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


Wednesday, April 8, 2009

This Weeks' Food (4/10/09)

This week I will be delivering sunday sometime. Orders are due by friday 10 am.

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

* salad mix bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* herba stella bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (siberian, curly, or red russian) @ $3
* leeks @ $4/lb
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz
* orders for free range, naturally grown broiler chickens @ $2.50/lb to be delivered end of April/beg of May (~ 5 lbs total)

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

Thursday, April 2, 2009

This Weeks' Food (4/3/09)

We are now on a weekly schedule - yeah! So every week orders are due to me by friday 10 am. I deliver monday evenings usually. I am taking orders for broiler chickens from Fresh Start Farm. They are $2.50/lb (approx 5 lbs total) and will be delivered at the end of April/beginning of May. I ate a chicken two days ago from this farm and is was fabulous. Let me know with your order if you want chickens. The sooner the better in order to guarantee the availability of chickens for you.

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

* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* herba stella bag @ $3 (salad green with slight tang, forked leaves)
* kale bunch (siberian or red russian) @ $3
* turnip greens bunch @ $3
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2.50/dz
* orders for free range, naturally grown broiler chickens @ $2.50/lb

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

Thursday, March 26, 2009

This Weeks' Food (3/28/09)

This week orders need to get to me by 6 pm friday. Egg orders need to be in thursday. Here's this week's food options:

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

* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* herba stella bag @ $3 (salad green with slight tang, forked leaves)
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* kale bag (siberian) @ $3
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb

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

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

On a side note, we go to weekly delivery very soon. Asparagus season is a few weeks away. New fresh food will be available soon as the season has changed.

Friday, March 13, 2009

This Weeks' Food (3/13/09)

This week orders need to get to me by noon saturday. Here's this week's food options:

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

* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce & baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* herba stella bag @ $3 (salad green with slight tang, forked leaves)
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* kale bag (winter mix) @ $3
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* satina potatoes -large (yellow with buttery texture) @ $2.50/lb
* satina potatoes - quart of small @ $5
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb (approx $2/bulb)

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

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Broiler Chickens Available!

Fresh Start Farm has cornish broiler chickens available soon. They are grown in Nanjemoy on their new farmland. The chickens live outside and eat lots of insects. They are not given any medications or pharmaceuticals. I do not know the final price per pound, but last time they were $2.50/lb. I know they will be more this time. There are several chickens available. You can get them whole, half, or in pieces. Let me know by friday if you want any!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

This Weeks' Food (2/27/09)

This week orders need to get to me by noon friday. Here's this week's food options:

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

* dill herb @ $2/bn
* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce & baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* herba stella bag @ $3 (salad green with slight tang, forked leaves)
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* kale bag (winter mix) @ $3
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* satina potatoes -large (yellow with buttery texture) @ $2.50/lb
* satina potatoes - quart of small @ $5
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb (approx $2/bulb)

From Good Fortune Farm:
* certified organic eggs Jumbo size (I use 1 of these instead of 2 normal size eggs) @ $4.25/dz

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

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

Thursday, February 12, 2009

This Weeks' Food (2/12/09)

Happy New Year Everyone! This week orders need to get to me by noon friday. Here's this week's food options:

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

The Following Items Are Big MAYBES -- please tell me what to substitute if your first choice is not available.
* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce & baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3

The following are expected to be harvested as normal
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* herba stella bag @ $3 (salad green with slight tang, forked leaves)
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* kale bag (winter mix) @ $3
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* satina potatoes -large (yellow with buttery texture) @ $2.50/lb
* satina potatoes - quart of small @ $5
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb (approx $2/bulb)

From Good Fortune Farm:
* certified organic eggs medium @ $3.60/dz

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz (maybe)

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