CSA Season is Here!
By Guy Maguire, SHLT Programs Director
March, 2021
The spring equinox is one of my favorite times of year. I love hearing the birds singing again, the smell of soil as the ground thaws, and the swelling of maple buds on the trees bringing color back to the landscape. Spring is also wonderful because it signals the coming return of the growing season, and another year of bounty made available to us by local farmers.
One of the best ways to get local produce and other products is through a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. CSA’s are pre-brought shares in a farm’s upcoming harvests. Basically, you pay a certain amount up-front, then receive local products throughout the season.
The beauty of CSAs is that they are a win-win. Customers benefit by getting the freshest, in-season, highest quality products at an affordable price in a convenient weekly box. And, farmers benefit because the infusion of cash at the beginning of the year allows then to better prepare for the growing season.
Here in NW Vermont we are fortunate to have a number of local farms that offer CSAs. Each has slightly different offerings and features, so we encourage you to do your research and find the one that fits you best! Here are some farms that offer traditional CSAs in the Islands.
Note: Pickups and delivery locations/range for CSA’s vary farm-to-farm. Follow the links below for more information for each CSA.
Grand Isle County CSAs
Blue Heron Farm in Grand Isle offers produce shares, chicken & egg shares, raw milk, and more, on a sliding scale honor system. Click here to visit their CSA page and learn more.
Darby Farm in Alburgh offers vegetable shares and farmstead giftcards. Learn more on their CSA page here.
Savage Gardens Farm in North Hero offers customizable shares that include vegetables, eggs, berries, herbs, flowers and plants. Click here to visit their CSA page and learn more.
Sandy Bottom Farm in Isle la Motte offers customizable produce and berries shares. Subsidized shares at half cost available for eligible customers. Click here to visit their CSA page and learn more.
Wally’s Place Bagels and Deli in South Hero offers a year-round bread share CSA. Visit the Wally’s Bagels page to get in touch with them.
Franklin County CSAs
Border Hill Farm in Berkshire offers a diversified CSA. Visit their page to get in touch about offerings.
Foggy Brook Farm in Fairfield offers a winter meat CSA share. Visit their page to learn more and get in touch.
FunJ Shrooming Company in St. Albans offers a summer mushroom CSA! Visit their CSA page to learn more and sign up.
Did we miss any CSAs in Grand Isle or Franklin County? Email guy@shlt.org if you want us to add a farm to this list, thank you!