CSA members picking up their shares

When I first moved to Brooklyn, I was initiated into a whole new world of  food coops, Greenmarkets and CSAs. Though the Park Slope Food Coop intimidated the heck out of me (and still does) and the Greenmarkets have become a common stop for us, I haven’t ventured out into the land of CSAs.  I got three emails in the  last week about CSA openings (and spots can be rare), so I thought it was high time I wrote about them and perhaps join one this year.

CSA is Community Supported Agriculture and basically means when you join one, you are purchasing a share of food from a regional farm or farmer. From June until October or November, the farmer will deliver your goods to a neighborhood drop-off location and you get your weekly or bi-weekly share. If you find you don’t want a large share you can split them too. Think: fresh berries, broccoli, flowers, meat, eggs and even, yes, fiddleheads!

There are loads of CSAs in Brooklyn. To find one just put your zip code in at this CSA in NYC website.

New CSAs (some with spots available):

The Brooklyn Bridge CSA is a new CSA and is trying to add a meat share. Their structure is a little bit different than most CSAs. As they state, “(we are) sponsored by Pursue: Action for a Just World, supported by Hazon, and will have an explicitly Jewish food justice theme. So in addition to delivering delicious veggies from Sang Lee Farms, we’ll have a meaningful and active justice component built into the CSA’s structure and programming.” They are having their Member Orientation Tuesday, June 1st at Congregation Mt. Sinai. At the meeting they will start signing up people for their volunteer shifts.

There is a new CSA location in Bay Ridge called the Yellow Hook CSA. Sorry to say, they are sold out for 2010- but contact them to get on a waiting list.

Urban Meadow CSA in Carroll Gardens is new too- they are accepting applications now. They accept new members in the growing season.

Central Brooklyn CSA is rumored to have some spots still. Their pickup is at the corner of Dean Street at New York Avenue. 

Open shares (and some open jobs!)

The Paisley Farms CSA is still accepting members for its Fort Greene location. Brooklyn locations and hours are: Fort Greene: Metropolitan Exchange Building, 33 Flatbush Avenue pick-up hours: WEDNESDAY 5:00 – 8:00pm. Paisley Farms also has a CSA in Williamsburg. You have to check availability, but they do offer Vegetable, Fruit, Egg and Omega Egg shares.

The Sweet Pea CSA in Brooklyn Heights has sold out of their fruits and vegetables shares, but do have meat and cheese shares available. Oh, and by the way- they are looking for a driver for one day a week: the pay is $125 a day plus FREE vegetables and fruit CSA share (value of $765). The Kensington/Windsor Terrace CSA is also looking for a driver- and you get the same deal.  Think I might go buy a van for this! Wonder if our family could eat both shares?!

The Southside CSA in South Williamsburg is having a signup meeting tonight, June 1st from 5-7 pm at NAG office. Details here. They have 60 berry shares available.

The Crown Heights CSA is sold out for this summer, but you can join the 2011 wait list here.

*******If you know of any other CSA information to share, please put it down in the comments under this post. Thanks!