the harvest, whether you use it or not. Bending Bridge has some more flexibility on this point, though any credits expire at the end of the 25 week growing season.

With our first two CSAs you could not make requests, but that was part of the fun. You had no idea what you were going to get in the box each week. One year the asparagus crop did really well -- which was great the first three weeks, but as we continued to get a couple of pounds of asparagus each weeks four to five, we were giving it away to friends. The same year tomatoes did not do well and we didn't get many until August. But the upside was there were weeks with unusual vegetables -- like Okahijiki (aka land seaweed). In the end, however, we like to choose what we get.

We did have a CSA with eggs, so I don't think that is unusual. I have not seen one with milk, however, we get milk delivered to our home by South Mountain Creamery.

Many CSAs are organic.

In the end, CSAs are a great way to eat seasonally and help support local farmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, we've never done a CSA before but am interested to try a subscription this summer. Does anyone have any recommendations? And any general advice as to how it works would be helpful too. Are they all delivery or do you pick up from the farm for some. What happens if you are away one week? Can you ever make any requests? Do some include eggs or milk? What should I expect regarding cost? Is any of the produce organic? I assume it must vary according to the CSA.

And how much does location matter? Do most CSAs deliver anywhere in the metro area?

If any of you would be willing to share your experiences, I would appreciate it!

I recommended Bending Bridge Farm, but forgot to answer your other questions.
Most CSAs have a few pick-up points - - a farmer's market, someone's home, a church, a business, etc. - - and I only found one that actually delivered to your home.

The rules for what happens when you are away vary -- the first two we did, they would let someone else pick-up the box or would donate it, but there was no credit. This makes sense because you are paying in advance for a share of the harvest, whether you use it or not. Bending Bridge has some more flexibility on this point, though any credits expire at the end of the 25 week growing season.

With our first two CSAs you could not make requests, but that was part of the fun. You had no idea what you were going to get in the box each week. One year the asparagus crop did really well -- which was great the first three weeks, but as we continued to get a couple of pounds of asparagus each weeks four to five, we were giving it away to friends. The same year tomatoes did not do well and we didn't get many until August. But the upside was there were weeks with unusual vegetables -- like Okahijiki (aka land seaweed). In the end, however, we like to choose what we get.

We did have a CSA with eggs, so I don't think that is unusual. I have not seen one with milk, however, we get milk delivered to our home by South Mountain Creamery.

Many CSAs are organic.

In the end, CSAs are a great way to eat seasonally and help support local farmers.

OP here. Thanks very much for your insights!