Six years ago we embarked on our first CSA journey in Atlanta. When we moved to New England, we searched far and wide for the perfect CSA—Community Supported Agriculture. The year before, I had read The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love, and I was determined to find a farm that could feed my family throughout the year. We discovered Springdell Farm, in Littleton and I mourned the loss of my Springdell CSA when we decided to move from Acton to Beverly. Littleton felt too far away to drive on a weekly basis, so the last three years we’ve bounced around several farms trying to find one we liked as much as Springdell.
We were unsuccessful. This year we decided to go back to Springdell. The variety that Springdell offers in its crops and the size of the share make it worth it to drive two hours each week, After trying many different farms, we like Farmer Jamie the best, and we know she will feed us through the entire year. I also love that the land they are on has been a farm since the 1700s, and has been in their family since the 1930s. I personally love that the main farmer is a young woman, barely even 30, who grew up on the farm and now has made it her own. Her mom is the main meat farmer - and it makes my heart sing to support a farm run by a mother/daughter pair.
My own adventures in gardening here have taught me that farming is a real art here in New England, and I'm so thankful to have Springdell and its crew to feed my family. I do not have a green thumb and I am done pretending. I’ll just let Farmer Jamie feed me instead.
Over the years I have become quite passionate about eating from a CSA, and every summer I get questions from family and friends about how to use random pieces of produce. I hope you’ll find this space to be helpful and encouraging, whether you are buying seasonal produce at the farmers market, just starting on a CSA journey or have eaten from a CSA for many years.
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