Our New CSA

We recently joined a CSA and I am so excited. In case you don't know what a CSA is, here is an explanation from localharvest.org:

A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA. Most CSA farmers prefer that members pay for the season up-front, but some farmers will accept weekly or monthly payments. Some CSAs also require that members work a small number of hours on the farm during the growing season. A CSA season typically runs from late spring through early fall. The number of CSAs in the United States was estimated at 50 in 1990, and has since grown to over 1000.

The CSA we joined supports the South Central Farmer's Cooperative. Reading their story is an inspiring reminder of the wonderful things that are accomplished when we support local farming. Our friend Ina found out about the South Central Farmer's Cooperative and found the 10 families necessary to bring the CSA to Long Beach. Here are Sylvie and I with Ina's adorable son Reid, picking up our box of produce. [Reid was just home from church and had done what everyone does when they get home from church, take off those stuffy church pants. Reid decided to take off one sock too.]Our box was full of beets, carrots, green squash, zucchini, kale and lots of other greens. Sylvie already tasted the carrots and green squash and found them to be delicious. If you are interested in finding a CSA near you, localharvest.org is a great resource.