Sandy Spring CSA

Eat local, eat healthy

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CSA?

What is CSA?

CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a simple way to support local farmers, while providing your family with healthy, fresh, locally grown vegetables. CSA members pay an annual fee and in return receive a weekly share of produce harvested at the peak of ripeness, flavor, and nutritional content. This arrangement guarantees the financial support of local farmers.

CSA enables your family to:

  • support and preserve small and family farms and farming practices and
  • eat fresh, locally grown, organic food.

Many CSAs are started by farmers. Sandy Spring CSA was started by its members, who were attracted to the concept, organized themselves, and then found their first farmer/partner. Additional farmers join the community when needed.

In the U.S., Robyn Van En is credited with launching the CSA movement in 1985 at her Indian Line Farm in western Massachusetts. Today there are more than 1,000 CSAs all over the country. For more information about CSA, go to CSA Center or Local Harvest.

Benefits of Joining Sandy Spring CSA

  • Each week you get fresh, local, organic produce from a nearby farm.
  • Eat certified organic vegetables and naturally grown fruits, full of nutrients, safe from genetic manipulation and chemicals.
  • You help to sustain healthy, organic farming practices and support local, independent farmers.
  • You support a form of agriculture that doesn’t harm the environment, i.e. doesn’t pollute waterways, diminish the soil nor reduce biodiversity.
  • Participating in CSA reconnects you and your family with the true source of our food, not the grocery store, but Mother Nature. It teaches us about eating seasonally and about the unpredictability of farming.

35 Comments

35 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Christina // Aug 11, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    Hi- I’m just discovering CSAs and would like more information about your share prices and amounts/types of veggies you offer. Thank you!

  • 2 Margaret Meredith // Aug 19, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Interested in buying in bulk. Price list would be great.

  • 3 cathy ball // Aug 22, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    I am interested in joining your group in Rock Creek Hills, Kensington, MD for the fall season. What is the cost and where does one pick up the groceries?

  • 4 Vanessa // Aug 22, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Go to ” join us” for info on how to join. The pick ups are in Kensington, Sandy Spring and Rockville. Rockville is currently full for the fall.
    The cost is $245 for the fall, which includes a one time application fee.

  • 5 Luda // Sep 1, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    Hi, I live in Columbia and would like to know if you would consider opening any locations close to Howard County.
    I also would like to find out more about your CSA.
    Thanks,

  • 6 Dan // Sep 6, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    Our Sandy Spring site is less than 5 miles from Highland, MD. If that’s not convenient, we would consider another location in Howard County. Do you have a porch or garage that we could use as a pickup location?

  • 7 Vanessa // Sep 22, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    Just so everyone knows, tomorrow 9/23 Erin will send out the welcome e-mail for the fall season. It will have all the details, addresses of pick up locations, times, etc.

  • 8 John Nilsson // Sep 24, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    I’m a new member for fall. I never received a welcome email. Please send. Thanks.

  • 9 Shirley Runde // Sep 28, 2008 at 8:50 am

    My neighbor, Patricia Selmanoff, and I at Friends House are interested in sharing a halfshare since she can pick it up, as I can’t—We do SO appreciate the goodies you share with us on Tuesdays here at Friends House!

  • 10 Angie Melton // Sep 29, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    I just sent a check in for a Kensington pickup fall share - I hope there are still some available!

  • 11 Jacinta Muwallif // Nov 27, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    Hi I have just discovered your website and am interested in learning more about purchasing a share for the upcoming season. I’d like to know if there are payment options available. –thanks

  • 12 Donna // Feb 4, 2009 at 11:43 am

    I would like to know the pick up locations. I live in Bethesda. I would like to sign up, but need to know how far I have to drive. thanks

  • 13 Margaret // Feb 8, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    I would like to know what the cost is per share and where pick-up locations are located for the Bethesda area. Thanks.

  • 14 Myra // Feb 8, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    I am eager to join an organic csa. Please email me with the cost of your share, pick-up locations near Chevy Chase MD (eg Kensington or Bethesda), and approx how much produce one gets each week eg what’s in a typical box

  • 15 MICHELLE BOWLING // Feb 11, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    would like more imformation cost. location, ty

    type of itimes in my box, etc. thank u.
    my add. 814 daleview dr. , s.s., md 20901
    301-439- 5861

  • 16 carroll ann robinson // Feb 16, 2009 at 10:45 am

    Hi!! Saw you this morning on WUSA9. We live in Olney, MD and are interested in the SandySpring location and a full CSA share (spring, summer, fall).
    Waiting to hear from you with start-up date, cost for full share, etc.
    Wonderful!!!
    Carroll and Gene Robinson

  • 17 Venus Thompson // Feb 16, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    I would like to know what the start up cost is to join CSA.

  • 18 donna jones // Feb 18, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Hello, I would like info on joining the Sandy Spring CSA. I can smell the fresh veggies and fruit!
    Thanks

  • 19 Vanessa // Feb 21, 2009 at 10:15 am

    For all of you asking cost and start date of the 2009 season, you can find this info on the “join” page. You will see a link for our membership agreement, which has all those details.
    For now, the cost is $545 plus a $50 administration fee for new members. The season runs from May 13th through Sept 30th. If you have more questions, call me. 301-424-9142.

  • 20 Rita & Denny McMullin // Mar 3, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    We are interested in your CSA. Do you have any memberships available for the ‘09 season? What is the cost? Where is the pick up? Do you have delivery? Can we help/work at the farm?
    Thanks. Rita & Deny

  • 21 Susan // Mar 12, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    Hi, I’m interested in joining a CSA but I live in Howard County (Columbia/Ellicott City area). Is Sandy Spring anywhere near there?

  • 22 Nancy // Mar 18, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    Your enrollment form says checks were due in January. Is it too late to join?

  • 23 Vanessa Strunk // Apr 27, 2009 at 4:27 pm

    Sorry for late reply all.

    Rita, We still have memberships. The cost is $545 plus a $50 administration fee for new members. The season runs from May 13th through Sept 30th. If you have more questions, call me. 301-424-9142. All this info and application are on the Join page.

    Susan, If you live in west Columbia, Sandy Spring pick-up is about 20 minutes or so, depending on your exact location.

    Nancy,
    If you haven’t sent your check, there is still time. However, we are full up at the Rockville site.

  • 24 Shirley Runde // May 4, 2009 at 9:29 am

    We are surely looking forward to ths very small ,but very important to us ,experience—Gratefully, Shirley

  • 25 OFC // May 11, 2009 at 2:42 am

    Some day i would like to join but i am short cash at the time. Organic Food Challenge

  • 26 Myra // May 13, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    Hi
    From the comments when I picked up the first basket today, it was clear there are lots of folks who are not sure what to do with rhubarb. I am happy to share our recipe for making a sort of compote which does not use too much sugar to combat the tartness, and which goes well with vanilla icecream or plain yoghurt.
    For the amount in the basket (about 1.5 lbs trimmed rhubarb), do as follows:
    Cut ends off stalks, cut stalk into pieces about 1 in long, and put in pot together with
    1.5 C cold water, 2/3 C sugar, 3/4 teasp. bicarbonate of soda, 1/2 teasp. vanilla extract.
    Bring to boil, cook gently about 10 mins. Stir gently so the chunks are not totally destroyed.
    Enjoy!

  • 27 Myra // May 20, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    I was clearly not accustomed to getting such very fresh, juicy rhubarb as the csa is providing! With Sandy Spring’s rhubarb, the amount of water in above recipe is too much. One scant cup is sufficient.

  • 28 Borganic.org // Jun 5, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    I agree with you Myra One cup was fine. Borganic

  • 29 Michele // Jul 7, 2009 at 11:56 am

    I am just findong out about CSAs and am interesting in membership information.

  • 30 Karen // Sep 16, 2009 at 6:41 am

    I am interested in the 8 weeks produce but I can not seem to find a list of what vegetables and fruits I would be receiving. Could you send me a list or the correct website to find out what I would receive.
    Thanks,
    Karen

  • 31 Shirley Runde // Nov 4, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    We now share a whole share and are having such a good time with such super produce!

  • 32 Ron Schwarz // Mar 3, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    We love the CSA produce but find we don’t use it all so are looking for someone to share (half) each pickup in Kensington.

    Ron Schwarz
    301.502.9721

  • 33 Vera Kurdian // Mar 21, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Hello,
    I just found out about CSA this year. Have you filled your spots for this year ??? Can you send me some info. on costs, delivery sites and such??

  • 34 Doug // Apr 7, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    So excited for this season to start!

  • 35 Carol // May 27, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    Someone at our pick-up asked if I had any way to use the frest mint we received this week…besides mint juleps and mojitos…here’s a good one:
    Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

    3 cups of cooked quinoa (see “How to Cook Quinoa” for cooking instructions)
    1 1/2 cups of diced, peeled & seeded cucumber
    1 cup of chopped fresh parsley
    1/2 cup of chopped mint
    2 cups of diced tomato
    1 cup of chopped green onions
    6 cloves of garlic, minced
    1/2 cup of fresh lime juice
    3 tablespoon of olive oil
    1 teaspoon of salt
    1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

    In a bowl, combine quinoa, cucumber, parsley, mint, tomato, green onions, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss well to combine all ingredients. Cover and chill at least one hour. Serves 8.

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