Community Supported Agriculture...

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by GoTitans3801, Aug 5, 2009.

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  1. GoTitans3801

    GoTitans3801 Forward Progress!

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    http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/08/05/meat.farms/index.html

    This article was on the front page of CNN.com today, and I thought I'd bring it up on here for several reasons. The general topic came up in the disaster of a Mike Vick thread, but these small farms have gotten fairly popular recently. I actually started using one this year, and wanted to let anyone who is interested aware that there are several of them in Nashville. I use one from a farm called Avalon Acres, which is in Hohenwald, TN, and delivers to my office downtown, which is great. (http://avalon-acres.com/) They deliver to a lot of locations around town. The food has been really good, especially the meat, which I didn't expect. It's surprisingly more flavorful than any meat that I can get in the grocery store, and I don't know how else to describe it. I started it after hearing a positive recommendation from a friend who did it last year. You sign up for the entire season, which started in May and runs through October. They offer a 10% discount if you pay for the whole season, but you can order week-to-week.

    One of the strange things is that, if you order produce, you don't know exactly what you will get. It changes every week, depending on what's in season. However, everything that you get was picked that day or the day before. It's actually been a fun challenge for me to get a whole box of different stuff, and to try and figure out how to use it. I'd never cooked radishes myself before this spring, but I found all kinds of recipes for them.

    I know that there are several other options out there, I have friends that use a few others.

    So far, I've been really pleased with it. Just wanted to see if anyone else has used one, or has any particular feelings about it. It's certainly not for everyone, and has its ups and downs, but I've been very happy with it.

    If anyone else knows/uses another one, what is it, and would you recommend it?
     
  2. Sunshine

    Sunshine Camp Fodder

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    Small world -- I signed up for Avalon Acres this spring as well. My delivery was today, and I had a delicious filet for dinner. It was cut differently from what I'd normally buy, but, as you said, it tasted better.

    I got more kinds of lettuce than I had ever bought early on, and I had a canary melon last week -- the first one I'd ever seen.

    It just makes sense to buy locally grown food that isn't several days old, been grown with pesticides, and cost who-knows-how-much to transport from God-knows-where.

    People who want to get their feet wet with locally grown produce can shop at The Produce Place on Murphy Road. Avalon Acres and other local growers supply their produce.

    P.S. I just heard there will be a "West Nashville Farmers Market" every Saturday morning from 9:00 to noon starting August 15th. It will be at the park in front of the public library on Charlotte (Sylvan Park area).
     
  3. Hoffa

    Hoffa Freak you you freakin' freak

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    It's home-grown, or nothing for me...
     
  4. Ewker

    Ewker Starter

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    I have been using Delvin Farms (organic farm) for the last 2 yrs. Last yr I split a full share with another person. This yr I am getting a half share (1/2 bushel) every other week for 6 months. That will last me for those 2 weeks since the produce is picked that morning and stays fresh in the fridge
     
  5. Deuce Wayne

    Deuce Wayne NOW Y'ALL GET THE MESSICH?!

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    This sounds pretty cool. Not sure if I'm brave enough to take a chance on the random supply though. Reminds me of the show 'Chopped'... ok, your key ingredients are a piece of liquorish, a bagel, and sweet relish. I'm not that good.

    How much does it cost?
     
  6. Ewker

    Ewker Starter

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    not sure who you are asking but I get an email with the items I am getting on Wed plus recipes. I didn't get back in town so my daughter went and picked up my share. In the 1/2 bushel was Corn, Green Beans, Quart of Juliet Tomatoes, Slicing Tomatoes, Cantaloupe, Zucchini, Patty Pan Squash, Bell Pepper and basil.

    A full share 1/2 bushel every week runs 750.00 for 6 months. Mine runs 400.00 for a 6 month supply of produce. I would pay more than that at the grocery for what I get every other week. Plus the produce at the store will go bad in no time since it is picked 1-2 weeks before the store gets its.
     
  7. Deuce Wayne

    Deuce Wayne NOW Y'ALL GET THE MESSICH?!

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    Cool, thanks for the info.
     
  8. CRUDS

    CRUDS Moderator Staff

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    My company just bought a farm in Nebraska and we're in the 2nd year of turning it certified organic (takes 5 years of growing organic before you can be certified). This year we're growing popcorn.. Anyways we were just discussing community ag and wondering what options Nashville had.
     
  9. MJTitans

    MJTitans Chris Whitley look him up

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    I just came across this up here in NYC... the one in our neighborhood has a waiting list though, which we're on now. Probably got on it too late in the season, but I'm looking forward to it next spring.

    Up here the shares are grouped out - so you can get a vegetable share and/or a fruit share. I think some places do meat/poultry/dairy shares, and others you just do single orders of beef. Are yours pretty much all in one? Looks like the prices here are about the same - a full vegetable share is around $550 and adding a fruit share is $220. Most of them also ask a small number of hours volunteering also - so like maybe 1 day of the season you go and help pick the produce. Which sounds like fun to me...

    It's such a great idea... fresh produce is totally different. I think it's so much easier to cook - you don't have to do anything to it, really. I just made a pea, mint and shallot salad and didn't even cook the peas. Just tossed it together with salt and olive oil and it was great. And yea, for things like beef and chicken the flavor is so far above anything you can get in a supermarket. I love knowing that local farmers are being supported, too. With most neighborhood CSAs in NYC being sold out, there's a ton of farmers who are essentially guaranteed a fair income year in and year out.
     
  10. Ewker

    Ewker Starter

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    if you want to find an farm, dairy or beef products that are organic then use this website. Doesn't matter where you live there chances are there is something close by.

    http://www.localharvest.org/
     
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