Posted by Healthy Bitch Daily on Mar 18, 2013
Considering the constant scares about chemicals, contaminated veggies and GMOs, meal time can be a bitch. You don’t have to surrender to frankenfoods or corporations, however. Guarantee a healthy, organic diet by getting your noms straight from the earth where they grow.
If you haven’t joined a CSA yet, get your ass over to your local farm.
CSAs (Community Shared Agriculture) are farm shares where you pay in advance and get a season full of gorgeous produce straight from the ground. Besides guaranteeing months full of healthy, local meals, you’ll spend less time in the grocery store figuring out how to make veg-focused grub.
Many CSA signups are open now. How can you find the perfect one for you?
1. Research local CSAs online. Local Harvest has many listings, but you may have to dig a few pages on the Google results to find the right one for you.
2. Consider what you’ll want to cook with. CSAs typically are vegetable focused, but many offer fruit and tofu shares as well. Getting your tofu or seitan weekly will make meals super easy to plan. Many CSAs come with a designated set of pre-selected vegetables, but some allow you to go online and pick from the available crops.
3. Check the previous season example shares. Most CSAs will give examples of what previous shares have included. If you have allergies, request swaps or find one better suited for your needs. However, don’t be discouraged by vegetables you aren’t familiar with. Recipe swaps online or on your iPhone make it easier than ever to whip up a healthy, mouthwatering meal.
4. Consider where your pickup is. CSAs typically require you to pickup your produce either at the farm or at a local business. If you commute to work, check options that deliver on your path home or by your house. If you’re walking, you’ll want to find one with a pickup location close to home.
5. Seasonality. Many CSAs are popping up year-round for customers, but you can select a summer, spring, fall, winter or cross-season share. If you’re cooking for one, you may have leftover dishes to freeze, dry or enjoy throughout the winter as well.
6. Split with a friend. If you live with a significant other or are doing the CSA solo, consider pairing up with a friend or neighbor to split the share with. Some weeks may be easy to use up all your vegetables, but there may be weeks that you don’t know what to do with the overflow. Splitting the CSA also reduces your cost and gives you flexibility to consider for the next season.
Do you belong to a CSA? Got any tips? Share them in the comments section below!
Julie Hancher, Guest Blogger
Julie Hancher supports local produce (flaws and all) and sustainable products to leave a tiny carbon footprint. Based in Philadelphia, she wants everyone to enjoy CSA produce and make eco-friendly decisions as a sustainable speaker and consultant. When she isn’t biking or playing a mean kickball game, she talks about the benefits of going local in Green Philly Blog, Facebook & Twitter.
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