Clark’s Farm CSA

As I have said many times before, I am so pleased to be a member of two CSAs that are in such close proximity to my home. Today’s CSA is at Clark’s Farm. Not only is this a family owned farm but they are so family-oriented that it is fun just to drive up to the store. Let me give you some background on how it came to be such a fun place.

When I was raising my children there was a fairy tale place called the Enchanted Forest. Children loved going there because it was a theme park where a child’s imagination could take them inside the fairy tale. The park no longer exists, although the remnants of the park entrance now hosts a shopping center. In its heyday, the park was open during the summer and operated for 34 years. I remember holding my son’s third and my middle daughter’s fifth birthdays at the park. Snow White would come and host the children’s birthday parties. This type of theme park is quaint by today’s standards but harkens back to the day when families spent much of their time together and fun revolved around what the mind could conjure up with a little fantasy.

Clark’s Farm purchased the fairy tale structures that occupied Enchanted Forest and have them on display. There is petting farm, old-fashioned hayrides and seasonal themed events. Clark’s has taken over the tradition of hosting children’s birthday parties too. It’s a different generation but at least children today can experience some of the fun that we did at the old Enchanted Forest. It makes me a little nostalgic.

But my purpose today was the vegetables at the CSA. As you can see in the picture, we have beautiful zucchini, squash, peppers, collards, chard, lettuce, turnips, green beans and cucumbers! And when you factor in that you pay for the share up front, it works out to less than $30 a week for all these vegetables! Try going to your local grocery store and getting organic, fresh-picked vegetables for that amount. I know that I can’t go to my local Costco, which has a large selection of organic foods and the cheapest prices in town, and purchase 4 large zucchini, 2 yellow squash, 4 cucumbers, several varieties of lettuce, 2 turnips with greens, a bunch of fresh parsley, 4 peppers, Swiss chard and a pound of green beans for $30.

So, I encourage you to find your local CSA, even if their shares are completely sold out, to start buying your fresh produce from them. Sign up for their mailing list and next year, when they send out notices for enrollment, JOIN! It’s the best value for the money and the best way to eat your produce – farmed organically without pesticides. And it’s a way to support your local economy. Get to know your farmer.  I feel part of the Clark’s CSA family and feel welcomed by Nora every time I stop by.

Now off to make some new recipes!