Bon Temps and the CSA basket
While we were in Orlando, Bon Temps Squirrel was gracious enough to pick up our first CSA basket. Since we were gone for over a week, she was also gracious enough to eat it for us. Here is her report.
Community Supported Agriculture groups (CSAs) are a proactive way to support local farmers and enjoy the best the season has to offer in fresh produce. Locavores in the Memphis area have been wishing for a CSA group to enter our community for years.
This year, Downing Hollow Farm answered the call. Lori and Alex Greene bring the best of their Olive Hill, Tennessee, farm to their pre-committed patrons every Friday afternoon. They are dedicated to producing a variety of fresh produce using strictly organic growing principles.
Their first week brought bunches of fresh kale and chicory greens, baby squash of multiple varieties, green beans, baby radishes, baby cucumbers, spaghetti squash, lush salad greens, tomatoes and fresh herbs.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the flavorful little baby cucumbers. We thinly sliced them up with some fresh carrots and sweet onions and covered them with rice-wine vinegar and some seasonings. It was a perfect hot summer night side dish. We also steamed the greens with just a little lemon, salt and pepper — they were so earthy and flavorful.
Lori also includes recipes with her weekly offerings just in case you need a few ideas to get you going. It’s almost like being a little kid again excitedly looking through your Easter basket. We can’t wait to see what bountiful surprises await us the rest of the summer!
The Downing squad looks like it churns out amazingly good fare, but in the interests of those of us with slightly less money, I feel it incumbent on me to point out that Whitton Flowers & Produce also has a CSA down at the Farmer’s Market for about $200 a month.
(And it’s darn tasty, too!)
FYI Downing Hollow Farm CSA is $100 a month.
I think the $200 a month must be a misprint. We recently signed up for one of their ten week sessions and it was $250 working out to $100 a month.
Kimberly is right. The Whitton and Downing Hollow CSAs are both $25 per week. I believe that Whitton is 10 weeks and Downing Hollow is 12, so the price for the share may be different, but the per week price is the same.
Whitton Flowers and Produce Farm is located 40 miles from downtown Memphis. We offer 4 CSA shares. We began our service May 3,2008. We have a full veggie for $250.00(10 wk)(apprx. size bush.bskt). We also offer a veggie 1/2 share for $125.00, 10 wk subscript.)approx. size 1/2 bush.bskt.
We do the same with our floral service. Full florals & half floral shares. Keith & I are "all season" farmers & offer CSA sessions throughout the year. We offer 2 pick up points, Wednesday at Botanic Gardens & Saturdays at the Memphis Farmers Market. If you want to learn more please check: http://www.whittonflowerandproduce.com
We are thrilled with the response to our CSA and extremely grateful for all of our supporters.