By IMKE AHLF-WIEN
Courtesy of By Imke Ahlf-Wien
Fifteen years ago, I subscribed to my first Community Supported Agriculture — CSA for short.
Once a week, throughout the fall and winter, I picked up a large box of produce from Even’ Star Organic Farm at a friend’s back porch in University Park, and a neighbor stopped by my house in the evening to get her share from me. Both my neighbor and I ended up with massive amounts of local fresh organic vegetables. I still remember the abundance of leafy greens — lettuce mixes, kale, mustards and collards — and roots like radishes, turnips and sweet potatoes. My family ate more green salads than ever before, and I’m grateful to this day that my two older kids (who were 5 and 3 years old at the time) enjoyed the funky green stir-fries and oven-baked root vegetables as much as the grown-ups did. The recipes provided by the CSA farm made it easy to include the lesser-known varieties of vegetables in our meals, as well.
According to the North Carolina State University-sponsored website Growing Small Farms, the CSA concept started in Japan in the 1960s with a group of women concerned with the use of pesticides, the rise of processed and imported food, and the loss of farmers and farmland. In 1984, the first CSA in the U.S. was established in Massachusetts. In this production and marketing model, people become members of a CSA by purchasing shares of a farm’s upcoming harvest. Having members pay at the beginning of the growing season provides farmers with an immediate income and enables them to buy seeds, while CSA members share in the risk of production. In return, they receive a variety of freshly picked produce on a regular — usually weekly — basis.
There are several CSA options available in and around Hyattsville (here’s a complete list). Owl’s Nest Farm in Upper Marlboro is one of the most popular farms to deliver to our area. On Saturdays, 10 to 11:30 a.m., they set up a farm stand at Brentwood’s Material Things studio, where members can pick up their CSA share. According to longtime customer Brianna Tovsen, this face-to-face method allows you to pick and choose certain items, and to chat with the farmers and fellow customers. Corey Slavitt, who has subscribed to various CSAs for more than 20 years, said she loves having a steady supply of vegetables at peak freshness, building community, and directly supporting a local farm -– it feels like “making the world a better place.”
Kristi Bahrenburg Janzen has been hosting a CSA drop-off for two farms at her University Park home for more than two decades. She wanted to have direct access to food that differed in terms of flavor, variety and seasonality from that found at grocery stores, and she loves that the farms are using holistic practices: not only does this make the food healthier, it also creates a healthier and safer environment. Brandywine’s Good Fortune Farm delivers produce, including herbs, fruits and vegetables, in the summer. Even’ Star Organic Farm, based in Lexington Park, delivers leafy greens and root vegetables in the winter.
Courtesy of By Imke Ahlf-Wien
There are two farms that offer CSAs in even closer proximity to Hyattsville. ECO City Farms offers summer and winter CSAs that can be picked up at their Edmonston site on Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Farm manager Madeline Ramey emphasized that winter CSAs deepen the knowledge of lesser-known vegetables among customers, expand working opportunities for farmers, and increase food access to people in need. Blue Berwyn Farm, in Berwyn Heights, also offers CSAs that can be picked up at the farm in summer and fall.
Deep Roots Farm is Black- and women-owned and uses regenerative practices in Upper Marlboro. Deep Roots offers a 48-week CSA with pickup at the farm and at locations in D.C. For an extra charge, they’ll deliver directly to your door.
Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op is unique in that it represents over 100 small organic farms from Lancaster County, Pa., and offers seasonal shares including produce, fruit, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy and bread. Their winter CSA runs from Jan. 6 to April 21, and shares can be picked up at Streetcar 82 Brewing Co., in Hyattsville, on Thursdays.
Consider subscribing to a CSA to get your new year off to a fresh start. It’s such an easy way to vote with your money: good for your body, good for the planet, and good for the farmers who provide food that is fresh, local and delicious.
Sweet Potato Peanut Stew
Sweet potatoes are one of the vegetables that can still be found locally in the colder months and are often a staple of winter CSAs. You may even have all the other ingredients in your pantry already. This recipe is simple, economical and nourishing — perfect for a cold winter day.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, chopped into ¼-inch cubes
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 14-ounce can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ cup peanuts
Directions:
Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the bell pepper, sweet potatoes, water or broth, diced tomatoes, peanut butter, salt, chili and cumin. Stir well to ensure the peanut butter is thoroughly mixed in and there are no clumps remaining. Simmer, uncovered, for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Once the sweet potatoes are tender, stir in the peanuts.
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Imke Ahlf-Wien is a nutrition educator with a passion for fresh, locally procured foods.
