On Thursday I visited my friend Jenny in Phoenixville, PA, where she is doing an apprenticeship at Charlestown Farm. It was the first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm I've ever been to, and I instantly fell in love! Sure, it is easy to feel like this after spending just one day at a place like this. But novelty aside, I would love to be a part of a CSA at some point.
Charlestown Farm has about 150 members. Throughout the growing season, these members stop by the farm to pick up that week's pre-picked produce available, or pick their own berries, tomatoes, and other delectables depending on availability.
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First we uncovered the peas that they had planted at the end of March, then made a trellis for each row to start grabbing on and growing skyward!
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Jenny, watering in the greenhouse
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Leslie showing off the Swiss Chard, pre-transplantation!
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Beautiful Swiss Chard
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I visited on a perfect day - bright and sunny but not too hot!
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Margo, reeling in the measuring tape - helpful for plant spacing and staggering.
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After transplanting three 200' rows of Swiss Chard, we finished out the day weeding thistles while Melissa and Leslie plowed for future planting. Jenny and I discovered an entire underground root system those pests were creating. The farm, while being uncertified, uses organic farming techniques (like the hard work of me and Jenny)!
Reasons why I love CSAs (and my own garden):
-nearly eliminates fuel costs for transportation
-fresher produce
-food with more nutrients
-can experience the realities of life first hand (for example - crops take time to grow and they sometimes fail...)