Community Supported Agriculture

[sirenoftitan1]

Does anyone know things about or has anyone participated in a CSA?  TP and I are thinking about joining one for organic meat, and potentially one for produce, but I am curious if there are any pitfalls.  Right now, our biggest concern is how much we could take in a monthly delivery, considering our freezer space.

Comments

[twosnoos]

We've never done it, but have tons of pals who do.

It works best for people who are ambitious when it comes to preparing food and also completely amped to share it / give it away in various forms.

With produce CSAs, you get what's in season. Sometimes that's a shit ton of lettuce. Sometimes that's a shit ton of asparagus. Other times, you'll get like 10 pounds of tomatoes. Finding creative ways to use this all this produce is fun for some people, and hellish for others -- so it's best to determine which side you fall in in advance.

Our friends who do it LOVE it -- mostly because it inspires them to cook new things and share their creations with friends (no matter how good "tomato-zucchini bread" is, you likely can only eat so much of before you want to die -- hence gift loaves to pals!).

But I imagine if you are already juggling a ton, it might be more trouble than it's worth. Also, sometimes the produce you receive is "unconventionial." The big joke we have is, you always know who recently joined a CSA because they are googling recipes involving "garlic scapes." Well, it's funny to CSA people... Kinda...

[sirenoftitan1]

We are looking at a winter CSA for produce, which is only three months of deliveries, so it is not a huge financial commitment, yet. The meat CSA doesn't vary that much from month to month, but I did realize that I wouldn't have the slightest idea what to do with a ham.

[me_non_amat]

soup.

[sirenoftitan1]

You make soup from ham?

[me_non_amat]

i do not, but people do.

[sirenoftitan1]

Well, yes, I know that, but I was curious as to what kind of vegetarian ham nonsense you were using.

[me_non_amat]

no such nonsense. if i ever make soup, it's usually because i have a mysterious ingredient, not because i am craving, like, potato and ham soup. and vegetarian alternatives are not mysterious in that way, not to me.

but the answer would probably be extremely firm tofu and liquid smoke.