Join a CSA today!

Throughout the long winter, those of us living in Michigan don't have many choices when it comes to eating locally grown fruits and vegetables. But once spring comes around, opportunities abound! The year begins in March with maple syrup and proceeds to asparagus in April. As soils warm through summer, more and more crops ripen until we're up to our eyeballs in tomatoes and pole beans are climbing the fences. Before we know it, autumn comes around and we'll be picking pumpkins and apples at the orchard down the road.

Many of us simply don't have the time, space and energy to grow large gardens at home. If that sounds familiar, a great way to get local produce is to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project! A CSA works by individuals purchasing "shares" of produce directly from a local farmer. Sometimes CSAs include people helping out in the garden, weeding, watering and the like. Most local operations, however, simply supply you with fresh produce once a week in exchance for a monthly payment. CSAs in the Saginaw Valley supply fruits and vegetables, herbs, eggs, meat, wool products, and more!

Check out the Local Harvest Website for a good list of CSAs throughout Michigan and the U.S. You can also visit the Midland's Farmer's Market to connect with local farmers or call Stephan and Sandra Bowman (989-837-0953), who will be running their "Bowman Center Farm" CSA for the third season this year.