Like fresh vegetables, but not gardening? Try buying a farm share

Today's Enterprise News reports:

MIDDLEBORO — People who don’t want to toil in the garden but have a hankering for fresh vegetables, buying a share in local crops might be just the ticket. Participants buy a prepaid share to a local farm’s crops, knowing they will be eating fresh food and also giving farmers some financial security. In Middleboro, James D. Reynolds, owner of Daliah Farm, sells shares to the produce from his organic garden for less than $30 a week. A full share, enough for a family of four, costs $500 for 18 weeks of fresh vegetables, half shares are $290. A typical spring share might include: baby Romaine lettuce, heirloom turnips and turnip greens, Bridgewater strawberries, French breakfast radish and potted Greek oregano with some wild cutflower. Later in the season, the shares may provide Zephyr summer squash, cucumbers, Patty pan squash, Swiss chard, turnips, onions, new potatoes, basil and pineapple sage. Tomatoes are harvested in mid-season and the final shares include butternut squash, garlic, peppers and eggplant. Reynolds prefers to pack up the produce in customer’s reusable totes – “It’s more earth friendly” – but will supply brown bags if requested. Call 774-213-5075 with questions. Kim Almeida, of organically certified Eat Local Fresh Food, is farming several plots of land at the Soule Homestead, 46 Soule St., Middleboro. and selling shares for $600 each. Connie and Ron Maribett’s organic Colchester Neighborhood Farm on Brook Street in Plympton sells shares full-season shares for $600 and small shares for $350. The shares include arugula, celery, edible flowers, herbs and garden staples such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and onions. Those who don’t want to commit to weekly shares can still buy local. For a list of local farms, farm stands and farmers markets, visit the website for the Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership: semaponline.org. Be sure to see the lates YOUTUBE video here. Public News Service also has a PODCAST here. Read more: http://www.enterprisenews.com/business/x1040012944/Like-fresh-vegetables-but-not-gardening-Try-buying-a-farm-share#ixzz1vim4Ge77

EnterpriseNews: Middleboro Farmer Offering Shares in Community Garden

The snow's still on the ground, but it's time to sign-up for shares of the harvest from a local garden...and a share from this CSA might be just the ticket to chase away cabin fever and a chance to dream of fat juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil and crisp cucumbers.

Pictured here, James and Cecilia Reynolds expect to see their first harvest of spring greens by the end of May, and people who want fresh vegetables for 18 weeks during the growing season can sign up for a share through Community Supported Agriculture...(see whole story)

ENTERPRISE STORY: As snow falls, summer veggies sprout in Middleboro

By Alice Elwell,
ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT

MIDDLEBORO — While others were shoveling snow this week, two local farmers were starting their seedlings of onions, spinach, leeks and broccoli to get a jump on spring and be ready to offer up home-grown vegetables when the weather breaks.

Dave Purpura of Plato’s Harvest Organic Farm has already potted his onions and spinach plants, while James Reynolds of The Dahlia Farm is germinating his broccoli this week...

Reynolds grew more than 4,000 tomatoes plants last year with one German heirloom that weighed in at 3 pounds. There’s also basil, parsley, dill and cilantro for those gourmet cooks who seek the freshest herbs...

Laurie and Dean Rantz tried a half-share in Reynolds farm last year and said they were very happy with the produce. “It was something to look forward to every week,” said Laurie Rantz.

Dean Rantz said Reynolds would fill baskets each week with vegetables, herbs and flowers, sometimes with things the couple had never tried. One week they were given kohlrabi, something Dean Rantz described as looking like an alien, but turned out to be tasty. “Hey, I’ll try anything,” he said.

Rantz said another bonus is supporting local business. He said with all the talk of living green, he decided to do what he can for the environment and invested in a local farmer.

Read the complete story HERE.





Bumpkin says:
I had a half share last season from The Dahlia Farm and was very happy with it. Fresh, no chemicals, and a variety of stuff that you just won't see in the supermarkets. The eggs are 2nd to none with amazing orange yokes and texture. I wrote about the experience several times on my blog - nemasket.net
http://nemasket.net/new-csa/
http://nemasket.net/podcast-csa-middleboro/
http://nemasket.net/csa-update/