How Does This Work?

Every week, we visit local farms, talk with the farmers, and purchase the freshest, yummiest food. We support farmers who nurture their soil, strive for sustainable farming practices, and don't use harmful or questionable products. Each week, you choose a la carte from the list of available food and pay for what you choose. We pack your share into reusable containers and you get your food. You, in turn, leave us the empty containers from last week's order and arrange payment. It's that simple!

To assist in your enjoyment of local produce, we will share storage information, preparation tips, recipes and ways to use new foods via this blog.

Sometimes, customers will have the option of adding eggs, honey, meat, cheese, mushrooms, bulk fruits, and other foods to their orders. Monthly, we order dry goods and food staples from Neshaminy Valley Natural Foods (based in Philidelphia, PA). These additional options are called Special Orders.

Is the food organic? Organic is such a key word these days. We go for local first, choosing farms that are as close as possible to the LaPlata area. Whenever there is an organic option, we will go with that. After that, we look for farmers who use IPM (integrated pest management), composting, and other sustainable practices. If you would like your food to be strictly organic, just let us know when you become a customer!

There are three membership options:
I) Weekly delivery to your home - cost $12/month + mileage charges
II) Weekly pickup at my home - cost $12/month
III) Special Orders Only - cost $5/order


Thursday, October 22, 2009

This Week's Food 10/23/09

Orders are due by 10 am friday!

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic

* butternut squash @ $2.00/lb
* acorn squash @ $2.25/lb

* green bell peppers @ $2.50/lb
* ripe red or yellow bell peppers @ $4.50/lb
* italian eggplant @ $2/lb
* asian eggplant @ $3.60/lb
* parsley bunch @ $2.50

* lettuce mix @ $3/bag
* mesclun mix @ $3/bag
* baby arugula @ $3/bag
* red malabar spinach @ $3/bunch
* kale (curly, red russian, siberian, or lacinato) @ $3/bunch
* swiss chard @ $3/bunch
* rapini @ $3/bunch
* green wave @ $3/bunch
* vitamin green @ $3/bunch
* italian dandelion @ $3/bunch
* stinging nettle @ $3/bunch
* tat soi @ $3/bunch
* mei qing choi @ $3/bunch

* radishes (cherry bell, french breakfast, ostergruss, rosy, or daikon) @ $2.50/bunch
* large nicola potatoes @ $2/lb
* small nicola potatoes @ $5/qt
* regular onions @ $3/lb
* garlic or elephant $8.50/lb (typical head is $1.75)
* ginger (fresh and young) @ $15/lb

There is an abundance sale on ginger: buy 1/2 lb of more and only pay $12/lb; buy 1 lb or more and pay $9/lb

From Fresh Start Farm:

* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz
* 3-5 lb broiler chickens @ $2.50/lb

Various products from chemical-free, pastured, naturally grown hogs
* fresh sausage from pastured pigs (flavors: green pepper and onion, medium italian, hot italian, or country) @ $3.49/lb
* Smoked ham steaks about 1/2 inch thick @ $3.99/lb
* Sirloin chops @ $2.99/lb

From the LaPlata Farmer's Market, Bowling Farm in Bel Alton
Conventionally grown

* 5 apples for $2.50 (lots of different types, tell me your favorite or at least sweet/sour and whether you are cooking/eating/canning/saucing etc.)
* 5 pears (d'anjou or barlett) for $2.50

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

This week's Food (10/16/09)

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic

* butternut squash @ $2.00/lb
* acorn squash @ $2.25/lb
* green bell peppers @ $2.50/lb
* ripe red or yellow bell peppers @ $4.50/lb
* italian eggplant @ $2/lb
* asian eggplant @ $3.60/lb
* parsley bunch @ $2.50
* lettuce mix @ $3/bag
* mesclun mix @ $3/bag
* baby arugula @ $3/bag
* baby spinach @ $3/bag
* red malabar spinach @ $3/bunch
* calaloo bunch @ $3/bunch
* kale @ $3/bunch
* radishes (cherry bell or french breakfast) @ $2.50/bunch
* large nicola potatoes @ $2/lb
* small nicola potatoes @ $5/qt
* regular onions @ $3/lb
* garlic or elephant $8.50/lb (typical head is $1.75)
* ginger (fresh and young) @ $15/lb

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz

From the LaPlata Farmer's Market, Bowling Farm in Bel Alton
* 5 apples for $2.50 (lots of different types, tell me your favorite or at least sweet/sour and whether you are cooking/eating/canning/saucing etc.)
* 5 pears (d'anjou or barlett) for $2.50

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

This week's Food (10/9/09)

Summer is over, tomatoes are gone, zucchini are gone, but mesclun mix for salads is here! Since this is late getting posted, you have until 9 pm friday to email the order to me :-)

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic

* butternut squash @ $2.00/lb
* acorn squash @ $2.25/lb
* green bell peppers @ $2.50/lb
* ripe red or yellow bell peppers @ $4.50/lb
* italian eggplant @ $2/lb
* asian eggplant @ $4/lb
* parsley bunch @ $2.50
* lettuce mix @ $3/bag
* mesclun mix @ $3/bag
* arugula @ $3/bag
* calaloo bunch @ $3/bunch
* red malabar spinach @ $3/bunch
* large nicola potatoes @ $2/lb
* small nicola potatoes @ $5/qt
* regular onions @ $3/lb
* garlic or elephant $8.50/lb (typical head is $1.75)
* ginger (fresh and young) @ $15/lb

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz
* cornish chickens available now @ $2.50/lb with typical weights under 5-6 lbs

*** Cornish hens are available now and then NOT AGAIN UNTIL SPRING. Order now!

From Me:
* kombucha starter and instructions @ $3 (ask for a taste if you've never had this fermented beverage)

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.