When I tell people I'm a member of a CSA, they invariably wear a puzzled expression as they politely ask, "A what?" I can almost see the wheels turning as they try to figure out what kind of new thing I'm into now. But there's really nothing new about CSAs, yet there is. At a CSA you will find people doing what they love to do, grow great food! The new thing is, YOU can reap the rewards of their hard work, and support your local farmer at the same time! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, but I learned fast that for those in the know, the lingo is CSA.

Community Supported Agriculture refers to an arrangement in which members of a community buy a share in a local farm at the beginning of the growing season. In return they receive a portion of the farmer's harvest each week throughout the local season. That means Fresh, with a capital F, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and even flowers. Community Supported Agriculture farms are generally organic farms, growing foods free of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers and genetically modified organisms. So you know you're getting the most wholesome foods possible for yourself and your family. The CSA arrangement is good for the farmer as well, allowing small-scale family farmers to earn a living from their land, while still practicing good environmental stewardship. Farmers spend less time marketing and transporting their goods, and more time growing terrific food.

Some CSAs allow members to work off all or part of their share. For example, at my local CSA, Red Fire Farm, members can come to the farm to help weed, harvest, and perform other essential tasks. I've taken advantage of this opportunity; just working the few hours that life with a home biz and toddler allow, and it's been a terrific experience. There is great satisfaction in getting your hands dirty, so to speak! My work time at the farm has been relaxing and cheaper than therapy.

Our CSA is located in Granby, Massachusetts, and is owned by Ryan Voiland. With his many years of farming experience and education behind him he has accomplished great things in the year that he has owned the farm. It's interesting to see each new development when we pick up our share. Our whole family goes to the farm each Friday; it's our afternoon entertainment! As we go into the barn, we quickly read the announcement board to see what goodies we get to take home. Each week we select up to 17 pounds of produce, which has been harvested out of the fields right outside, generally that very morning. Each week there are new surprises. We've tried wonderful delicious vegetables for the first time this year; kale, beet greens, collards, and blue potatoes! I didn't even know there were blue potatoes. We've had fresh tomatoes, lettuces, eggplant, green and purple peppers, radishes, onions, red, white, and yellow collards, cucumbers, yellow and green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, beets, cabbage, GARLIC!, spinach, carrots, parsley, basil, and potatoes, and it's only August!

My two year old daughter has enjoyed her trips to the farm immensely. Each Friday as the time to pick up our share nears; she becomes impatient to be on her way. We bring cookies for the resident dogs, Bella and Peanut, and she calls for Bella as soon as we arrive. My daughter has become an expert pea and bean picker as well. She can fill those quart baskets in no time flat, and enjoys looking for the big ripe peas and beans on the plants. She even eats them, crunchy, right from the plant! My hope is that as she and the farm grow, she will develop an understanding of where food comes from and the work involved in growing it. I imagine that she will begin to appreciate the importance of taking care of the earth.