Pierce County CSAs & CSA Video...

What is Community Supported Agriculture or CSA?  Have you heard friends or TV folks excitedly throw these letters around and you aren't quite sure what they mean?  Or maybe you are a “seasoned” CSA veteran already?  Newbies and veterans alike should enjoy this trip Pride of Pierce (http://www.prideofpiercecounty.com/farmvideos.html) took out to the farm to talk about CSA with Terry Carkner, owner of Terry’s Berries in Tacoma.

 

When you buy a CSA share from a local farm, you receive a weekly (or whatever your arrangement) box of farm fresh produce during their growing season.  The farm gets a stable financial base for the season and you get wonderfully fresh local products and a direct connection to a local farm.  Here’s an idea… share the box as well as cost and pick up duties with a family member or friend and you’ll also share in the discovery of some great new varieties of fruits and vegetables. 

You could even give the gift of CSA for the Holidays.  Wow.  What a cool gift.  This gift is an investment not only in the health and happiness of the recipient who will be munching away at the freshest foods available, but also in a healthier environment and local economy.  It's a win-win.

Schedules vary and some farms now have fall, winter, and early spring shares!  Terry’s Berries for instance, offers a fall, winter, and spring share--winter share beginning in January.  Check out their website for sign up info and product details (www.terrysberries.com).  Terra Organics, a home delivery service based in Tacoma, will also deliver a box of local products to your doorstep all year round (www.producehomedelivery.com).

 

Size, price, and options for pick up and drop off also vary among different CSAs.  For more information, including factors to consider when choosing the right CSA for you or your family, talk to a local CSA farmer or visit Puget Sound Fresh (http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/csa.htm).

Pierce County CSAs:

 

Little Eorthe Farm    (253) 576-8950

Orting, littleorthefarm@gmail.com

 

Mosby Brothers Farms    (253) 939-9431

Puyallup/Auburn, www.mosbyfarm.com

 

Peace of the Earth Farm

Rosedale, http://www.localharvest.org/peace-of-the-earth-farm-M34663

 

Tahoma Farms   (253) 376-8604

Orting, http://www.tahomafarms.com/

 

Take Root Farm    (253) 891-FARM (3276)

Buckley, www.takerootfarm.com

 

Terry’s Berries     (253) 922-1604

Tacoma, www.terrysberries.com

 

Zestful Gardens    (253) 232-0811

Tacoma, www.zestfulgardens.org

 

Home Delivery

Terra Organics      (253) 627-1581

Tacoma, www.producehomedelivery.com

 

Other CSAs around the Puget Sound can be found at: www.pugetsoundfresh.org

Mother Earth Farm: Providing Organic Produce for the Emergency Food Network

Mother Earth Farm is an organic 8 acre farm working with the Emergency Food Network to provide them with around 150,000lbs of fresh produce yearly.  Mother Earth is in the midst of its 11th season of growing produce and raising awareness of hunger issues in Pierce County.  Mother Earth Farm is located on private land near Orting donated by a 3rd generation farming family. 
 
I have to say it is a beautiful section of the valley with great views of the Cascade foothills and Mt. Rainier, but perhaps the most beautiful thing is the mission of the farm to serve fresh healthy foods to Pierce County folks.  Mother Earth Farm relies heavily on volunteer labor to produce the amount they produce.  To get involved on the farm contact Carrie at 253.691.4921 ormotherearthfarm@gmail.com.  Mother Earth Farm also hosts work parties weekly on Saturdays from morning to evening with no appointments needed.  For other information, visit:http://www.efoodnet.org/Page11.aspx. 

(download)