CSA recommendations, advice

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

OP here again. We are in Rockville, in case that matters.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Rockville and the one I found that worked best for me was Norman's Farm.

I picked my CSA based on location of the pick up points. You mention delivery--most CSAs deliver to a central pick point and the customer has to pick up from that location.

For the CSA I did, eggs were an option. I'm not sure what is or is not organic. If I went away, I could either offer my share to a friend who would then pick it up or I could tell them to donate it to the food back. I've seen some CSAs give you the option to increase the size of your shares for a few weeks in lieu of the week you miss.

What I like about Norman's Farm is that each week, based on my share size, I get to pick what I want. They didn't give me a box of something. I got to pick 2 from table A, and 1 from table B, and 3 from table C. The offerings varied by what was in season.

[Anonymous]

I've been doing Norman's for three years and agree with everything PP wrote. I'm getting ready to sign up again!

[Anonymous]

I had this idea it was all based in a farm. Like, you go there and get your share and pick some yourself and it's a community thing. Maybe I was wrong?

[Anonymous]

Norman's is not a real CSA. It is not a producer. It just jumped on the CSA bandwagon and calls itself that for marketing purposes. You need to look for a convenient pickup time and place, you need to make sure the farm is not in its first few years (there are some that go belly up and you lose your money--that's the real CSA model). You will not save money and you will need time to deal with all the produce. I loved our CSA and did it for years but can't find the time to deal with all the highly perishable produce during the week or the pickup hassle when I still have to go to the store for other food.

[Anonymous]

I did it once - I think it was the summer of 2007 - and it was a bad year for crops because it was very hot and dry. really the whole thing was a disappointment because we got very little produce. but, that's the risk you take.

[Anonymous]

Bus Farm/Farm to Family is great. Lots of options (produce, meat, eggs, dairy, bread, etc) and various pick up spots.

[Anonymous]

This has a list: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/where-to-sign-up-for-a-csa-in-the-washington-area/2015/02/18/1461ad26-ad87-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Norman's is not a real CSA. It is not a producer. It just jumped on the CSA bandwagon and calls itself that for marketing purposes. You need to look for a convenient pickup time and place, you need to make sure the farm is not in its first few years (there are some that go belly up and you lose your money--that's the real CSA model). You will not save money and you will need time to deal with all the produce. I loved our CSA and did it for years but can't find the time to deal with all the highly perishable produce during the week or the pickup hassle when I still have to go to the store for other food.

Can you share what was the CSA that you loved?

[Anonymous]

It was Spiral Path Farm and they are all organic. Towards the end of the season you couldn't believe how much stuff you were getting. We used to live in Silver Spring and the pick up was easy. Now we are in Bethesda and I can't deal with the chaos that is the Bethesda Farmer's Market.

[Anonymous]

I like Lancaster farm. Pick up in Kensington.

[Anonymous]

FreshFarm Markets do 12-week CSA subscriptions at 4 different pick-up locations.
Check here if any of the locations are close to your home/work:
http://www.freshfarmmarkets.org/programs/freshfarm_markets_csas.php

[Anonymous]

Red Wiggler Community Farm in Germantown, MD, Certified USDA organic, awesome mission as well. They are currently accepting new members for summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Red Wiggler Community Farm in Germantown, MD, Certified USDA organic, awesome mission as well. They are currently accepting new members for summer.

OP here. That would we perfect but looks like the summer CSA is full. Bummer!