You
can name your dentist, doctor, or personal trainer. But what about your farmer?
Paying a farmer to grow your food may be the best investment you ever make. Not
only is the food top quality, it is extremely fresh and full of vitamins,
minerals, and disease fighting compounds.
Joining
a CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) is a great way to get to know who grows
your food. Most growers encourage farm visits. Amy Fiedler of Springhouse Farm
grew for 16 families last year and found the relationship with her members to
be one of the most satisfying aspects of the job. She said, “I think it’s so
important for people to know how food is grown, now more than ever. Anyone is
welcome to lend a helping hand and get involved in whatever area they are
interested in on the farm.” Amy sites another major benefit as knowing how much
to grow for a known market. She would like to expand considerably for the 2013
season, and is willing to work with community members who receive EBT, formally
known as food stamp benefits.
Typically,
CSA members join by paying a set fee for produce and other farm goods between
now and early spring to receive a weekly supply of freshly picked food as it
ripens. This is a great way to learn about the growing season. Vegetables harvested
in May are typically cold tolerant, like lettuce, bok choy and other greens,
with corn and tomatoes arriving late in the summer.
Becoming a CSA member helps small, local farms survive financially, since they have many expenses this time of year and haven’t really been paid since the end of last growing season. You invest in them and they reward you every week with healthy, beautiful, sustainably grown food.
Becoming a CSA member helps small, local farms survive financially, since they have many expenses this time of year and haven’t really been paid since the end of last growing season. You invest in them and they reward you every week with healthy, beautiful, sustainably grown food.
I
have listed a few farms that are taking CSA members right now. I’m sure there
are some programs that I have unintentionally excluded. If you would like to
get more information and meet growers, make plans to attend a CSA fair on
Monday, March 18th beginning at 4:30. This will be held at the
Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Rd. in Boone.
Spring House
Farm
is certified organic and located in Vilas. You may choose a half share,
which provides approximately $15 worth of vegetables each week for $300, due by
April 1. A
full
share
provides around $25 worth of vegetables each week for $500. If you live near
Vilas, you may pick up your produce on the farm Tuesdays between noon and 6 p.m.
at their produce stand beginning May 28th. If
the Watauga County Farmers’ Market is more convenient, you may pick your
produce up there between 8 and 11:30 a.m., beginning May 25th. The season lasts
for 20 weeks. Contact Amy Feidler with any questions or to reserve
your share. Phone: (828)719-6825, e-mail:
amyj@skybest.com ,
http://www.springhousefarm.net/
Creeksong Farm is not
certified organic, but uses organic methods for production and is located in
Creston. They offer a variety of produce, beef and eggs. Pickups begin June 4th
between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and continue for 20 weeks at the
Agricultural Conference Center loading dock in Boone, or between 4:00 and 6:00
p.m. at the farm in Creston. If the Watauga County Farmers’ Market is more
convenient, you may pick your produce up there between 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
Full shares cost $500, and you receive $25 worth of food each week. Half shares
cost $300, and you receive $15 worth of food each week. A 50% deposit is due
March 20, and the rest of the payment is due May 1. For more information, call
Jeff and Bettie Thomas at (336) 385-6302 or visit http://www.creeksongfarm.com/CreeksongFarm/CSA.html.
High Country CSA represents a group
of growers and producers that grow according to organic standards, but may not
be certified. There are several options for the 2013 season, which runs from
June through mid-October. The garden share contains four to six vegetables
weekly. This option is perfect for small households; $300. The full harvest
contains seven to 10 seasonal produce items, including herbs. It is appropriate
for large households, or small households that rely on produce for a
significant portion of their diet; $600. The variety share highlights four to
six seasonal produce items, while also including special items like free-range
eggs, breads, goat cheese, molasses, etc. This option will introduce you to the
best variety in High Country food; $600. An egg share
may be added to any of the three main share options. The egg share
features a dozen free-range eggs biweekly, 10 dozen total; $42.
The priority deadline is April 15th. Sign up and pay for the entire season by June 1st. If you receive
EBT benefits, ask about the details of becoming a member. The pickup locations are Bare Essentials in Boone
every Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. and Blowing Rock Produce &
Provisions from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Visit their website: http://highcountrycsa.org/summer-shares or e-mail: highcountrycsa@gmail.com
You
can name your dentist, doctor, or personal trainer. But what about your farmer?
Paying a farmer to grow your food may be the best investment you ever make. Not
only is the food top quality, it is extremely fresh and full of vitamins,
minerals, and disease fighting compounds.
Joining
a CSA(Community Supported Agriculture) is a great way to get to know who grows
your food. Most growers encourage farm visits. Amy Fiedler of Springhouse Farm
grew for 16 families last year and found the relationship with her members to
be one of the most satisfying aspects of the job. She said, “I think it’s so
important for people to know how food is grown, now more than ever. Anyone is
welcome to lend a helping hand and get involved in whatever area they are
interested in on the farm.” Amy sites another major benefit as knowing how much
to grow for a known market. She would like to expand considerably for the 2013
season, and is willing to work with community members who receive EBT, formally
known as food stamp benefits.
Typically,
CSA members join by paying a set fee for produce and other farm goods between
now and early spring to receive a weekly supply of freshly picked food as it
ripens. This is a great way to learn about the growing season. Vegetables harvested
in May are typically cold tolerant, like lettuce, bok choy and other greens,
with corn and tomatoes arriving late in the summer.
Becoming a CSA member helps small, local farms survive financially, since they have many expenses this time of year and haven’t really been paid since the end of last growing season. You invest in them and they reward you every week with healthy, beautiful, sustainably grown food.
Becoming a CSA member helps small, local farms survive financially, since they have many expenses this time of year and haven’t really been paid since the end of last growing season. You invest in them and they reward you every week with healthy, beautiful, sustainably grown food.
I
have listed a few farms that are taking CSA members right now. I’m sure there
are some programs that I have unintentionally excluded. If you would like to
get more information and meet growers, make plans to attend a CSA fair on
Monday, March 18th beginning at 4:30. This will be held at the
Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Rd. in Boone.
Spring House
Farm
is certified organic and located in Vilas. You may choose a half share,
which provides approximately $15 worth of vegetables each week for $300, due by
April 1. A
full
share
provides around $25 worth of vegetables each week for $500. If you live near
Vilas, you may pick up your produce on the farm Tuesdays between noon and 6 p.m.
at their produce stand beginning May 28th. If
the Watauga County Farmers’ Market is more convenient, you may pick your
produce up there between 8 and 11:30 a.m., beginning May 25th. The season lasts
for 20 weeks. Contact Amy Feidler with any questions or to reserve
your share. Phone: (828)719-6825, e-mail:
amyj@skybest.com ,
http://www.springhousefarm.net/
Creeksong Farm is not
certified organic, but uses organic methods for production and is located in
Creston. They offer a variety of produce, beef and eggs. Pickups begin June 4th
between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and continue for 20 weeks at the
Agricultural Conference Center loading dock in Boone, or between 4:00 and 6:00
p.m. at the farm in Creston. If the Watauga County Farmers’ Market is more
convenient, you may pick your produce up there between 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.
Full shares cost $500, and you receive $25 worth of food each week. Half shares
cost $300, and you receive $15 worth of food each week. A 50% deposit is due
March 20, and the rest of the payment is due May 1. For more information, call
Jeff and Bettie Thomas at (336) 385-6302 or visit http://www.creeksongfarm.com/CreeksongFarm/CSA.html.
High Country CSA represents a group of growers and producers that grow according to organic standards, but may not be certified. There are several options for the 2013 season, which runs from June through mid-October. The garden share contains four to six vegetables weekly. This option is perfect for small households; $300. The full harvest contains seven to 10 seasonal produce items, including herbs. It is appropriate for large households, or small households that rely on produce for a significant portion of their diet; $600. The variety share highlights four to six seasonal produce items, while also including special items like free-range eggs, breads, goat cheese, molasses, etc. This option will introduce you to the best variety in High Country food; $600. An egg share may be added to any of the three main share options. The egg share features a dozen free-range eggs biweekly, 10 dozen total; $42.
High Country CSA represents a group of growers and producers that grow according to organic standards, but may not be certified. There are several options for the 2013 season, which runs from June through mid-October. The garden share contains four to six vegetables weekly. This option is perfect for small households; $300. The full harvest contains seven to 10 seasonal produce items, including herbs. It is appropriate for large households, or small households that rely on produce for a significant portion of their diet; $600. The variety share highlights four to six seasonal produce items, while also including special items like free-range eggs, breads, goat cheese, molasses, etc. This option will introduce you to the best variety in High Country food; $600. An egg share may be added to any of the three main share options. The egg share features a dozen free-range eggs biweekly, 10 dozen total; $42.
The priority deadline is April 15th. Sign up and pay for the entire season by June 1st. If you receive
EBT benefits, ask about the details of becoming a member. The pickup locations are Bare Essentials in Boone
every Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. and Blowing Rock Produce &
Provisions from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Visit their website: http://highcountrycsa.org/summer-shares or e-mail: highcountrycsa@gmail.com
North Fork Farm offers boxes of frozen
beef, pork and chicken that are available for five months, from April until
August. Full shares consist of five monthly deliveries of up to 20 pounds for
$550. Half shares consist of five monthly deliveries of approximately 10 pounds
for $300. North Fork Farm is committed to distributing quality beef, pork and
chicken to CSA members. All meat is USDA inspected, vacuum packed and raised
without antibiotics or added hormones. The payment deadline is April 5th.
They meet their members at the Agricultural Conference Center parking lot in
Boone. For more information, contact Jimmy and Sheila Greene at 828-297-5755, e-mail northforkfarm@skybest.com Visit their website
at http://northforkfarmbeef.com/
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