A guest post by Karli, one of Farmigo?s wonderful Customer Advocates 
Karli and Zeek with their CSA fridge - pure excitement for all the yummy things they are going to cook
Working for Farmigo, I get to see a lot of variety in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) models; so when it came time for me to choose my CSA for the season, I found that I had a whole checklist for what I wanted. Finding a CSA is a little bit like finding a date ? ?there are things on my checklist that are deal breakers, as well as others with which I can be more flexible with.
Similar to dating, when you find a CSA that you like, you have to commit. Many questions ran through my head like, ?What if it?s too much food? What if I get veggies that I don?t know? What if I need to go on vacation?? ? all the typical questions of a classic commitment-phobe. ?Knowing this about myself, I decided to make a pact with my friend, Dan with whom ?I share my CSA. To solidify the pact, we recorded it ? we were a bit silly with excitement:
I live in Ithaca, NY, where shopping for a CSA share is like speed dating. You can walk down the farmers? market and stop at almost every booth to learn about a new CSA. The best advice I can give when choosing a CSA program is to ask questions. One of the greatest things about local food is that you get to actually have a relationship with the person who grows it. It is best to start out with the questions that are deal breakers. For example, one of my non-negotiables was flexibility of the share if I go on vacation. ?Every farm has different policies, so it is important to find one that fits with your lifestyle. Don?t be afraid to commit to a share just because you are traveling. There is always a solution whether it is doubling up on a share for a week, passing it off to a friend for a week, or donating it to a local food bank. ?Don?t forget that the deal you make with your farmer is a two way street; in return for your commitment through purchasing a share in the beginning of the season, the farmer is usually willing to make some compromises for you.
Anton talking about the history of his land with 2 CSA members
Anton, the owner of Early Morning Farm is the King of Flexible. I chose Anton?s program not only due to the quality and variety of produce he offers, but because he gives options including many pick up locations at many times and pre-packed shares as well as pick your own shares. I can pick up a pre-packed share at 9:00 PM on a Thursday at a coffee shop or pack my own at 9:00 AM on a Saturday at the market. The best part is, I can change my pick up time, location, and type every week! ?This flexibility has been a major contribution to my success as a CSA member.
A large part of being a CSA member is shared risk, and I have found that in most cases the outcome is usually very positive for the buyer. Like anything, the first time you try something, you are going to face challenges. When you become a member of a CSA you find that your lifestyle will change a bit. You will be eating healthier, spending less time and money at the supermarket and a little more time in the kitchen (Who said change was bad!?). Since I have started my CSA, I have reduced my meat intake by half, and I have saved about $150 a month at the supermarket.
Inoculating mushroom log at Early Morning Farm open house!
Another one of my non-negotiables was that I wanted to be able to visit my farm and meet other CSA members. I had this opportunity a few weeks ago. Anton arranged an open house at Early Morning Farm where I got to learn how to inoculate a mushroom log, eat delicious local, seasonal specialties from some of Ithaca?s finest, and walk through the meticulous greenhouses. Getting a chance to go and see where my food comes from and understanding the work that goes into producing locally grown produce was one of my biggest motivators to get a CSA. The community and network that is built around the farm provides learning experiences I never thought I would have.
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I think one of the biggest reasons I have been a successful CSA member this season is that I have a partner in crime. Somebody who is willing to eat the things I don?t like, cook, and share a meal with me. When we unpack our box every week we make guesses as to what the mystery items may be. It?s kind of a fun game, although today we totally mixed up zucchini and cucumber (easy mistake ? it tasted good anyways). The mystery items are a fun challenge and allow us to explore outside of our comfort zone into areas of delicious concoctions that are sure to become family favorites. When we get stuck, we turn to gojee.com, a really cool website that pulls all sorts of creative recipes. All you do is type in the ingredients you have and wallah ? recipes galore with beautiful pictures and sometimes some fun stories. There is always a sense of pride when we sit down at the table and can say 80% of this meal came from a farm 20 minutes away and we are part of the reason that they are able to succeed.
Carrot cake I made with carrots from the farm, it seemed like the first two weeks I managed to make everything into a pie or a cake! Who said veggies had to be healthy?
I totally understand the fear of commitment to a CSA, but just like with relationships, there are many proverbial fish in the CSA sea (and even some actual community supported fish shares!). There are challenges and compromises, but in the end, you feel happy and well fed.
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