It’s National CSA Day!

Thoughts of watermelon radishes, red-Russian kale, garlic scapes, rainbow Swiss chard, and collard greens are welcomed on this Friday in February.  I can almost taste them now.

If you live in the Terre Haute area, hopefully you’ll take a moment to explore one of the opportunities the Sisters of Providence have for fresh, organic vegetables — it’s their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Registration for the 2017 growing season is now open! You don’t do any of the work and get all of the garden’s bounty!

At the heart of this weekly or bi-weekly membership program are USDA certified organic vegetables grown at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The addition of about 100 chickens on the farm last year allows for an egg share option in 2017, as well.

Members purchase and manage their share online and pick-up their bag of freshly harvested produce every week or every other week, late May through September.  Nearly 100 families participate each year.

CSA is a way for people to buy directly from the farmer or grower. Swapping recipes and gardening tips is part of the fun of this community of vegetable lovers.

As our culture and economy becomes more homogenized and centralized, CSA is the opposite. It is about a personal relationship between a farmer and the CSA members. It is an intimate connection between local farmland and your dinner table.

If you don’t live near Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, there may be a CSA program in your area. Searching LocalHarvest.com is a good place to start.

Plant the seeds for a strong community and healthy life by becoming a CSA member in your area today — National CSA Day.

If you’re a CSA member in your area or if you weren’t familiar with a CSA until now I’d love to hear from you.  Please share your experience or advice with everyone in the comments.