Once a week, after school, I stop by a local farm with my girls. We pick up a basket of local organic produce. It’s our CSA share.  It is this weekly endeavor that I believe has fostered an openness to eating vegetables within my daughters.  It certainly has increased the amount of vegetables found in our house.

A CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, is a relationship between a farmer (the producer) and the consumer. CSA’s are a pre-buy program, where the consumer pays for their “share” of the farmers produced goods for the season, or designated length of time. The consumer is given a rough idea of what they will receive based on what the farmer planted. What is not guaranteed is what will actually be available, the quantity and timing. Temperature, weather, and planting methods all have a influence the  harvest. There is no middle person. The relationship is direct producer to consumer. The pre-buy allows the farmer to cover costs up front. They also do not have to sell and price buy market value. A bad tomato year? Maybe a boon for cucumbers. The consumer and farmer share the burden and surplus.

Participating in a CSA does take some time. I go to the farm. I wash the dirt off the produce. I need to find ways to use what we bring home. Is it worth it? Because really, who needs more work?

Ever have cauliflower – fresh? Or ground cherries? Green beans that snap with succulence? Ever see your kids dig through a basket of produce as if it was a corporate holiday thank you gift basket filled with ‘goodies’? A CSA brings value to my life  and health. The ROI is excellent.

In this photo, my two girls are assisting Farmer Amanda Hopkins with packing our share for the week. We received potatoes, carrots and onions from the root cellar, put over from the fall harvest. We also received fresh spinach, some succulent greens (not even sure what they were, but we ate them like lettuce), beets and a jar of local honey. As we move through spring, we expect more greens from the greenhouse and an early harvest of hardy greens. As the season moves on, the CSA will include a wide range of fresh veggies, fruits, flowers and herbs each week. We also have the option of getting raw milk and local beef with each share. Farmer Amanda sends an email each week alerting members to what we will be taking home so we can plan meals. When the harvest is abundant, as in mid-summer, we have to get real creative on how to use it up. When we are on vacation, we donate our week basket to a local soup kitchen.

Joining a CSA is an adventure. It’s an opportunity to try new veggies and meet some great people in your community. It is a boost to your vegetable intake. The variety and quantity surpasses most peoples weekly grocery store purchases. Visiting the farm, and the educational value for my kids is a bonus. To find a CSA, or a Farmer’s Market in your area check out http://www.localharvest.org.

Cydney Smith, founder of Mompreneur Wellness, is a certified Holistic Health Coach offering private and group coaching to entrepreneur moms who want to leverage the power of healthy eating to fuel their success. She is the mother of 2 daughters and lives in southwestern New Hampshire. Connect with Cydney and her work through social media. Stop by the Mompreneur Wellness Community on Facebook and share your thoughts. Say hello on  twittter @Cydneysmith.