Veggies, Baby Goats and What is a CSA?
April 30, 2012
Posted By: Shaunescy
Spring is here and while I love to garden, I am not a successful gardener. Ambitious - yes, but my garden never really produces much. So this year I am going to plant ornamentals and scale back on the veggies and join a CSA. What is a CSA? Well, I went to visit Matt and Jacy at their beautiful farm, Gallatin Valley Botanical to see for myself. What a great place.
Matt and Jacy Rothschiller.
Their farm is located at 34651 Frontage Road in Bozeman, Montana, just past Rocky Creek, you know - where you take the kids to pick out pumpkins every year. It's run by Matt & Jacy. They grow up to 150 varieties of produce and market them to a 150 person CSA, twelve enlightened restaurants, the Community Food Coop Produce Department, and two summer and one winter farmers markets in Bozeman.
Here's what wikipedia says about CSA's
Community-supported agriculture is an alternative, locally-based socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution. A CSA also refers to a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA members or subscribers pay at the onset of the growing season for a share of the anticipated harvest; once harvesting begins, they receive weekly shares of vegetables and fruit, in a vegetable box scheme, and also sometimes herbs, cut flowers, honey, eggs, dairy products and meat, as well. Some CSAs provide for contributions of labor in lieu of a portion of subscription costs.
Or in simple terms, you buy a subscription for your weekly veggies and have awesome fresh produce that is grown locally. What could be better than that?
Or in simple terms, you buy a subscription for your weekly veggies and have awesome fresh produce that is grown locally. What could be better than that?
So how does it specifically work?
At their farm, Matt and Jacy are currently offering a Summer CSA subscription - which includes a weekly box of produce from the 2nd week in June through the 2nd week in October. Each box is filled with a variety of veggies: salad greens, cooking greens, an herb, an allium (onions, and the like), root crops, and seasonal vegetables. They also include a newsletter with recipes.
For those who are interested in getting their hands dirty, taking part in growing their own food, and learning about sustainable local agriculture in a working farm setting, Gallatin Valley Botanical offers the option of a working membership for the Summer CSA. What a great way to really dig in and teach your family about food. Friday mornings are dedicated to working parents and their children. By working a four hour shift per week for 13 weeks of the delivery season, workers will receive a 50% discount on their veggie box price. So check it out. I love going the farmer's market and getting fresh produce but it is a bit of an event - chasing two kids who wander in different directions while I try to shop in a bustling pavilion is not my idea of bliss. The growing season is upon us and the farm is springing to life. While you are there be sure to go and snuggle on the adorable baby goats.
Please call Jacy at 406-599-2360 for working member schedules and more information or visit their web site at http://gallatinvalleybotanical.com/
