Regardless of whether you are a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enthusiast or someone who wonders about all the hype, you’ll want to visit the second annual CSA Fair in the Open Harvest parking lot (1618 South St.) from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Local farmers offering CSA shares are excited to tell visitors about themselves and their farms and farming methods. The fair gives people the chance to ask all kinds of questions, too, such as the difference between certified organic and certified naturally grown, and to find out what veggies, fruit, herbs, eggs and/or meat will be offered throughout the season. And there will the opportunity to sign up for a plan on the spot if the perfect one presents itself.
“The CSA fair is a great opportunity for the CSA community to come together and celebrate spring," said Kirstin Bailey of Fox Run Farms. "Customers can look at each farm, meet the farmers and make sure they find a CSA that’s a good fit for them.â€
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By subscribing to a CSA, folks are investing in a local farmer and agreeing to bear some of the risk. An ill-timed hailstorm may damage or destroy vulnerable crops, although many small farmers mitigate potential losses by investing in hoop houses and other measures to protect their crops. Typically, all goes well, and people reap the benefits of their investment by taking home weekly shares of the freshly harvested produce.
Another benefit of a CSA is enjoying seasonal herbs, vegetables and fruits that were harvested on the day or within days of picking up a share.
“This is what makes a CSA exciting and different -- you get things that grow only in the season that they grow and mature in this area,†says Alex McKiernan of Robinette Farms. “That’s one of the things on the farm, there’s a seasonality for growing and eating, and foods taste much better when they’re grown and eaten in season.â€
The CSA fair is an opportunity to meet the farmers who grow your food, but the farmers also welcome the chance to meet you and discuss what you’re hoping to get from a CSA subscription.
“We’re really fired up for our joint CSA venture with Fox Run Farms this year,†said Erin Schoenburg of the Darlin’ Reds Farm. “The excitement that’s growing around all the local CSA programs is tremendous, and we love that, combined, we are feeding so many more people each year."
Meet the CSA Farmers
Chloe Diegel and Alex McKiernan
Starting on May 27 and running through Oct. 7, the 20-week summer CSA is available for weekly pickup in three sizes: small $325, medium $425 and large $625. A mini share is available every other week for $220. Pick up shares on Wednesday evening 4-7 p.m. at either Robinette Farms in Martell or Leon’s Gourmet Grocer, 2200 Winthrop Road, in Lincoln. The 10-week fall CSA runs from mid-October through mid-December, costs $250 and is available for pick up at Good Life Fitness on Wednesdays 4-7 p.m.
* ShadowBrook Farm,
Kevin Loth, Charuth von Beuzekom Loth and Diane Loth
Although ShadowBrook Farm has been selling CSA shares for years, in 2010, it introduced a market-style CSA that lets people pay for a share as usual. Instead of picking up a bag or box of produce each week, however, the share you buy (prices vary) comes with a debit-style card that you redeem at the Old Cheney Road and Haymarket farmers markets in Lincoln or any of the four weekly markets in Omaha. You also may pick up your share at ShadowBrook Farm country market, which is open 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays.
* Common Good Farm,
Evrett Lunquist and Ruth Chantry
Participants in the Common Good Farm CSA can opt for a 12-week ($360) or 15-week ($450) share. Pick up shares at the farm or make arrangements to pick up at a location in Lincoln. EBT and SNAP are both accepted. Add-ons include Common Good Farm’s certified organic eggs and Branched Oak Farm cheeses.
Dates for the fall harvest CSA are somewhat weather-dependent but usually start toward the end of September. Shares cost $160 and result in roughly 70 pounds of fall produce.
* Community CROPS,
In its 11th year of offering CSA shares, Community CROPS features a standard share ($500) and a veggie-lover share ($650). The 20-week season runs from May 21 through Oct. 8, with one week off and one week when members are invited to pick up their share at Prairie Pines farm. Typically pickup is in the Westminster Church parking lot at 27th and South streets from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. Add-ons include a $41 egg share from Prairie Pride Poultry and a $133 cheese share from Orchard Hill Creamery and Branched Oak Farm.
* The Darlin' Red Foxes, or
Erin Schoenburg, Margaret Milligan and the Baileys (Yolanda, Larry, Casey, Kirstin and Jett)
Combining the talents and techniques of The Darlin’ Reds and Fox Run Farms, the Darlin’ Red Foxes are selling full, 20-week shares for $500 or half, 10-week shares for $300. Add-ons include cow milk cheese from Branched Oak Farm ($50), cow milk yogurt from Branched Oak Farm ($40) and eggs from Fox Run Farms ($50).
* Medinger's Market, medingersmarket@windstream.net
Don Medinger
The two fruit and veggie CSA options are a May-to-October share for $385 or a May-to-July share for $200. Along with several add-ons (Medinger’s Tomato Chips, Jel-jam, spices, popcorn, morel mushrooms, farm fresh eggs and apple chips), Medinger’s will deliver your share to your home in Lincoln for an additional fee. Pickup is also available at any of the four Lincoln farmers markets (Haymarket, Old Cheney Road, University Place and Fallbrook).
* Olive Creek Farm,
For the last three years, Olive Creek Farm has offered a 16-week, market-style CSA, featuring fruit and veggies. The amount of produce is the same as a 20-week share, but it works better for both the Hengs and their CSA members to take a few weeks off in August and September. Costs are $275 for a small, $400 for a medium and $550 for a large share. After receiving an email, members go to the farm, which is just south of Bennet, to pick up shares. Add-ons include eggs and chicken; pork and beef are new this year. For the final pickup of the season, Olive Creek Farm invites all of its CSA members to the farm for a fall party that includes a potluck meal and hayrack rides.
* Aiki Farms,
Robin and Sandie McConnell
Entering its sixth season of providing CSA shares, Aiki Farm (pronounced eye-key) has a half-share ($260) and a full share ($480) that run 20 weeks from the end of May/beginning of June through September. Pickup on the farm from 1-4 p.m. on Saturdays or from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays near 54th Street and Normal Boulevard in Lincoln.
* Hollister Farms, hollisterfarms@gmail.com
Partnering with two other farms (Heartland Organics and Orchard Hill Creamery) that are also certified naturally grown, Hollister Farms has an 18-week CSA beginning on June 2 and running through Sept. 29. The full membership runs $500, and the half is $275. The New Victorian Inn between Hy-Vee and Natural Grocers on 50th Street is the pickup location for shares of weekly vegetables and herbs. Add-ons include dairy products, eggs, and a whole or half a heritage pig.
* Spiritus Vitae Botanicals,
Paul and Nicole Saville
Participants in the Community CROPS Growing Farmers Training Program, Paul and Nicole Saville grow medicinal herbs and produce on their farm outside Lincoln. Among the products the shares include are tinctures, syrups, teas, infused honey and infused oils. Shares are available year-round, one for each season: Small shares are $75 for one season, $300 for the year, and large shares are $150 for one season, and $600 for the year. Spring shares focus on herbs and produce for seasonal allergies; winter shares include products to support immune systems. There is a single pickup each season at 2 Pillars Church in Lincoln, and subscribers may attend a seminar at the time to learn more about the botanicals.
* The Edible Source,
For those who want more of a say in what the weekly CSA share includes, Edible Source may be the option. In addition to picking the plants and products in a share, subscribers also may opt for a 12-week, 6-month or 12-month subscription and pay either $20 per week or $240 for 12 weeks. This greenhouse-based farm grows products from seed or starter plants year-round and delivers self-selected shares to Lincoln on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
* Lakehouse Farm,
This family farm in Waverly provides a 20-week, $500 CSA from May 11 through Sept. 21. Blending market-style and traditional CSA shares, the box includes $15 worth of produce selected by Lakehouse Farm, and subscribers are able to select the remaining $10. In Lincoln, pickup options are one of two farmers markets: Haymarket on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until noon or Old Cheney Road on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
* Bugeater Farm, skylarfalter@gmail.com
Located on the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s East Campus, Bugeater Farm is a student-run CSA that grows local, organic produce while teaching its farmers sustainable agriculture practices. The 12-week CSA runs from June 19 through Sept. 4 and costs $250.
* Brockley Farmaceuticals,
Barb Brockley
Although it is not participating in the CSA Fair this year, Brockey Farmaceuticals has offered CSA shares for 13 years. This season, it will have standard ($450) and small ($300) shares available for 22 weeks from April through October. Check out the blog for more information about signing up and where to pick up your share.