We finally got into a CSA!
Submitted by portlandpiper on Sun, 2008-04-27 16:05.
It took almost two years to get through the waiting list. We could have gotten into one sooner if we were willing to do an extra 30 minutes of driving, but we wanted to support local farmers AND reduce our carbon foot-print a bit.
We are trying out Sun Gold Farm because they deliver to the Intel and Nike campuses once a week.
I can make a few things for Mary Ellen with the summer squash, zuchinni, and cucumbers; but being alergic to them myself, I am sure that we will end up donating most of these to a local food bank.
The only other food item that I am wondering about what to do with it is the eggplant. I have only had one eggplant dish in 40+ years that I actually enjoyed eating and that is baba ganoush. So if we get a bumper crop of eggplant, I am pretty certain that most of them will also get donated.
As we get our shares (starting in June) I will make a list of the produce, comparison shop at the local market to see if we save any money at the end of the season, and also put up some seasonal recipes.
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We got our first share this
We got our first share this week. It was small but since we were expecting the first share to be a week or two late with the weather that we have been getting, a small share is better than none.
8.8 oz. of fava beans @ 3.59 / lb. = 2.63
1 head of red leaf lettuce @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
28.4 oz. (3 stalks) of rhubarb @ 2.99 / lb. = 7.08
5.3 oz. (1 pt.) of snow peas @ 4.99 / lb. = 2.20
2 pts. of strawberries @ 1.99 / pt. = 3.98
Store total for the edibles would have been: 17.88
We also got a 3" potted calendula which I guess would cost 5.00 at a nursery.
Our second weeks share: 17
Our second weeks share:
17 oz. of broccoli @ 1.99 / lb. = 2.11
2 heads of green leaf lettuce @ 1.99 / ea. = 3.98
26 oz. (3 stalks) of rhubarb @ 2.99 / lb. = 4.86
16 oz. (2 bunch) rainbow chard @ 2.29 / ea. = 4.58
3 pts. of strawberries @ 1.99 / pt. = 5.97
20 oz. beets w/ greens (1 bunch) @ 2.49 / ea. = 2.49
1 bunch italian parsley @ 1.49 / ea. = 1.49
Store total for the edibles would have been: 25.48
We also got a 3" potted marigold which I guess would cost 4.00 at a nursery.
Share for the third
Share for the third week:
12.3 oz. of fava beans @ 3.59 / lb. = 2.76
1 head of green leaf lettuce @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
17.5 oz. (3 stalks) of rhubarb @ 2.99 / lb. = 3.27
24.7 oz. (1 head) of green cabbage @ 1.29 / lb. = 1.99
1 pt. of strawberries @ 1.99 / pt. = 1.99
17.0 oz. (1 bunch) beets @ 2.49 / ea. = 2.49
19.7 oz. dry beans @ 1.59 / lb. = 1.95
Store total for the edibles would have been: 16.44
Our fourth weeks share: 26.2
Our fourth weeks share:
26.2 oz. of cauliflower @ 1.79 / lb. = 2.93
1 head of green leaf lettuce @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
21.8 oz. (3 stalks) of rhubarb @ 2.99 / lb. = 4.07
16.5 oz. of bing cherries @ 5.99 / lb. = 6.18
7.1 oz. sugar snap peas @ 3.99 / 1b. = 1.77
31.9 oz. zucchini @ 1.79 / lb. = 3.57
Store total for the edibles would have been: 20.51
Share for week five: 43.7
Share for week five:
43.7 oz. (1 head) cabbage @ 1.29 / lb. = 3.52
18.7 oz. (1 lg.) sweet onion @ 1.29 / lb. = 1.51
14.3 oz. pod peas @ 3.99 / lb. = 3.57
22.4 oz. (2 pt.) blueberries @ 3.99 / ea. = 7.98
15.8 oz. (4 stalks) rhubarb @ 2.99 / lb = 2.95
53.2 oz. (3) zucchini @ 1.79 / lb. = 5.95
15.9 oz. (1 head) green leaf lettuce @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
Market total would have been: 27.47
Share for week six: 25.4 oz.
Share for week six:
25.4 oz. (1 head) curly leaf lettuce @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
9.8 oz. (2) pickling cucumbers @ 1.29 / ea. = 2.58
20.5 oz. (2) zucchini @ 1.79 / lb. = 2.29
8 oz. (5) leeks @ 2.49 / lb. = 1.24
1 pt. (6.6 oz.) blackberries @3.99 / ea. = 3.99
7.1 oz. (1 stalk) broccoli @ 1.99 / lb. = 0.88
1 pt. (11.6 oz) blueberries @ 2.50 / ea. = 2.50
9.8 oz. (1) summer squash @ 2.49 / lb. = 1.53
27.3 oz. (2) sweet onions @ 0.99 / lb. = 1.69
28.9 oz. (7) red potatoes @ 1.49 / lb. = 2.69
Total for the week: 21.38
No quantities for week seven
No quantities for week seven since we were out of town. I got to spend the week in bagpipe school and Coeur d'Alene and my wife got to take a week off from her retirement schedule.
In the share there would have been: lettuce, pea pods, sweet onions, new red potatoes, blueberries, blackberries, cucumbers, and leeks.
Shares for week eight: 2
Shares for week eight:
2 sweet onions 18.9 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 1.41
1 green bell pepper 8.7 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 1.63
1 yellow hungarian chile 2.7 oz. @ 4.99 / lb. = 0.84
fresh garbanzo beans 5.7 oz. @ 4.99 / ea. = 4.99
green beans 17.4 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 3.25
blueberries 1 pt. @ 3.99 / ea. = 3.99
1 hd. green leaf lettuce 32 oz. @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
2 cucumbers @ 1.29 / ea. = 2.58
3 zucchini 46.4 oz. @ 1.29 / lb. = 3.74
Total for this week: 24.42
Shares for week nine: 2
Shares for week nine:
2 cucumbers 19.6 oz. @ 1.29 / ea. = 2.58
4 yellow squash 28.5 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 4.34
1 cantaloupe 64.6 oz. @ 0.79 / lb. = 3.19
4 ears corn 46.6 oz. @ 0.79 / ea. = 3.16
green beans 14 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 1.74
10 red potatoes 43.8 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 4.90
1 hd. red leaf lettuce 8.3 oz. @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
3 tomatoes 18.5 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 3.46
basil 1.7 oz. @ 1.99 / oz. = 3.83
1 bunch cut flowers: 7.99
Total for this weeks share in the store would have been: 37.18
Shares for week ten: 1 green
Shares for week ten:
1 green leaf lettuce 15.3 oz. @ 1.99 / ea. = 1.99
yellow wax beans 15.7 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 2.93
4 peaches 27.4 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 3.41
1 pt. cherry tomatoes 13.1 oz. @ 2.99 / ea. = 2.99
5 purple potatoes 16.6 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 2.06
7 red potatoes 12.2 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 1.36
1 eggplant 13.5 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 1.68
4 yellow cucumber 20.9 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 2.34
2 green cucumber 9.8 oz. @ 1.29 / ea. = 2.58
2 zucchini 34.9 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 3.90
1 green bell pepper 6.2 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 0.96
1 purple bell pepper 5.2 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 0.81
1 hungarian wax chile 2.9 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 0.45
Total for this weeks shares: 27.46
Shares for week eleven: 4
Shares for week eleven:
4 yellow tomatoes 21.7 oz. @ 3.99 / lb. = 5.41
2 orange tomatoes 6.7 oz. @ 3.99 / lb. = 1.67
6 roma tomatoes 15.7 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 2.93
2 tomatillos 1.8 oz. @ 3.99 / lb. = 0.49
1 poblano chile 0.9 oz. @ 4.99 / lb. = 0.28
1 cayanne chile 0.8 oz. @ 4.99 / lb. = 0.25
3 ears of corn 38.4 oz. @ 0.50 / ea. = 1.50
6 red potatoes 28.1 oz. @ 1.49 / lb. = 4.37
1 leek 3.1 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 0.48
1 bunch cilantro 1.1 oz. @ 1.29 / ea. = 1.29
green beans 11.9 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 2.22
2 cucumbers 13.6 oz. @ 0.99 / ea. = 1.98
2 zucchini 33.3 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 3.73
5 green apples 36.7 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 4.56
Total for this weeks shares at the store would have been: 31.16
Looks like they are finally
Looks like they are finally getting a good selection of tomatoes coming in. We've only been picking cherry tomatoes for a couple weeks, and they usually start in June. There are lots of bigger cultivars set, but I have no idea if they will ripen before first frost.
I'll have a bumper crop of tomatillos though if you think you will want any.
Only if the tomatillos will
Only if the tomatillos will hold until the middle of October. I do not have much of a kitchen right now. I am blanching, shocking, and freezing most of the vegetables that I am getting from the CSA right now.
If the weather holds out
If the weather holds out they will last. Otherwise, I can make and freeze tomatillo sauce for you. Tomatillo ice cubes are really handy for quickie burritos
Shares for week twelve: 4
Shares for week twelve:
4 red tomatoes 22.4 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 4.19
3 apples 20.7 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 3.87
2 bartlett pears 11.5 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 1.43
green beans 14.3 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 2.67
4 summer squash 21.7 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 2.43
5 globe cucumber 14.0 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 1.74
1 green cucumber 9.3 oz. @ 0.99 / ea. = 0.99
2 cantaloupes 50.8 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 3.78
5 yellow potatoes 28.2 oz. @ 1.49 / lb. = 2.63
2 yellow onions 14.1 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 1.05
1 green bell pepper 6.5 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 1.01
2 yellow hungarian chiles 6.3 oz. @ 4.99 / lb. = 1.96
Total for this weeks shares at the store would have been: 27.75
Share for week thirteen: 7
Share for week thirteen:
7 green apples 46.1 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 8.61
1 cantaloupe 60.3 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 4.48
green beans 13.5 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 1.68
1 eggplant 12.8 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 1.59
1 cucumber 13.7 oz. @ 1.19 / ea. = 1.19
4 zucchini 26.3 oz. @ 1.79 / lb. = 2.94
5 lemon cucumbers 16.3 oz. @ 1.29 / lb. = 1.31
2 yellow onions 13.2 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 0.98
3 anaheim chiles 4.6 oz @ 4.99 / lb. = 1.43
3 serrano chiles 1.6 oz. @ 4.99 / lb. = 0.50
1 pt. yellow cherry tomatoes 12.0 oz. @ 2.99 / ea. = 2.99
basil 1.0 oz. @ 47.84 / lb. = 2.99
Total for this weeks share in the store would have been: 30.69
Share for week fourteen: 3
Share for week fourteen:
3 gravenstein apples 20.8 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 3.89
3 bartlett pears 12.7 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 1.58
1 pt. cherry tomatoes 13.1 oz. @ 3.99 / ea. = 3.99
yellow string beans 11.7 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 2.19
2 yellow onions 15.2 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 1.13
2 hungarian chiles 6.3 oz. @ 4.99 / lb. = 1.96
1 green bell pepper 7.5 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 1.17
1 green cucumber 11.7 oz. @ 0.99 / ea. = 0.99
4 green summer squash 15.7 oz. @ 2.99 / lb. = 2.93
5 beets w/o greens 18.7 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 2.33
8 red potatoes 36.0 oz. @ 1.49 / lb. = 3.35
Total for this weeks share in the store would have been: 25.51
No quantities in the share
No quantities in the share for week fifteen since I was not in town and I just got the list from a co-worker that picked up the share:
onions, potatoes, acorn squash, tomatoes, gala apples, peppers, and carrots.
Share for week sixteen: 1
Share for week sixteen:
1 Dutch cabbage 102.4 oz. @ 1.49 / lb. = 9.54
3 bartlett pears 21.4 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 2.66
3 bosc pears 21.4 oz. @ 2.49 / lb. = 3.33
1 spaghetti squash 28.3 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 2.10
1 sweet dumpling squash 17.5 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 1.30
2 onions 17.2 oz. @ 1.19 / lb = 1.28
5 red potatoes 14.9 oz. @ 1.49 / lb. = 1.39
8 beets 21.1 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 2.62
Total for this weeks share in the store would have been: 24.22
It looks like you are
It looks like you are averaging a few "supermarket dollars" over the price of the shares so far. How do you feel about the selection you've gotten, compared to what you would get just shopping at the farmer's markets?
As long as I have a garden of my own, a CSA just doesn't make sense, but I really like the idea of supporting a farm from the start of the season, allowing them to be on a much firmer financial footing.
I have been keeping track of
I have been keeping track of more than just price but I have not been writing it up each week because I am a lazy writer. I am planning on a wrap-up after next weeks share - which is the last one of the season.
Most of the items from the CSA are better than store bought. The items that are not better range from "it looks a bit small/sad" to "why did this not get placed on the compost pile?".
I think that lack of quality
I think that lack of quality in some produce is probably related to the whole concept of CSA. You share in both the good and the bad. The wet spring and early summer must have had an impact on several of the crops, including some that people will expect in their boxes. Sharing the sub-standard quality of some crops also connects you with the realities of the farm.
Share for week seventeen.
Share for week seventeen. Last week of the season.
5 carrots 16.5 oz. @ 1.99 / bunch = 1.99
4 apples 24.5 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 3.05
2 pie pumpkins 60.3 oz. @ 1.19 / lb. = 4.48
pinto beans 19.4 oz. @ 1.60 / lb. = 1.94
2 beets 27.7 oz. @ 1.99 / lb. = 3.45
3 decorative gourds
2 decorative ears of corn
Total for this weeks shares in the store would have been: 14.91
I have no idea about prices for the gourds or corn.