https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:51:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-104281 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:36:20 +0000 yoursilverlining 104281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don’t right now only because none in our area do shares for 2-3 people (only do large sized “family shares” that are too much for us to eat, even though we LOVE veggies), and because we love going to the farmers market. Our farmers market is apparently ranked as one of the top 10 in the country, and runs even in winter and it’s a fun weekend activity. But once LO gets here and we need to maximize our time with her, if going to the market becomes a chore I will definitely be looking into a CSA again.</p> <p>There is a local organic milk/cheese/yogurt CSA that I cannot wait to join once LO is here!!! (I don’t drink milk) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-104274 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:31:58 +0000 joyjoy 104274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been a CSA member for a few years now. The love the one we currently use because it lets us choose what we receive. Each week they send us a list of what they expect to have available the following week, and we pick what we want to receive based on the number of shares you hold (we hold 6 and pick 5-6 items/week). This makes it easy to make sure we don't get anything we know we wont eat, and I can always up the fruit on weeks that we still have leftover veggies. It also eliminates the possibility of getting nothing but lettuce and tomatoes or just cabbage for weeks on end, like what happened with a previous CSA we were members of. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-104224 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:43:35 +0000 mediagirl 104224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love to but like many others, I'm afraid the veggies would go to waste. We just don't eat that many and I'm horrible at cooking with them. I wish I could find a reasonably priced fruit and bread CSA. That would be right up my alley. Ooo, add in cheese and, yes please! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-104218 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:27:56 +0000 Goldilocks1107 104218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I joined one at work last year and shared a "half share" with my parents. We had so many veggies that the 4 of us couldn't eat them all before they went bad. We elected not to sign-up this year again.<br /> Plus, we got a bit tired of eating salad during "lettuce season" and tons of beets when those were in season. I might do a bit more research if we decide to join one again to see if I can find a CSA that offers a bit more variety.<br /> DH's dad grows a lot of produce, so I'm hoping to get my fill of fresh, organic veggies from him (which will also work well when making baby food!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-104211 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:19:49 +0000 regberadaisy 104211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Keppa:<br /> I'm really interested in trying out a meat and/or fruit share as well.</p> <p>Maybe next year, this year with the baby and new house we just couldn't afford the extra cost upfront. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101477 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:04:11 +0000 BSB 101477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never heard of this before this thread. I had to look around and I found some local CSA. While it sounds great and might introduce us into different veggies, I think I would probably be too overwhelmed with the weekly deliveries. Maybe when I move closer to my family, we could chip in and share something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101071 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:30:31 +0000 Mrs. Oyster 101071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're part of a meat CSA, which I love. Since it's just DH and I currently we have an individual share which gives us 10 pounds of meat every month for 3 months. Then we can choose to renew our share or not. We choose the "economy" share - just meaning that we receive cheaper cuts (ground beef, ground pork, etc) - but we still get some very interesting cuts (pork shoulder, steaks, etc).<br /> The meat comes from a family farm in upstate NY and I love knowing where all the meat I eat comes from. It's certainly a bit more expensive than getting meat from the grocery store, but it's worth it to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101066 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:58:20 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 101066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've researched them a lot. There are two that have a pick up in my community but not during any times I can make it. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101060 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:42:00 +0000 regberadaisy 101060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz:<br /> What about finding a friend to split the share with?</p> <p>@MrsH:<br /> Once you go farm fresh you never want to go back!!! We also go to farmers markets once a week (during the summer) and buy a lot from a local supermarket that source from local farmers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101059 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:40:54 +0000 BoogieBea 101059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually go to the farmers market during the spring/summer so I never really looked into CSAs.</p> <p>We used to have a juicer. It was a great way to use up all our herb/vegetables scraps in the fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101055 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:32:26 +0000 MrsH 101055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: we belong to a csa and have a full share for two adults. You'd be surprised at how many veggies you can eat when they are farm fresh and yummy. Plus neighbors are always willing to take some and you can freeze some for winter! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101054 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:31:48 +0000 mrsjazz 101054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were members of a CSA last summer/early fall. I liked it, but we had a half share and still had lots of veggies go to waste. The downside also was that we didn't always get our "favorite" veggies...but the upside was we got to try things we hadn't had before. </p> <p>Juicing probably would've helped! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101052 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:20:58 +0000 mrbee 101052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a new service that lets you sign up for CSA-style subscriptions online... you can pick them up at local participating shops:</p> <p><a href="http://www.farmigo.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.farmigo.com/</a></p> <p>I'm really intrigued by it and want to try it out this spring/summer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101046 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:06:39 +0000 regberadaisy 101046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee:<br /> Most CSAs have different share portions. My husband and I eat a ton of veggies so we go with a individual share. I would say that's probably about 2 reusable shopping bags full. Which is more than enough for a family of four. My co-worker who has 2 older kids gets the individual share as well.</p> <p>I bet there are TONS on LI with local Manhattan pick up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101041 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:02:00 +0000 mrbee 101041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been researching CSAs and loving the idea! But we don't eat enough veggies yet to use all a box of veggies every week...</p> <p>Maybe if I start juicing veggies it might work? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101025 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:44:19 +0000 skibobrown 101025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We belonged to one when we lived on the east coast. Now in Cali we just go to farmers markets b/c we have such great ones year round, but I would definitely join a CSA again sometime in the future. The only downside was that I had to spend a lot of time cooking all of the veggies each weekend, b/c we got SO much food! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-belong-to-a-csa-community-supported-agriculture#post-101019 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:28:41 +0000 regberadaisy 101019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mr. Bee's thread got me wondering, do any of you belong to a CSA?</p> <p>There's probably a good 2 dozen CSA farms around here and there's one in particular that has a REALLY good reputation. Last summer we tried to get in but they were filled to capacity already even before they opened it up to the general public. The let current shareholders sign up before they open to the public.<br /> Well under a tip of the farmer we signed up for them via their winter share program which made us a current shareholder. Thus able to sign up earlier for their summer share! hehe.<br /> We were REALLY happy with our winter share. We're adventerous eaters to begin with so very open to trying new stuff. But there are just some vegetables that are only available at one of the supermarkets and VERY expensive. So it's such a great way to try new vegetables otherwise unavailable to us.</p> <p>To those that don't know this is a description of what a CSA is from the CSA we belong to:<br /> "What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?</p> <p>CSA is a movement that reconnects the community with its food source, the local farmer -- a grassroots alternative to agribusiness.<br /> We are certified naturally grown, following organic standards, which prohibit the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers. Following standards assures you that genetically modified crops and organisms will not end up in your food. More information on Certified Naturally Grown available at <a href="http://www.NaturallyGrown.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.NaturallyGrown.org</a>.</p> <p>We believe healthy soils produce healthy plants and employ ecological practices such as composting, cover cropping, mulching and crop rotation. We look at the farm as an ecosystem that we directly impact and want to encourage and enhance diversity instead of limiting it.</p> <p>Farming for the community and providing the best food we can offer to you is our only business. We grow varieties noted for their culinary and nutritional value. Because every meal begins with your eyes, we enjoy growing beautiful vegetables. We believe a healthy diet is essential to superior health and longevity.<br /> Why we charge what we do</p> <p>In a sentence our pricing lies between wholesale and retail. Surveys returned consistently report that people are getting great value. When you buy a share or a bunch of arugula you are buying more than vegetables, you are supporting our family. We work very hard to earn a modest living. The price we receive for our shares makes it sustainable for us to continue doing what we love. The members are shareholders of the produce we grow. Without their support we would be unable to farm. By supporting us you not only get incredibly fresh and great tasting vegetables full of nutrients and vitality, but a food source you can trust. "</p> <p>The great side benefit is supporting local farmers. :) </p>