Bluebird Market CSA
Now that everyone and everything is completely immersed in “going green” (or at least it seems that way from an advertising and media standpoint) it seems rather obvious that one of the main areas of focus is the food we consumer, how it was grown, and where it comes from. When you eat locally (or at least regionally) and organically, you support local agriculture, cut down on your carbon footprint, and avoid the health concerns of pesticide ingestion.
I have to admit that even I have learned a few things whilst reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by the influential and bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver. I have found myself thinking more about fruit and vegetable consumption that is not only out of season but complete un0indiginous to my region. I have challenged myself to think harder about what foods I need to survive and what foods I have convinced myself I must have.
So it seems completely natural that I would have my curiosity peaked and my interest cultivated in what CSA opportunities surround me. And by no chance I received an invite Wednesday to the Facebook Fan page of Bluebird Market CSA out of Thomaston, GA.
Bluebird Market is a Thomaston organic co-op farmers market that sells the goods farmed by, created by, and distributed by local community gardeners, artisans and growers. Officially starting the first week of June and running into the fall harvest season Bluebird also offers veggie share boxes in the off-season including foods like fresh eggs, organic wheat bran, swiss chard, whole ginger root, chili powder and baby turnip greens. The entire box is only $15 and can be ordered weekly – no subscription necessary.
So what is a CSA exactly?
Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA’s are a way of supporting your local food source, by buying directly from the farmer. Farms offer a membership, or “share” of their seasonal produce, a box or bag of fruit or vegetables, that are delivered to the consumer on a weekly basis. Farms benefit from the guaranteed cash flow, and they get to see the people who are enjoying the fruits of their labor.
The consumer benefits, by eating healthy foods at their peak of freshness, being exposed to new varieties of produce, and by feeling good about supporting local businesses.
What did you get this week?
The whole box (excluding the eggs)
Lots of spices and grains
A mess of radishes
To find out more about Bluebird Market visit their site or follow them on Twitter @BluebirdMarket. Or as always, ask me. I’ll be glad to put you in touch with your local CSA!
March 29th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
As I am limited by location to the fresh produce I grew accustomed to in Washington state over the last few years, I have been using a CSA called Full Circle Farms based in WA this school year, which is the only CSA to serve Ketchikan, Alaska. Wow, I envy the cost you pay, as they’ve just raised our box to $45. If only I could consume all the fruit within the 3 days of life that most of it has left by the time it reaches me. In other places, mostly in Washington, deliveries are made on Sunday. For me, Wednesday evening is my earliest opportunity to retrieve my Saturday-packed box of goodies. But as I perused my local Safeway yesterday to tide me over as I want 10 more days until my every other week box, I surely appreciated what I do see directly from a farm!
March 30th, 2010 at 6:47 am
@Leia – I don’t think I ever told you but I have a friend from Ketchikan and I thought I would probably never know another. Guess I was wrong. hahahahah. What comes in a CSA box in Ketchikan? I mean…for $45? I remember in Brooklyn they charged $30 but the boxes were kind of large. More than they are here. We have a lot more fertile, climactic farm land here too so there is more in season per square inch than Alaska, I would think. In terms of fruit, it may be time for you to get a canning kit (look on amazon.com for Ball Jar Canning Kit) and preserving some of that fruit! You are so right. One trip “back” to the grocery store will make anyone appreciate farm fresh food!
Thanks for sharing your story!
May 19th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Excellent, thank you Andrew for sharing!!
July 27th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I adore your website – nice !