CSA
Community Supported Agriculture.
365
The number of days in a year.
CSA|365 is a website committed to supporting local farms and locally sustainable food every day. This site encourages the concept of the CSA lifestyle and support the relationships between local farmers and their consumers.
CSA|365 highlights local farmers and crafters of local produce, and advocate for farmers and farm legislation that need our support. We hope to provide information on local community initiatives that pertain to Community Supported Agriculture. As we tend to the soil of the site, we hope it will grow into much, much more.
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“Springdell Show & Tell” was a featured series on CSA|365 dedicated to highlighting the year-round produce available through the CSAs of Springdell Farms in Littleton, MA. The series began in 2015 and ran for 6 years. The series written by Jess Anderson and Sarah Buck, two busy local moms that manage to feed their family fresh Springdell produce all year long. The goal was to share daily recipes for the entire 2015 year and show the readers how to use entire shares without waste. Having completed their goal of posting 365 real-time consecutive recipes in 2015, Jess and Sarah have continued to forward their mission with new recipes and by creating a virtual veggie-pedia, Veggiescope.
Fat Moon is a mushroom farm created by the Almeida family. The Almeidas have been in Westford for several years providing healthy living and eating options for the community through organic farming and programs. Since 2015, Fat Moon has been selling fresh gourmet mushrooms, and even has a mushroom CSA running from January to May.
The “Westford Community Garden” is just that! It was initiated in October 2014 and completed its first season in 2015. It continues to go strong and is growing! Stay tuned for how things are going in 2017, or drop us a line (by clicking on the little envelope at the top of the page) to fine out how to become a part of it!
CSA|365 is the brainchild of Jess Anderson, who is a crusader in the local food movement and just looking for a way to share the love.
About the CSA|365 Bloggers – Jessica Anderson and Sarah Buck.
Jess Anderson has been a resident of Westford for 23 years. She has recently taken a hiatus from her geriatric social work practice to stay home with her sons Ben (10) and Kai (8). When she’s not chasing her little guys around, Jess loves cooking local food, gardening, hanging out with her husband Glen, and playing music. Jess helped to found the Westford Community Gardens, and is the former Chair of the Westford Strawberry Festival.
Jess’ love affair with local food began about 15 years ago when she joined her first local CSA. A few years later, Jess found Springdell and has been a loyal member of the Springdell Farm Family ever since. Jess has been called a “CSA junkie”, and once belonged to 5 CSAs from 3 different farms simultaneously. She is always trying to learn new ways to put her share boxes to good use and to make food that appeases her often fussy eaters.
As a busy mom, Jess has not had more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep for the past decade and hence her brain has gone a bit mushy. Jess sincerely (and somewhat desperately) hopes this fact will somehow enhance the blogger/bloggee experience.
Sarah Buck has been a resident of Chelmsford for 16 years. She was an elementary school teacher for 13 years until recently when she decided to change careers and become a chef. Sarah spends a good deal of time chasing children as well, she has two very active boys. When she gets a few moments to herself she enjoys cooking, reading and playing the piano.
Sarah has always loved to cook but this change of career came from her children, Anderson (12) and Griffin (10). Four years ago her younger son, Griffin, became very ill. After many difficult months, doctors, and hospitals Griffin was given the diagnosis of celiac disease. At the time it was both a relief to have a diagnosis, and a seemingly challenging task. Having a love of food already, Sarah took this challenge on in full force. She began discovering the benefits for her whole family of eating fresh and local foods, shopping at farmers markets and joining her first CSA. This change of lifestyle also brought Sarah to the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, and to start her own business, Whisk Baked Goods, offering delicious baked goods to all and specializing in gluten-free.
Sarah’s love of food, passion for eating local, and expertise on gluten-free living will add another dimension to the Springdell Show and Tell blog.
Jess and Sarah have known each other for 25 years, having met through the friendship of their husbands, Glen and Alex. Sarah’s firstborn son is even named “Anderson” in honor of Jess and Glen’s last name! Jess has always harbored a little guilt for not returning the favor and naming her own firstborn son “Buck” (but not too much guilt). Jess and Sarah’s friendship has blossomed through parenthood and, more recently, through the love of local food.
Jess and Sarah hope that through this blog, they can share their adventures of making Springdell’s CSA model work for their busy families year-round.