For probably seven years now we've had the good fortune to participate in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm right here in Arroyo Seco. It's owned and operated by Melinda Bateman, and is called "Morning Star Farm", so named after one of the former communes right here in our area.
If you're not familiar with a CSA, it's an important part of the slow food revolution in our country. It supports a local farmer and keeps you eating food that was picked right before pickup and hasn't caused a huge carbon footprint getting here. Once you eat food like that, you'll have a hard time going back to the grocery...organic or not. If you have one in your area, I highly suggest you investigate. It will cost you a bit up front, but over the 26 weeks we have pickups, the cost averages out to equal to or below what we'd pay for groceries at the store (not to mention that it's fresh and chemical free). In subscribing ahead of the season, you take the same risks the farmer takes...risking crop loss from weather or bugs...and if it's a banner year, you score, big time.
Every Tuesday afternoon we are able to pick up the week's selections, based on what was (or wasn't) successful on the farm. There are usually lots of choices and frequently, more food than two of us can eat fresh (I'll freeze what we can't eat now). We used to pick up right on the farm, but parking became an issue as the CSA grew. Now the pickup is at a location across the road from our studio/former shop, bordering right on Taos Pueblo reservation land. It just couldn't be a more beautiful setting.
For more photos, please visit my Flickr page as noted in the left column here on the blog. Enjoy!
2 comments:
I LOVE Share programs! Used to have shares in a place near Albany but sadly, they had to close because of the economy. There is another farm here by our 'new' farm that I just found out about- I am going to check it out. Not sure she does the shares, but she will let you order ahead for things.... There are wool/sheep farms out there that do the same thing too..... XOXO San
I loved being part of a CSA. We can walk to the local farmers' market so are supporting that instead.
And yes, fiber CSAs are becoming more and more popular. I know of 2 off the top of my head - www.hatchtown.com and www.fiberfarm.com.
There are also CSFs - community supported fisheries. Maybe they will breathe some life into the struggling fishing industry.
It's encouraging to see this model being applied to such a wide range of situations.
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