Getting 'closer' to food

[Anonymous]

Does anybody use home delivery food coming from a farm or similar? For example I found online http://www.southmountaincreamery.com/home.php, i have to check yet their prices and everything, but sounds good. But ideally I would like to find for example a farm that you can visit etc and then buy eggs etc or that they deliver to you.
Too idealistic? We live in Falls Church.

[Anonymous]

I have checked out South Mountain Creamery, but have never ordered from there.

I get a weekly CSA delivery from Great Country Farm in Bluemont, VA. It's delivered to my office but they do home delivery as well. This is only during the growing season. Potomac Vegetable Farms has a CSA as well, which you can add eggs to, not sure about milk or meats. I know they sell meats in their farm store on site, but not part of delivery as it isn't refrigerated.

If you check out the Blue Ridge Cattlemens Association, you will locate several farms that offer beef, poultry, lamb, etc as well as eggs & dairy, for home delivery. This site lists specifically beef ranches but several have partnerships with neighboring farms to provide additional options. You can also Google a term like "how to buy a side of beef in VA" and see what hits you get.

FYI - Polyface farms is in Va. They don't deliver to your home but they have local "buying clubs" with group pickup sites. This is the farm featured in the movie Food Inc. It's a premium price, but I have friends that have ordered from there and have been very pleased.

[Anonymous]

I have been buying from SMC for about 2 years (at farmers market) and have been getting home delivery from them this summer. It's great.
I do believe they will deliver to your area - check their website - the delivery aspect is great. They come about the same time every week, give or take an hour. We put a cooler with ice packs on our back porch, although DH is usually home to receive.
The quality of their stuff is fabulous. Milk, eggs, cheese, meat... all great. They have some other, more processed convenience type stuff like granola etc but we haven't tried it. Also, have not tried the bread that they offer (believe is is a bakery local to them). I love their ice cream but DH isn't a fan of the texture (I think he's nuts).
I enjoy knowing that we are supporting a local family business and eating animals that were not given antibiotics or other animals as food.
Their prices are similar or even a bit less than what you would pay for comparable stuff at WF. If you are currently shopping at Food Lion, well, you might be in for sticker shock.
Although we haven't really had any problems, or weather/holiday related delivery issues yet, their customer service through the setup process was very smooth and helpful.
They do farm days and will set up tours as well. We haven't done it, but my cousin has (her kids enjoy it and she likes making sure they get that the cute chicky eating out of your hand will one day be roasted. Etc).

[Anonymous]

Sign up in Polyface's buying club. They ROCK!

Then take the kids down to Swoope, VA to visit their farm. Then eat lunch in the Staunton which is absolutly bursting with great restaurants and locally owned small businesses. On your way back up, stop at the drive in movie theater in Steven's City and catch flick on the roof of the car with the kids. That would make a great weekend!