Spring is here…Time to join a CSA!!
Spring is in the air, even if snow has been on the ground!! It is the time of year to plan ahead and join a CSA. CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture” and it is a fabulous way to get fresh produce all season and support your local farmers. The CSA model is gaining more and more popularity every year which has resulted in may CSAs being sold out of shares early on in the year, but it also means many farms are starting CSAs on their own property. With a CSA you sign up for a share and you pay upfront in the spring, then you get a box of fresh produce every week during the growing season. Each CSA is different, some require work hours on the farm as well as a fee, some do delivery, some do farm pick-up only. Each CSA grows a different variety of produce, some include fruit, some don’t etc., you get varying amounts of produce and other products with different CSAs. Some also have items available for purchase separately from other farms, so that you have more than what the CSA grows on its own. You need to find one that suits your family, schedule and price range. However, since this is my family’s seventh season with a CSA, I must say it is very cost effective for us and a wonderful experience for our whole family. Our kids have grown up going to the CSA and love it!!
Contact a CSA that you may be interested in to see how they operate and whether they have any openings.
Here is a list of some of local CSAs that support HTN and who we love to support (in no particular order):
Maple Creek –Danny and Michelle Lutz, Yale, MI
www.maplecreekfarm.com
810-387-4365
White Pine Farm-Marian Listwak, North Branch MI
White Pine Farm is part of a farm co-op and many of the farms in the co-op offer a CSA including White Pine Farm. Contact Marian for information about each of the CSAs in the co-op
Email: whitepinefarm@usol.com
810-688-7442
Marsh Haven Farm-Rob Malcomnson, Davison, MI
(810)653-4391
Rocky Gardens-John and Diane Franklin, Davisburg, MI
http://www.homeandgardensite.com/rocky_gardens.htm
Upland Hills CSA, Oxford, MI
http://www.uplandhillscsa.blogspot.com/
248-823-1876 email: uplandhillscsa@gmail.com
Tall Trees Community Farm
Fay Hanson bigskyfarm@gmail.com 248-894-2841
