Affordable Produce Options

I got a great variety of things in my Bountiful Basket today!  I have been a Bountiful Basket member for over 2 years now. I was a member when there were only four locations in my state! I am thrilled that they have become so popular! Their unique buying power and volunteer run infrastructure has allowed so many people to be able to get affordable produce at a time when things in the grocery stores seem to be going up and up.

But with their increasing popularity, it has made it increasingly more difficult to get a basket if you don't get your order in within the first hour or so or else all the locations will be filled up in my area.  So I've been checking out my options.

Yes, I know I could volunteer to open up another site in my area, but I really like to support my local farmers and local food systems too.  I think its very important.

I used to belong to Borski Farms, a local CSA {community supported agriculture group} which I used to enjoy.  So I've looked into that again.  I like that everything is grown locally and extremely close to me.  It is not trucked in from who knows how many miles away.  Their farms are right near where I live.  I love living in an area that still has some agricultural roots in it.  I have met the farmer at their farmer stand in the summer and fall ~ he told me once that he really loves what he does!  They are who I patronize when I'm stocking my root cellar in the fall.  

I have also checked out the Soup and Salad Club and met their owner too. 

Here he is with my grandparents.  

This is the one my grandpa has chosen to participate in.

Their farm is organic and sustainably run. They even grow their own bio-diesel fuel for their delivery trucks! How cool is that? Here is the owner, with my grandpa checking out the stats on my grandpa's solar panel and being all cute and excited discussing solar options etc.

Here is my grandpa's solar panel. 

You can also see some of my grandpa's terraced garden beds in the background. It feels very european when everything is in bloom. He has fruit trees along one row, and a beautiful grape arbor {not shown} on the hillside.  They are getting into their mid to late 80's now and gardening is getting harder and harder for them to do.  A CSA or farm share like this is a great option for them to get their fresh produce especially since they are vegetarians  {and they eat a ton of veggies!}.

The owner is so nice, 

and even helped them with their computer!

So I haven't decided which one to participate in yet, but I think I am definitely leaning towards a CSA share again.  I love being locally tied to my food system.  I love knowing where my produce came from.  I love meeting and knowing the farmers who are producing the food.  You do have to pay upfront for the season, but when you break down the number of weeks and figure out your basic price per week, it works out to about the same amount {or less} than the price for a Bountiful Basket.

Hmm...the deadline to join is fast approaching ~ now which one to choose.  Decisions, decisions!

Do you CSA?

Garden?

Do Bountiful Baskets?