In response to the overview we ran two weeks ago of what's sprouting in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms across the Pioneer Valley, we were reminded by readers that there are many farms with shares available in southern Vermont and New Hampshire as well.
Farms that participate in the CSA program make shares of their produce available to the public for an annual flat fee. A few hundred dollars can buy a membership in a farm, and each week lovers of ultra-fresh, hyper-local and mega-seasonal food can gather a box full of farm-grown delights. While the bountiful and regular doses of fresh produce might be the initial rationale for purchasing a farm share, the opportunity to make regular visits to the plot of earth where your food grows and to pass the time of day with those who tend that patch of ground often becomes the reason many CSA members return.
For those who don't have the time to make a weekly trek to the farm, some CSAs also provide drop-offs and delivery.
To find a CSA near you, wherever you live in the continental U.S., you can visit http://www.localharvest.org/csa/. On the right-hand side of the page is a search box which, if you enter your zip code, will find CSAs near you, along with details and contact information. You'll need to contact the farm directly to find out whether or not they still have openings, but there are many possibilities from which to choose. A search done on Brattleboro (05301) brought up 15 CSAs and Keene brought up 19.
