writer's note: Apologies to readers who might want to see what a share looks like. The image application for Blogger isn't working. Check out the links at the end of the article to get a look at examples of each farm's share. Better yet, come to ENFM and take a look at the boxes and baskets that are picked up each week by happy subscribers.
You see them every time you visit the market, those people walking to their cars or pedaling home, happy as clams. They're bearing boxes or baskets that would make Martha Stewart fling herself across her perfectly appointed four-poster and weep bitter tears at the perfection that defies all of her lifestyle maven's logic. What is the cause of all of that peacock-strutting to the parking lot? Only one thing could incite that kind of feeling: picking up a weekly share from one of the CSAs at East Nashville Farmers Market.
What is a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Shared (or Supported) Agriculture. They offer consumers a chance to buy a share in dedicated crops that are delivered on a weekly or biweekly basis. Most farms offer subscriptions that run from late Spring to mid- to late Autumn. Some farms offer Winter CSAs, which are usually shorter and provide whatever produce is available in the cooler months. The average share per delivery is around a half bushel of fruits and vegetables.
The costs can vary, but you can expect to pay four hundred to eight hundred dollars per subscription depending on the duration and frequency of deliveries. If paying that much money at once brings on a case of sticker shock, look for farms that offer early subscription discounts and installment plans. Keep in mind that upfront economy might cost you later on in terms of time, convenience, and gas. Some lower cost CSAs require a commitment to helping with the labor or actually driving to the farm or a designated participant's home to pick up your share. If you're in doubt, be bold about asking for the details regarding delivery and whether you'll be picking tomatoes or waiting in line to assemble your box or basket.
Why should I get a CSA?
I can give you four good reasons. Siddown. You're going to like this.
- Quality - Buying a CSA means you know your pantry is going to be filled with fresh, beautiful produce that was grown fairly close to where you live. The person who hands you your share every week is more than likely the person who grew it and picked it. They take pride in what they sell and frankly, the nature of the business is that you're supporting them and they're feeding you. It doesn't get more personal than that.
- Well-being - Eating produce that is locally grown means eating plants that have adapted to the soil conditions and climate of your part of the world. It also means eating with the seasons. While most ongoing studies are still inclusive, there is strong evidence suggesting mental and physical benefits to eating in tune with your environment.
- Cost - Remember that sticker price that seemed so big at the start of the article? Do the math. If you break down the cost based on the weight of your average share, it comes to around two dollars per pound. Try getting that much produce for the same price at your local market.
- It's the right thing to do - Supporting family farming in your area keeps agrarian culture alive for another generation. By enabling local farmers to stay in business, you also help protect scarily dwindling arable land from disappearing and the ecosystems they support along with it.
Is this right for me?
Could be. Do you like vegetables? Have you been trying to find some way to structure your kitchen management that will help you eat a healthier diet? Do you like the idea of preparing fresh meals? Are you the least bit adventurous when it comes to trying new things? If you answered, "yes" to those questions, the CSA pickup will be a bright spot in your week.
However...and there's always a however, isn't there? If you're a picky eater who has been known to throw out produce once it starts looking like a lab culture, you might want to continue buying your veggies a la carte. A share means just what it says, a share of whatever the farm produces that week. Finding out there is an eggplant nestled among your greens and a half-dozen of the prettiest peppers and tomatoes you've ever seen means you have to be a sport. The fat purple guy is going home with you. The upside is you might get motivated to learn how to make a killer baba ganoush.
Where do I sign up?
Many of the Spring and Summer CSAs are already underway and few (if any) allow for midseason additions to their subscription lists. It's not too late to look into Autumn shares and get into the loop for next year. For more information, take some virtual trips to the farms that provide CSA deliveries to the ENFM.
- Produce CSAs
- Delvin Farms
- Flying S Farms
- Paradise Produce
- Meat CSAs
- Peaceful Pastures
- Westwind Farms
