Get Yer Farm Share

I know that as you look upon this fine weather we have been having of late, the first thing on your mind must be "farm share"! Right!? Well, never-the-less, it is sign up time for many farm shares in the area and if you snooze you lose. Why a farm share? Here are my top reasons for doing a farm share....with my myriad of experience of....1 season!

• 1. If you do it right, you will be eating yummy veggies all winter. My frozen beets, squash, beans and broccoli are keeping us with wonderful tasty veggies that will last until late spring...at least.


• 2. You will try new vegetables and greens. Can you say kohlrabi?
  
• 3. You will learn how to eat seasonally by eating seasonally. It feels more connected to nature.


• 4. Many of the farms are organic which provide a more nutritionally balanced product.


• 5. You know exactly where your food comes from.


• 6. You have a personal relationship with the folks that grow your food and many times you actually can work on the farm in return for a reduction in price.


• 7. The food tastes so much better than produce found in the supermarket.




• 8. You support local economies and agriculture.


• 9. You have extra food to share with friends and family.


• 10. Opening the bushel box each week is a bit like Christmas morning. You never know quite what to expect.

We decided to get the full share at the Farm School again this year since we see how much food we have to eat this winter. I think that splitting the share would be a fine idea as well especially for families new to the experience.

How did we choose the Farm School?. It was primarily about location and that they offered organic produce. My husband works in Cambridge so we knew that it would be a good choice for us and he could commit to picking it up each week. Many of the farms that offer shares in the area have Cambridge, Boston or Brookline at their drop points. For example, Red Fire Farm offers several urban pick-up points which may be great for folks working downtown.

Other farms have pick up at the farms some of which are fairly close to Reading. Appleton Farms, a beloved choice of a friend, has pick-up on location in Ipswich/Hamilton. Drumlin Farm

in Lincoln as a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) as well. To find many more CSA's in the state go to Local Harvest and search all the different farm offerings in the area.

Another option is a farm co-op which finds the best of all worlds from different farms, and puts them together to form the baskets for pick up. Farm Direct Co-op is one such organization and has a drop off in nearby Melrose. Hurry on this one, as it looks like there is already a wait-list.

Some farms even offer meat shares with drop offs mainly in the Boston metro area. The exception is The Houde Family Farm which has a meat drop off in Melrose! Many of the online reviews are extremely positive. I am thinking about this one myself! I do think that with a meat CSA you need extra freezer space. Perhaps a better choice would be small ordering like at Carraig Farm with pick in Dedham. I love their site and I am so envious of this small farm lifestyle and their philosophy. I may have to order some chickens just to be a part of the scene:)

Finally...to Reading. We are not to be left out of the farm share business! Heaven's Harvest Farm is offering farm share delivery to Reading! They are offering full and half shares and you will have a local gal supervising the local delivery. Email the farm aneforever@aol.com or the local coordinator tmarfione@comcast.net for a brochure and details. I am very excited that Reading is having such a great opportunity and there has been enough interest to support a local drop! Way to go Reading!

I know this has been a link-heavy post. I just wanted you to know that there were many options that you could choose from . While the up-front cost are high, usually $600 per full share, spread out over the year will save you money. First you will be cooking more and eating out less and second, it really can store well over the winter months.

Happy dreams of sunshine and warmth!