CSA Experiment

Today is the last major harvest for my little CSA experiment. Last night we had our first light frost, and today was a day to dig roots, break off Brussels sprouts and cut delicate lettuces in the cold frame (whose frame went on two days ago).

This year I weighed my harvests. Each week I put together a bag or box for my sister-in-law and delivered it. She received produce from May 7 through September 30. The first delivery was asparagus and greens. Things got more interesting by June 4 with the first broccoli delivery. The last delivery includes 2 lbs of leeks, 1 lb of Brussel’s sprouts, a daikon radish, 4 oz of lettuce, as well as a few final tomatoes and baby carrots tossed in the bag. (She got parsnips and turnips last week.)

Over the course of these six months, she received 105 lbs of produce I would value at $285 if selling in individual portions. My total harvest so far is 515 lbs of produce. That includes a lot of potatoes, the meager winter squash harvest, and more than 80 lbs of tomatoes, definitely a record.

The CSA was definitely a success– she got a great value and the best of the produce, cleaned and delivered. She said each week she was at the very edge of being able to use/freeze all the produce, which is definitely success. However, it is also the problem with the CSA model. Next year, I have a list of a few people interested in buying produce from me. My plan is to send out a weekly e-mail with what I have available and then have a pick-up either here on the farm or at the retreat center where I work. My goal is for the garden to pay for itself, which means about $500/year, and also provide us with the bulk of our produce for the entire year. That would be homesteading. The addition of the greenhouse will extend the season and increase my production slightly (I have to say I’m at the edge of what I can do in terms of work as well!) In the end, the challenge for me was in the cleaning and prepping of the produce for sale. I’m not sure that’s something I want to do– it’s easier and in some ways more satisfying to give away the surplus.

And now, as we go into fall, I’m enjoying the arrival of stew season. Those end-of-season tomatoes really do their work and I am amazed at how flavorful everything is in these last versions of the saute-and-serve meal we eat about four months of the year. Last night, for example, I made this Ciambotta from Epicurious.com.I didn’t follow the instructions exactly– I’m not sure why they pre-cook all the vegetables. It’s much better to make the mirepoix, then add the eggplant, potatoes, peppers, zucchini and tomatoes, and finally fold in the beans. My green beans are long past, so I used dry beans, which I rehydrated ahead of time. Every bit of it came from the garden (except the celery, which a rabbit ate, so I got some from the Farmer’s market). Stew is pretty forgiving of puckering zucchini and peppers. I’ll remember, in May, when we’re choosing from among four fresh vegetables, what it means to have nine fresh items to throw in a stew in late September.