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just joined harmony valley farm csa from wisconsin. they have several drop off points in the cities. it looks pretty decent and they have a long schedule. this is my first year with them so I cant review their service/quality but they have been doing this for a long time.

We just joined Featherstone as well, JohnJohn. It's our first year. I picked them because of the selection, and because of the floods that hammered the Rushford area last year.

One of my very favorite things to do is go to the farmer's markets on the weekends. Does having the CSA keep you from going to the markets? Also, do you find it to be a massive quantity? Has anyone here ever done one who lives alone?

Wow... Featherstone must have done some great marketing. We just joined another friend to split a chica share of Featherstone's produce. (And that friend was neither johnjohn nor derusha.) It was between them and Harmony Valley, but Featherstone's Minnesota roots and promise of rhubarb and strawberry tipped the balance.

We've been meaning to do it for 2 years and finally got around to it this weekend. We used the Land Stewardship Project's 2008 CSA directory to find a good one that fit our needs re: quantities (not too much), price and drop-off locations.

Can't say yet whether it'll keep us out of the farmer's market or not, but really our neighborhood market in NE isn't that great anyway.

I'd like to do it, but unfortunately, I cannot eat a lot of those veggies.

Michael Pollen article in NYT

A good article arguing for CSA and growing your own food.

Also, a bonus to local food is that you know what is happening with it. I recently read in NYT, that mexican produce does not have the same regulations as in the USA, and massive amounts of pesticides and such are used. That is one of the top reasons I go local, accountability and a working relationship with the producers.

Did I mention I am a Wedge Co-op member as well?

I've really wanted to try a CSA for a while now but since we got a house with tons of gardening space I can't really justify the expense.

Is there such a thing as an egg or meat CSA box?

Common Harvest farm for many years now

We have been with Harmony Valley for a year, and will be a drop-off site this year (26th & Blaisdell area). They do offer a meat, cheese and coffee option. The produce is great, and organic--I was especially impressed by their integrity in dealing with the flood situation last year.

More info is available at the site:
http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com/

If you are like me and don't join a CSA because you won't be in town for a lot of the summer, check out the Produce Exchange at the Global Market on Chicago and Lake, and the meat and cheese stand next to them for local producers. The Produce exchange is moving produce that is still good, but too ripe to have a long shelf life at the co-op, so they have unbelievable prices. I just bought 3 large boxes of perfectly ripe organic strawberries for $3 this weekend.
WEI is a good operation.

Re: Produce Exchange at the Global Market

We just bought two of those box organic salad mixes for $3.99 (two for 1). Normally they sell for like $7.99 each.

I'm the CSA coordinator for Harmony Valley Farm. The coffee is 19 every other week deliveries, May-January. Fresh roasted, fair trade & organic - 1# a week for $180, 2# for $350.

Our beef comes in several pack sizes, starting at 25#. You can look at our delivery sites & pack descriptions here.

The cheese (new this year) will be 19 every other week deliveries, May-January & will feature a familiar cheese like cheddar, colby or mozarella; a unique veggie cheese using veggies from the farm & milk/cheese from one of the dairies we work with (maybe a Roasted Red Pepper & Onion, Horseradish Chive, Caramelized Onion or Dill cheese), plus a specialty cow, goat or sheep's cheese such as Fresh Brebis or Feta or Blue cheese.All the deliveries are $500 but we're doing a special introduction of the first 4 deliveries only for $100 - you must sign up by May 1 for that deal. Email me (csa@harmonyvalleyfarm.com) or check out our website!

Richard, the owner/grower, has been growing organic veggies since 1973 & has had the CSA since 1993! We feed a lot of people & I think we're pretty organized & do a good job packing & delivering boxes, as well as growing delicious & nutritious veggies.

Did WEI (Women's Environmental Institute) last year and it was disappointing. A couple of heads of cabbage a week and more kale than you can imagine. Very little by way of variety. Because I am a glutton for punishment and they drop off a block away from me, I am going to give them one more try this year.