What You Need To Know About CSAs
Each season, there’s a quiet sort of joy that settles in when the first CSA box arrives—bundles of crisp greens, a handful of tomatoes still warm from the sun, maybe a surprise jar of jam or a dozen eggs tucked into the corner like a secret gift. For those unfamiliar, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it’s more than just a farm subscription—it’s a relationship.
At its core, a CSA is a partnership between a farm and local members who commit to purchasing a share of the harvest before the growing season begins. That early support helps farmers cover seeds, equipment, and labor—those foundational costs that often go unseen but are essential for getting food from soil to table. In return, members receive a regular box of fresh, in-season produce and sometimes add-ons like dairy, flowers, or preserves. It's a system built on mutual trust, sustainability, and, quite often, a deepened sense of connection to the land.
One of the most enriching aspects of being part of a CSA is the shift in perspective it cultivates. You start eating with the seasons—not because it’s trendy, but because your kitchen begins to mirror the rhythms of your region. Spring brings tender lettuces and herbs; summer bursts with cucumbers, stone fruits, and zucchini; autumn leans into roots, squash, and the darker greens. The food you eat tells the story of what’s growing, right here, right now.
There’s also a lovely unpredictability to it all. Some weeks offer abundance, others bring a humbler harvest depending on weather, pests, or the natural ebb and flow of farming life. But that, too, becomes part of the lesson. It’s a gentle reminder that food isn’t manufactured—it’s grown, nurtured, and harvested, often with care and contingency. You become more flexible, more grateful, and a bit more imaginative with your cooking. (Ever found yourself googling “what to do with kohlrabi”? You will.)
At our farm, we see CSAs as an extension of our values. It allows us to grow food in a way that’s more sustainable for the land and more fulfilling for us as growers. Rather than racing to meet wholesale quotas or spending entire weekends at the market, we get to know our members. We learn what they love, what they miss, what makes them smile when they open their box.
Whether you’re a seasoned CSA member or just dipping your toes into local food systems, there’s something meaningful in knowing the hands that grew your dinner. In a world that often moves too fast, choosing to support a CSA is a small act of slowing down, of rooting oneself in place, and of remembering that nourishment—real nourishment—starts in the soil.
So whether you’re still trying to reach that new year’s resolution of eating healthier or you want to be a part of a local community founded on sharing farm-to-table delights, consider joining a CSA for this 2025 season!
