CSA stands for community shared agriculture. Mollie and I support a local vegetable farm named Dayspring Farm between Urbanna and West Point. Charley and Mariam Maloney manage Dayspring and have been located on their property since 1988. Mollie and I pay approx $10 a week for a nice bag of seasonal vegetables from their farm.
(information on Dayspring Farm )
There are so many benefits about being a CSA member!!
1) Getting the freshest produce possible while supporting the local economy!
Knowing the people who grow you food is a great feeling. The amazing fresh flavor of the food is a great peace of mind when feeding your children.
2) The education you receive when you visit the farm.
As gardeners who are on a high learning curve, I always enjoy talking with Charley about the progress the farm is making and share with him problems we are having. He is a very peaceful person who always takes the time to meet with his share holders. His peaceful spirit is inspirational. It inspires me to grow more food on my own to grow my own peaceful spirit.
3) Fun for the kids
Our whole family loves to visit Day Spring to see the farm change throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Abigail and Owen like to visit the animals and eat a berry or two. They also learn where their food comes from.
4) Increase the diversity of your kids tastes
Mollie and I feel that Abigail and Owen are more willing to try different things because they know that the food on there plate came from Dayspring farm. In fact both of them enjoy eating sungold and cherry tomatoes like candy.
5) Push your cooking talents
Each week our bag of vegetables is a mystery. Therefore, Mollie and I have to plan our meals according to our bag versus planning our meals and go find the ingredients. This helps us eat more seasonally and has taught us a greater variety of recipe's.
6) Reduce your carbon footprint
By buying our vegetables locally we get the satisfaction that our food didn't travel halfway across the world and burn tons of fossil fuels along the way.
If you can't find a CSA to join in your area, find a schedule of farmer's markets in your area and help support small local farmers. The relationship is symbiotic and is rewarding for everyone.
 |
| Charley Maloney looking at the early tomato plants of spring |
 |
| Mariam talking to students in the cut flower bed |
No comments:
Post a Comment