Upcoming CSA & CSF Fairs

There are a few CSA/CSF fairs scheduled for February.  If you're looking into joining a CSA/CSF this year, this is a great event to attend.  You will be able to browse many farms' CSA offerings in one central location.

What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a partnership between consumers and farmers in which members buy shares of the farm's harvest and enjoy regular allotments of food throughout the growing season. For farmers, this provides much needed cash flow for the beginning of the season as well as a ready market and community of supporters. Shareholders join in the risks of the growing season but reap the benefits of the harvest. Each CSA farm has its own pricing structure, disbursement schedule, and some have work requirements. Sign ups for CSA shares often begin in February by directly contacting the farm. CSAs are good choices for people looking for a wide variety of produce and a closer connection to a farm.

Definition from Seacoast Harvest, where you can also find a list of CSA farms in the Seacoast area.

Here's the run down of the CSA/CSF fairs in NH, ME, and MA:

Seacoast Eat Local will be hosting their CSA + CSF Day in conjunction with their Winter Farmer’s Market in Rollinsford, Saturday, February 27th.  Participating farms include:

• Brookford Farm
• Connolly's Organics
• Eastman's Local Catch
• Farmer Dave's CSA
• Heron Pond Farm
• Meadow's Mirth
• New Roots Farm
• Riverslea Farm
• Riverside Farm
• Stone Wall Farm/Osprey Cove Organic Farm
• Touching Earth Farm
• Two Toad Farm
• Wake Robin Farm
• Willow Pond Community Farm
• Wolf Pine Farm CSA

Newburyport, MA has their fair planned for Sunday, February 28th from 11 - 4 pm at the Tannery Marketplace Mill #1.  For more information, visit their website.

MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) will be sponsoring 12 fairs statewide in Maine on February 28th from 1 - 4 pm.  For more information and locations visit the MOFGA website.

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Dover CSA Opportunity

 

I'm excited to present a Dover Summer 2010 CSA opportunity from Heron Pond Farm!  This is the blog entry from Heron Pond Farm.

Heron Pond Farm is proud to offer a community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program to the people of Dover. For the last two years we have been able to have a location in Portsmouth for CSA members to pick up there food and meet the farmers. Now after the loss of three CSA's that were serving the Dover area, we will be offering the same great service that the folks of Portsmouth have been enjoying to your community. Because over the last five years the members of our CSA have been shaping the food in the share (quantity and variety), and how it is distributed, I think you will enjoy all the aspects of being a member of Heron Pond Farm, and being able to pick up your food in a Dover location.

Our CSA does not work like a lot of others. Your food is not boxed for you, you choose the food from the offerings. We find that folks like to pick “the” tomato they want so why not let them. Food is grouped into category and you pick the prescribed number of things from that group. We find that this gives flexibility for your menu each week. We are also a full disclosure CSA. So if you want to know what past shares got each week, its on the web site. We do a financial disclosure as well, aiming to get you a 20% return on your investment. Last year folks made 14.7%, the year before 44.9% so the weather does make a difference.

Fruit is included in the share. We have strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, apples, and melons throughout the year, each in it's real season. We are planting some raspberries this year so they should be a few years out.

I'm sure there are a lot more questions that you have and I would love to answer them. Call me any time at 603-591-8720 and I'll do my best to answer them. If you would like to become a member we offer you an on line option to sign up. Otherwise you can make a copy of our registration form and mail it in.

Looking forward to having you as a member.

Andre Cantelmo, Heron Pond Farm

You can also find Heron Pond Farm at the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers' Markets in Exeter and Rollinsford or follow them on Twitter @heronpondfarmer.

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Last Minute Locavore Gifts...

10 days left for shopping!  Here are my last minute gift ideas...


Green Alliance Green Cards.  2 for $50 right now which gives the gift recipient access to over 70 discounts on the seacoast.  Or choose one Green Card with the book Greening Your Family by local author Lindsey Carmichael for only $40!

If you're heading out for a holiday party, why not bring a nice bottle of local wine?  Both Jewell Towne Vineyards and Sweet Baby Vineyards will be attending the upcoming Winter Farmers' Market at Wentworth Greenhouses.  Or you can stop by the Flag Hill Winery and Distillery in Lee, NH for wines, locally produced vodka, brandy and other liqueurs.

If alcohol isn't your thing, how about some fair trade and organic tea from White Heron Tea Company.  They will also be at the upcoming Winter Farmers' Market in Rollinsford.  Or how about some locally roasted coffee from Red Rover Coffee Roasting?  You can order online from them and pickup at the market or stop by Fiddlehead Farms in Dover, NH for a selection of their products.

Jenness Farms bath and body products make some superb teacher's gifts.  Right now their entire store is 10% off (excluding food/drink items).  Stop by their farm in Nottingham for an excellent selection of soaps, lotions, scrubs and more!  Or maybe some frozen cookie dough from Be Sweet would make another thoughtful gift!

For the gluten-free on your list, be sure to swing by Buzz's Bakery and Take-Out Cafe located in N. Hampton, NH for sweet treats, meals and more.  Or purchase some mixes from Little Bay Baking Co. out of Dover, NH.  Their products can be found all over New England.

Do you have a special someone in your life?  How about wow'ing them with a summer CSA subscription?  Fresh veggies all summer long, what could be more romantic, right?  Here are some options already available:

• Heron Pond Farm (2010 CSA info to be released soon)
• Touching Earth Farm 
• Pickpocket Farm 
• New Roots Farm 
• Two Toad Farm 

My favorite gift that is great for everyone is, of course, maple syrup.  Sugarmomma's Maple Farm products have yet to fail me...their Grade B is amazing.  You can't go wrong with a maple syrup gift!

Seacoast Eat Local will also be hosting a table at the upcoming market (12/19) and will feature Maine grown oils, cheesemaking kits from the New England Cheesemaking Supply Company, Maine smoked sea salt, and books including How to Store Your Garden Produce and The Raw Milk Revolution.

And lastly, if there's no way you can decide what to buy, how about a gift certificate from the Seacoast Grower's Association for the upcoming summer farmers' markets?  Gift certificate appliction can be found here.

Support your local economy this Christmas season.  There's a gift for everyone available locally!

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Winter CSA's and more markets!

There are two local farms offering winter CSA shares:

Back River Farm in Dover, NH

Winter farming is back for a limited time this season. I am offering 20 shares for an 8 week CSA which will consist of a LOT of salad greens and Asian greens and a host of other items.

For more information, click the farm name.

The share price is $200. Pickups will be Thursdays after 11 am at the farm.

Heron Pond Farm in Hampton, NH (with a Portsmouth, NH pick-up option)

There will be fourteen winter pick-ups, starting October 24, ending March 28, will include
some of the following: apples, broccoli, carrots, garlic, kale, leeks, onions, kohlrabi, pie pumpkins,
winter squash, beets, cabbage, celery root, potatoes, rutabagas, radishes, turnips, lettuce, salad greens, spinach, bok choi, Chinese cabbage, Belgian endive, Swiss chard, Asian greens, maple syrup, honey, and preserves.

The share price is $400 with a $200 deposit to hold your spot. You also have the option of signing up for a double share. If you choose to pick-up in Portsmouth, there will be an additional fee.

Farmer's Markets:

As far as farmers markets go, most are winding down this week. The Exeter market will be open through the end of October. The Portsmouth market will have it's final day on November 7th. And don't forget, there are a plethora of winter markets scheduled! Click here for the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Market schedule.

It's also been announced that the Northwood Farmers Market is moving indoors for three “off season” markets at the Masonic Lodge right next to the municipal lot (Rts. 4, 202/9 and Rt. 43 at the traffic lights). These markets will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday Oct. 24th, Saturday Nov. 7th, and Saturday Nov. 21st.

There's talk of a few other towns offering up a winter market, so be on the look out for those possible announcements.

Phew! Exhausting, but so excited for local options for the winter. I'm really considering the Heron Pond Farm CSA! What are your winter plans? Have you dutifully put away food or will you be relying heavily on the winter markets?

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CSA Shares Still Available!

Looking for a smart way to get your veggies this year? Connect directly with a local farm through a CSA (community supported agriculture) share. The following farms still have shares available:

Heron Pond Farm, South Hampton, NH
Shares for Portsmouth and farm stand pick ups. Web site for more information: www.heronpondfarm.com

Sustainable Farm Products LocalMotive CSA
Many pickup locations throughout the seacoast! Website for more information: www.sustainablefarmproducts.com

Andy’s Greens, York, ME
Certified organic. Delivery to downtown Portsmouth available. Online credit card payment option. Website for more information: www.andysgreens.com

Two Toad Farm, Lebanon, Maine
Full CSA shares left for the 2009 summer season. Full shares cost $475.00 for 18 weeks and are designed to feed a family of four. Contact: Jordan Pike, 207-252-1103 or www.TwoToadFarm.com

Wild Root Farm, Kennebunk, Maine
Certified organic, horse-powered farm. Carpooling/pick-up sharing to Portsmouth/Kittery area. Website for more information: www.wildrootfarm.com

Meadow's Mirth Farm, Stratham, NH
Certified organic, berry shares available as an add-on. Website for more information: www.meadowsmirth.com

(Thanks Seacoast Eat Local for this information. For other area CSA's see these posts on my blog.)

To see why joining a local CSA is a good idea, check out these reasons!

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CSA Spotlight: Brookford Farm

photo courtsey of iLoveButter

This CSA (community supported agriculture) is what I consider "the mother of all CSA's"! It is a three season CSA with 38 weeks of vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, and honey. If you can't garden and want a CSA that is a one stop shop, this is it. Brookford Farm is located in Rollinsford, NH and pickup for this CSA is Friday from 4 - 7 PM.

The CSA will run from June 2009 to March 2010. Each week, the share will include:

• Vegetables:
  15-20 lbs of organic vegetables
  
• Dairy:
  1/2 gallon raw certified organic milk
  1 qt organic yogurt
  1/2 pt organic quark
  
• Meat and Eggs:
  One dozen organic eggs from pastured hens
  One 4-6lb organic pastured chicken
  2-3 lb grass-fed beef (beef will be distributed once every 7 weeks, about 14-17 lbs at a time)
  
• Honey (Honey will be distributed in October, November and December, about 1/5 lb/month)

The cost of this CSA is $2996 ($79/week). Payment can be made all at once, or 1/4 payments of $729 at sign-up, first week of pick-up, first week of August and 1st week of November.

You're sure to be in culinary heaven with this CSA! For why you should join a CSA, click here.

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CSA Spotlight: Sustainable Farm Products

Sustainable Farm Products of Strafford, NH offers a splendid CSA (community supported agriculture). If you want to know why you should join a CSA this summer, check out this post.

I wanted to spotlight this CSA first because one of their offers is very flexible for those of you who might already have a garden, but need some extra things weekly.

The mini share is a canvas tote bag system that entitles you to a 25% off discount at any of their farmers' market booths in Dover, Portsmouth and possibly Durham and Northwood. The discount applies to plants, veggies, potpourri and prepared food. You can also access the online add-ons for crops not grown at their farm such as berries, apples and corn. Also available in the add-ons is a bread and egg share. A mini share costs $75 for the season.

A Family or Single Share is also available for the summer season. A single share will feed 1-2 people and costs $325. A family share will feed 3-4 people and costs $550. Remember, all their products are certified organic except the strawberries, peaches and possibly corn.

With the family or single shares you are also able to order from the online add-ons of bread, eggs and other tasty products. Pick-ups are available at the Portsmouth, Durham or Dover farmers' market and a TBA Concord location as well.

Highlights of our Co-operative CSA:

• Cooperative advantage ensures variety as well as consistency.
• Guarenteed enough, if not more, food to cover the initital financial investment.
• Convienient Pick Up Locations at Farmer's Markets.
• Veggie Swap Table!
• 'Build Your Own Share' theme with Add-on Shares of Eggs, Baked Goods and Value Added Products.
• Customer Care Package

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Why join a CSA and other ramblings

First off, happy almost Valentine's day! Anybody have something fun planned? How about checking out the CSA Fair being held at the Portsmouth Library? Isn't that romantic? Well it is in the morning so you still have all evening to woo you significant other! Here are some great reasons why you should join a CSA (Adapted from Monica Goldberg's, "16 Reasons to Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm" 2002). (I do realize this emphasis organic produce, which I would highly encourage you to seek out at the fair).

Better flavor: Organic vegetables have a rich and full flavor. That's why many chefs select organic food for their recipes. Since organic farming nourishes the soil, the food nourishes our palates. Better tasting means you'll eat more veggies and eat some that you may not have liked before.

More Nutritious: Freshly picked organic produce grown without pesticides and sprays are more nutritious than conventionally grown vegetables.

Safer Food: Your produce comes directly from your farmer. No risk of your food getting damaged or spoiled due to long-distance shipping. Most CSA's grow using organic methods. Organic produce is grown without pesticides or sprays. Pesticides are poisons and can be harmful to humans.

Save Money: CSA's offer high quality produce at below retail cost. The money goes directly to the farmer instead of paying distributors and trucking companies, and it stays your local economy.

Save Time: You pick up a box or bag of fresh vegetables already packed for you. No shopping hassles. Easy pick up at another member's home or on the farm. Select a convenient drop off site near work or home.

Selection: Farmers grow more vegetable varieties than found at the grocery store. You'll enjoy and discover more vegetable varieties than you might otherwise buy.

Farmer to Family Connection: A CSA is a relationship between a rural farmer and an urban family. The farm helps bring families to the land. It serves as a rural gathering place for urban families to share together events on the farm.

Fun: Experience fun on the farm with harvest festivals, dinners, celebrations, field days, family events and more.

Education: You'll learn new things about how and where your food is grown.

Protect Your Children: Children are exposed to four times as many cancer-causing pesticides in their food as adults. Organic food contains no carcinogenic pesticides.

I couldn't agree more! So if you're new to CSAs or just want to see what's available this summer, be sure to stop by the Portsmouth Library tomorrow. And if you're not local to NH or missed the fair, be sure to check out Local Harvest to search for farms and CSA's.

Next is a little freebie I wanted to alert you to. Now I know nothing about this particular magazine, but they are offering a free subscription and it seems right up my "homesteading" alley. Enjoy!
Living the Country Life magazine subscription

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