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Friday, March 11, 2011

Going Local...

Where do you get your fresh produce? Or your eggs and meat? For us, it's the local grocery store for most of it. I do have our front door kitchen garden, but that doesn't supply us with nearly enough. I do try to buy the locally grown produce at the store and we definitely get our syrup locally, but I have been wanting to go further than that. We do have enough land to have a giant garden, but that requires a Large initial investment(plowing and grading the land and fencing for the deer). And right now, I'm not sure I would be able to handle my own large garden, so that may be a few years down the road. My other option was to find a CSA and do a crop share type thing. Problem with that was that most were a bit of a drive away. BUT, not any more. My dear friend shared with me a blurb she saw in our local town paper and we now have our own CSA farm this year!!!


I called last night and we are going to buy a full share and then I'm going to do a "work share" to get double the amount. I just have to work 4 hours on Tuesdays, beginning in mid June through the growing season(roughly 20 to 24 weeks). I figure I will get some exercise, some sunshine, fresh fruits and veggies(flowers and herbs), and lots of valuable gardening knowledge. Plus, I know where the food is coming from and it should work out to save us money in the long run.


Your local CSA farms aren't just fruit and veggies. They can be beef, poultry, and pork too.

And cheese and fiber...

If you aren't up for your own big garden, but want to buy local and fresh, check out your local CSA farms... but hurry because most only take so many shares and they have to have their numbers in before the planting season starts.


Have a great day,


Tiff

8 comments:

  1. I've seen these on tv and in mags but never really thought about it.I'm going to check into it.Sounds fun and with the economy I already had plans on growing more this year.Warm Blessings!~Amy

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  2. Were expanding our gardens this year and I'm thinking about starting a herb farm, not sure yet. Our local CSA farm is too expensive to join, you might as well grow your own!

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  3. Iam lucky enough to have room for a garden. I grow alot of vegys and love to can. I have my own raspberry,ruhbarb,strawberry plants and a plum tree so i can enough jelly and jam for a year. I plant enough onions to last me all winter and store them in the cool garage. I also like to go to the local farmers markets and purchase goodies there. I raise my own chickens so they supply me with plenty of eggs. I purchase most of my meat from the local meat market. Im wanting to try something new this year so i might try some herbs.

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  4. Oh wow, what a great idea. I want so badly to plant a garden, but have a blakc thumb...Perhaps this will give me some knowledge before I try to tackle one of my very own.

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  5. Good for you! I love the whole CSA idea. We do have them around here, but not quite near enough to work for me yet...but I am still looking and hoping for a good fit! They actually have the equivalent in wool for spinning, felting, etc. How cool is that? I love your blog, btw!!!
    Courtney

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  6. What a wonderful thing to be doing..you will be sure to take lots of photos when you start..our church is trying to do a garden co-op this year..I have my own garden..so I won't be participating in it..have a great weekend..loved all the photos.;)

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  7. I think it's wonderful! I do frequent the farmers' markets for some things.I am still new at veggie gardening, but I am planning to try a bit more this year. We would like to get meat from locals, we are looking into this.
    I simply don't have time to go somewhere else each day like that. There are some that do those garden co-ops here, I just can't.
    I have blueberry bushes and raspberry bushes so far. They are still young yet, and like I said, I am still learning! LOL! If I could have fruit trees, I would, but my hubby won't do it because they are "too messy".
    I would like to try more, we will see. I ususally do my herbs in pots.
    Have a great day!
    Blessings,
    Renee

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  8. Sounds awesome! There have never been any near enough to use when I checked in the past. Thankfully eggs arent an issue. It would be nice to have fresh meat though.

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