This is the diary of our CSA share this year. The cost of a full share is $545 for 22 weeks (this CSA offers a winter share) which will bring us to the last week in October, and works out to $24.75 per week. Western New York weather is such that June is the lightest CSA month. September and October will be more than abundant! Usually, I feel I don’t get my money’s worth the first few weeks (which will be predominantly lettuces), but the fall bags more than makeup for that.
As our 2013 CSA draws to a close, the sign-up for next year went out. I am not convinced this CSA is a “good deal” most weeks, but for the overall season it has been an “ok” deal. The pick-up date for us is stellar though, so we will continue at least one more year with Rootdown Farms. A few things were added for next year:
● Spring Green Share – $75, three weeks:
The share may include, but is not limited to mixed greens for salads and for braising, chard, kale, leeks, lettuce, onion scallions, garlic shoots, radishes, pea shoots, and bok choi.
● Fruit Share costs $180, 18 weeks:
The local fruit included in the fruit share starts with cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines, blueberries, and moves into pears, raspberries, and of course apples! This begins in July.
Hubby and I will also do the fruit share. Heck it may save gas and time as we may not travel around Western New York to shop the fruit stands as often. I know I spend a lot more than 10 bucks a week supplying my grandfather with fruit, never mind us! And the farm stands are getting more difficult to find.
This week we took:
● Broccoli
● Carrots
● Cauliflower
● Celery Root
● Leeks
● Lettuce
● Peppers (sweet)
● Salad Greens
● Squash
Available that we did not take:
● Beets
● Chard
● Eggplant
● Kale
● Salad Turnips
Do you belong to a CSA? If so, what type? How much? Do you find it as worthwhile as I do?
● Past CSA Shares
● Find a CSA
● NYS Fruit and Vegetable Harvest Calendar
● US Agricultural Data
Stephanie B says
Have you ever done the u-pick part of this CSA? If not, do you know if it is in addition to what you are allowed to take or do you give up something to do the u-pick? That is the deciding factor for me I think. If I could go pick out fruits and veggies from what they have AND go pick additional then it would be worth it for me. Otherwise the farmers market and my own garden end up cheaper. Thanks for posting these every week, very informational!
Ann says
We did the u-pick a few time, Stephanie. I picked beans (which were plentiful) several time, grabbed sunflowers a few times, and picked okra. I also took some herbs which is what motivated me to try an herb garden (at least a small one) next year.
We actually bought the fruit share for next year in addition to the vegetable share. I know how much we spend on fruit + gas for driving and that should be well worth the cost. The vegetables are not cheaper in our CSA than the farmer’s market, IMO.
Ann
Stephanie B says
We spend more than $10 a week on just a couple containers of blueberries and a few apples, so that is definitely a good deal.
Stephanie B says
My other question – I have been trying to search through the two websites to find where you ordered the organic beef from. Could you please let me know? We are trying to find prices and I remember it being reasonable. Thanks in advance!
Ann says
We Bought Half A Cow
Stephanie I would call to order asap. They were a little loosey-goosey with delivery dates last year as he does a lot of deer processing. Once hunting season started, we had to wait. That worked out for us, but may not for you. Saving that, we are buying again! This place was well worth the wait! Absolutely delicious beef.
Ann
Stephanie B says
Thank you so much!!!!
KimH says
Today was the last pick up date scheduled for the summer Geauga Family Farms CSA.. Week 20. We
skip next week and then the Fall Share starts which will last 6 week, skipping the week of Thanksgiving.
It’ll take us thru Dec 14th and then we’re on our own..
The last two shares were kinda thin I thought.. but todays share was full & really nice. My girlfriend already had too much lettuce and she didnt want her radishes so I took the lettuce for a neighbor (I’ve got 3 heads in my frig already too) and Courtney & Don already demolished both my radishes & hers before I got the whole thing put up. That was quick! 🙂 I traded her half (5) of my green apples & a head of garlic for the goodies she gave me. I’ve still got enough apples to choke a horse. 😉
We got a huge bok choy, kale (which is gone now, yum), lettuce, green apples, 2 zucchini, 2 heads of garlic, an eggplant, radishes, baby baker potatoes, sweet Italian peppers, a bell pepper, sweet potatoes & a sugar pie pumpkin. My stove top is pretty full of organic veggies this week.. My frig is already full too.. We need to either hurry up & eat some of it or I need to either dehydrate or freeze some of it..
Since we’ve been having cooler weather I’ve been cooking more of the root veggies by doing a simple roasted veggie tray.. Cant go wrong with that! Im gonna miss these veggies when they’re gone.
Ann says
We kept up pretty well with this CSA until 3 weeks ago. Now I feel like I have vegetable overload. We have 2 weeks left, and we skipped the winter share – and I’m very glad we did. I want Hubby to freeze what we have left, and we need to move the squash out to the garage.
Ann