Sign Up Now for a Summer CSA

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or Farmshare programs allow subscribers to buy fresh vegetables, and sometimes fruit, eggs, and more, direct from a local farmer. You pay in advance (though different CSAs may have different pay scales or due dates), and then during a period of weeks during the peak growing season, you go to a set location to pick up a variety of items that are currently available at that farm. You will also have to commit to at least one volunteer shift during the season.

There are pros and cons–for instance, pro, you get fresh veg straight from the farmer; con, you have to make sure you can be at the predetermined pick-up time every week or so. In our area, there are also several different CSAs to choose from, so you have to look at their options to see what works best for you. See the list below, and if you have any experiences you’d like to share, or questions you’d like to ask of people who’ve done it before, please do so in the comments.

Ditmas Park CSA
Farmer Jorge Carmona of Amantai Farm in Pennsylvania, who also sells at the Cortelyou Greenmarket, is the source for this 20-week season of mainly vegetables and some fruits that starts in June.
Cost Full share is $600, half share is $400, pick-up for both is every week. Add-ons include eggs, jarred goods, extra fruit, beef and pork, cheese, granola, dried beans, grains, flours, hearth-baked bread, and more.
Pick-up is on Tuesdays (full share) and Wednesdays (half share), 4:30-8pm, at Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church, E 19th and Dorchester.
Deadline to sign up: April 8.
More information at their website.

Flatbush Farm Share
Farm at Miller’s Crossing, located outside of Hudson, NY, provides this 22-week season of vegetables that starts June 6.
Cost They run a sliding scale payment system, with full shares costing between $166 and $640, single shares between $91 and $345. Full and single fruit shares are also available, as are add-ons of eggs, yogurt, cheese, coffee, beef, and tempeh.
Pick-up is every week for both share types on Wednesday from 5:30‐8pm at the Flatbush Reformed Church, E 21st St and Church Ave. The also host trips to the farm, potlucks, cooking demonstrations, and more.
Deadline to sign up: April 15.
More information at their website.

Kensington/Windsor Terrace CSA
Farm Garden of Eve on Long Island provides this 24-week season of vegetables that starts June 6.
Cost Full share is $575.04, half share is $305.04. Add-ons include fruit, eggs, and flowers, and there is a combo share available where you get everything for a slightly discounted price over what you would pay for each individually.
Pick-up is available on Wednesday from 4-6pm or Saturday from 10:30am-12pm at East 4th St Community Garden, E 4th St between Caton Ave and Ft Hamilton Pkwy. Full shares pick up every week; half shares every other week.
Deadline to sign up: end of April.
More information at their website.

Parkville Farmshare
A new CSA is in progress to “begin bringing some fresh and affordable food the area,” organizer Caitlin Foley tells me. She says they are “currently in the process of building a Farmshare that can include the diversity of our neighborhood.”
Pick-up will be at the Compost for Brooklyn garden on Newkirk and E 8th St, and we’ll keep you posted as additional details become available.
Contact Caitlin at parkvillefarmshare@gmail.com to be notified when recruitment begins, and to find out how you can get involved.