Today was my first pick up at our CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) farm. My friend Amy and I met there. Sharing a full membership can be a great way to save money. Often, a full membership is less than the cost of two half memberships. Plus, if one of you goes on vacation, the other can still pick up, so that week’s share isn’t lost.
With Amy and I, we are going to alternate weeks. One week she will pick up the items and then drop my half off to me, the next week I will do the same for her. It saves us on time and gas. It also saves us waste, since we get half the amount each week, rather than a full amount every other week, as many CSAs now do. As we all know, it is hard to keep fresh greens fresh enough to last through two weeks.
There are other ways to save money at your CSA.
You can sign up early. Many times the farms will give you an early bird discount.
You can volunteer. Some CSA groups will offer you a discounted membership if you agree to volunteer for a number of hours, or they will give you extra produce in exchange for volunteering.
You can take advantage of special programs your CSA may have available, such as lectures, music concerts and more. Some CSA groups even offer discounted admission at local attractions, just for members. Talk to the organizers and find out what extra benefits you may be entitled to experience.
You can avoid waste. One of the biggest ways to save money is to make sure that you use what you get. If you receive something unusual, look it up for uses and recipes. Store items creatively, if you won’t use it in time. For example, herbs can be cut up and frozen with some water in ice-cube trays. Measure them out first, so you know how much you will be adding to your recipes later.
Enjoy all of your fresh produce in the coming season!