Something is wrong with this picture. Every week, Americans spend on average more than $21 each on coffee and less than $5 for their vegetables. Given the mounting evidence pointing to the immense importance of consuming large quantities of vegetables, wouldn’t you think that the proportion should be reversed? I must admit that I drink a fair amount of coffee every week and wouldn’t dream of cutting it from my diet, but if I was pinching pennies, Starbucks would have to give way to summer squash and sweet bell peppers.
A recent study by the CDC found that only 1 in 10 Americans eats enough fruits and vegetables. Chances are, if you are reading this and you live in America, you are probably one of the malnourished. Malnourished Americans? You bet! We normally think of people in poverty-stricken countries when we think of that word, but 9 out of 10 of the people from the most prosperous nation on earth could be considered as such based upon their diets.
The good news is: You CAN do something about it! One of the best ways to increase your vegetable consumption is through joining a CSA. Joining our CSA Membership Plan is the perfect way to boost your intake of healthy foods. The CSA is a membership plan that allows you to share in the produce from our Independence, MO family farm. In effect, by joining the CSA you are joining into a very large home-grown vegetable garden–A garden managed without the use of harmful chemical pesticides or herbicides, and one that requires far less of your time and yields far more variety than if you were to put in your own garden. We offer two different membership levels to meet the needs of your household. The Basic Share includes 5 different types of vegetables or 20-25 servings for just $15 per week (Less than your coffee!). The Premium Share includes 8 different vegetables or 32 – 40 servings for just $24 per week.
- When you join our CSA you’ll receive a steady stream of fresh vegetables for 24 weeks, with plenty of tips and recipes to help you make the most of your share.
- Freedom to Choose. Where the Redfearn Grows Natural Farms CSA allows you to customize the contents of your box. While each week, part of the contents of your box will be chosen for you, you will be able to customize the remainder of your box by selecting from a wide-range of available crops. Read more here about how our CSA works.
- Our CSA members enjoy over 30 different crops and 100+ varieties! Do you love tomatoes? We grow 6 different types. Do you love salad greens? We’ll blow you away with mixed seasonal greens that add color and nutrition to your salad plate.
- Seasonal Eating. CSA members truly eat with the seasons, enjoying fresh leafy greens throughout the summer, tomatoes in July, and hearty roots and sturdy greens in the fall. Our seasonal produce is picked at the height of freshness, yielding the highest nutritional content.
- Fresh, fresh, fresh. When you join our CSA your vegetables will come from the field to your table within a couple days, allowing you to serve your family the freshest food possible.
- Meal Planning. CSA vegetables provide a healthy base for weekly meal planning. With every CSA Share we include meal ideas, recipes, and general prep and storage tips. Eating healthy becomes easy and routine. Click Here view a sample weekly email.
- Our CSA shares break down to a very low cost per week, just $15 for the Basic Share and $24 for the Premium Share. Members boxes include more than the retail value each week, giving our members access to fresh, healthy food at a reduced price.
- Exposure to new foods. We grow a lot of crops that are familiar to most people. Most weeks you’ll receive one or two things that might be new to you, try them right along with your favorite foods. This is also a great way to get kids trying new foods from the start, make trying new foods a fun and regular occurrence! We will rotate these more unfamiliar items in the farm selected items to help you take a stab at something new, but most of the time these more rare items will be available for you to choose if you so desire.
- Connection to your Food and Farmers. You’ll get a chance to meet your farmers and understand what went into the food on your table. You’ll be seeing us each week when you pick up your shares either at the farm or the market. You’ll also have the opportunity to work along side us to bring in the harvest. The standard membership prices include a total of 8 hours of farm work per season (Averaging out to only 15 minutes per week! Much less than if you planted your own garden! You’ll sign up for two or four-hour work blocks just a few times in the season). We offer discounts for those who want to sign up for additional work hours throughout the season. We also offer a non-work option for those unable to commit to working on the farm at all.
- Our farm serves a large area of Eastern Kansas City. We have pick up locations at the Independence farm as well as at the Lee’s Summit Farmer’s Market.
So, think about grinding your own beans and brewing your own coffee and you can put your Starbucks savings toward healthy food for your whole family.
Click Here to check out your CSA membership options.
Questions about joining our CSA? Call us – 816-457-1223 or email us at sheri@redfearnfarm.com.
