
RELATED LINKS:
Portland CSA Coalition
Local Harvest (USA)
OR Organic Events
Organic's Seeds Success
How to CSA's:
Of course individual farms may offer different options, most have simple sign-ups:
<> write a check to a farmer in January - early spring, get a season's worth of fresh-from-the-field vegetables in return -- but in the Portland-Vancouver area, it has never been better. Shareholders, typically city folks who can't get enough fresh veggies or those who aspire to eat more, sign up each spring and receive about 20 weeks' worth of locally grown produce......
<> To broaden the appeal, a few enterprising growers have come up with new options:
You can sign up for a smaller weekly share (half or three-quarters of a box) at a smaller price, or choose to be a member for just the first or second half of the season.
If you can't pick up your box because of vacation plans, some farms let you trade for vacation credits to use at a farmers-market stand. A few deliver, and those that don't are adding new drop spots around town, making weekly pickups more convenient.
And the variety in a typical CSA keeps improving, with some farmers using row covers and other season-stretching tools to get earlier berries and basil, or salad greens into fall. Most shares now include fruit occasionally or even weekly and, for a fee, you might also get eggs, cheese -- even olive oil and imported salt. If it sounds like your bag, or box, don't delay: The most popular CSA farms fill up quickly, and a few offer price breaks for payment by April 1.
Source: OR Live.com
The following Oregon and Washington farms deliver produce boxes to the Portland and Vancouver area. Call the individual farm to see when they accept membership [usually starting in January].
[NOTE: costs listed are from 2008 -- costs are subject to change at the discretion of each farm!]
47th Avenue Farm, Portland
Grows: Vegetables
Pick up: Woodstock neighborhood in Southeast Portland (Tuesday); Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego (Thursday)
Season: Summer share, May-October; winter share, November-April
Price: $725 for whole share; $400 for half-share. New membership is available through a waiting list.
Options: Juniper Grove goat cheese and Sweetwell Farm Eggs
Contact: www.47thavefarm.com; 503-777-4213
Abundant Harvest, Hillsboro
Grows: Vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers
Pick up: Wednesdays at farm; every other Thursday in Southeast Portland at Southeast 45th Avenue and Clinton Street
Season: Mid-May through October (24 weeks)
Price: $675, farm pickup, 24 weeks; $355, Southeast Portland pickup; 12 weeks. Accepting new members.
Options: Other fruits available for additional charge.
Contact: www.abundantharvest.biz; 503-261-0640
Artisan Organics, Hillsboro
Grows: More than 40 vegetables
Pick up: Good Samaritan Hospital; Emanuel Hospital
Season: June through October (22 weeks)
Price: $22 a week for 22 weeks ($484 season)
Options: Lamb
Contact: www.artisanorganics.net; 503-270-6689
Backyard Bounty, Portland
Grows: Vegetables, herbs
Pick up: Southeast Portland
Season: May 28-Nov. 5 (24 weeks)
Price: $312 for small share or $552 for large share. No new memberships available in 2008. Waiting list available for 2009.
Contact: 503-916-9576
Birds & Bees Community Farm, Oregon City
Grows: Eggs, fruit, herbs, honey, nuts, vegetables
Pick up: Pick up at farm
Season: Begins April 3
Price: $790 for full season (32 weeks); shorter season options also available. No new shares available in 2008. Waiting list available for 2009.
Contact: 503-655-7447
Bumblebee Farm, Troutdale
Grows: Vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit; certified organically grown practices
Pick up: Twelve Mile Market, Southeast 223rd Avenue and Stark Street, from 4-8 p.m. Fridays
Season: June through October (24 weeks)
Price: $550 (24 weeks)
Options: Eggs, honey, bread
Contact: www.localharvest.org/farms/M9172; 503-704-0775
Dancing Roots Farm, Troutdale
Grows: Vegetables, herbs, flowers & some fruit
Pick up: At the farm or in the Piedmont neighborhood in North Portland
Late May through Thanksgiving (26 weeks)
Price: $435 for a household share. Accepting new members.
Options: Eggs, for extra charge
Contact: www.dancingrootsfarm.com; 503-695-3445
Deep Roots Farm/Bolster Family Farms, Corvallis
Grows: Berries, bok choy, tomatoes, sweet corn, watermelon and other fruits and vegetables
Pick up: At one of four farmers markets in the Portland area and one in Corvallis.
Season: A 22-week membership gives credit for use at Deep Roots farmers market booths, at a 10 percent discount.
Price: $180, $270, $360 for small, medium or large shares
Contact: www.deeprootsfarm.com; 541-917-8944
Gaining Ground Farm, Yamhill
Grows: Vegetables, herbs, flowers
Pick up: Northeast Portland; at the farm
Season: June through October (20 weeks)
Price: $490 (for vegetable share, 20 weeks)
Options: Additional cost for free-range eggs, local wine, goat cheese
Contact: www.gaininggroundfarm.com; 971-275-2842
Gathering Together Farm, Philomath
Grows: Broad variety of certified organic vegetables, plus berries, herbs, tomatoes, melons and more
Pick up: Portland, Hillsdale and Beaverton farmers markets; Irvington neighborhood
Season: Begins June 1, 22 weeks
Price: $475 for full box, $355 for three-quarter box; add $25 after April 1
Extras: Salad mix of seasonal baby greens, bulk vegetables for canning
Contact: www.gatheringtogetherfarm.com; 541-929-4270
Groundwork Organics, Eugene
Grows: Certified organic vegetables of all types, plus berries, melons, cherries and peaches. Expect early cucumbers, basil, berries and tomatoes.
Pick up: Saturday morning at Lake Oswego and Portland Farmers Markets; Friday afternoon in Northeast Portland at 17th Avenue and Fremont, and Southeast Portland at 22nd Avenue and Division
Season: May 16 (22 weeks), plus fall season beginning Oct. 18 (8 weeks)
Price: $450 for summer, $175 for fall (accepts credit cards)
Extras: $20 market coupon with full payment by April 1
Contact: www.groundworkorganics.com, 541-998-0900
Hidden Oasis, Vancouver
Grows: Seasonal vegetables, greens, fruit, shiitake mushrooms
Pick up/delivery: Delivery to homes and offices in Vancouver only, or pick up at farm
Season: March-December (40 weeks)
Price: $860 (40 weeks); membership is closed for the 2008 season; waiting list available for 2009
Contact: www.localharvest.org; 360-256-6896
Hunters' Greens Farm, Brush Prairie, Wash.
Grows: Vegetables adapted to the Pacific Northwest, also a few exotics and occasional fruit
Pick up: At the farm; Fisher's Landing C-Tran Park and Ride in Vancouver
Season: From first Wednesday in June (20 weeks)
Price: $440 regular season share, $75 flower share, $100 winter share; accepting new members
Options: Eggs from Wooden Bridge Farm
Contact: www.huntersgreens.com; 360-256-3788
La Finquita del Buho, Hillsboro
Grows: Sustainably grown vegetables, fruits without pesticides
Pick up: At farm
Season: April 14-Oct. 30 (29 weeks)
Price: $750 for 29 weeks
Options: Eggs, flowers, artisan bread, goat cheese
Contact: 503-647-2595
Love Farm Organics, Forest Grove
Grows: Vegetables, salad greens mix, herbs, flowers, berries and other fruits
Pick up: Monday evenings at the farm; Thursday evenings in Garden Home/Hillsdale area
Season: Mid-May through October (25 weeks)
Price: $400 for half share, $650 for full share, $70 for berry share (10 weeks, two additional pints of berries); accepting new members
Options: Berries available for additional cost.
Contact: www.lovefarmorganics.com; 503-515-9939
Natural Harvest Farm, Canby
Grows: Vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs
Pick up: At the People's Co-op Grocery farmers market (Wednesdays) from March through June (bi-weekly, nine pickups) and July through November (weekly, 21 pickups)
Price: Varies according to season and year. No new memberships accepted for 2008 season. Waiting list available for 2009.
Options: Chicken and duck eggs, mushrooms
Contact: www.osalt.org/csa_at_natural_harvest_farm.html; 503-263-8392
Purple Rain Vineyard, Brush Prairie, Wash.
Grows: Vegetables, fruit
Delivery: Vancouver, Battle Ground and Brush Prairie
Season: May 2-Dec. 17, 34 weeks
Price: Half share $493 ($14 per week); full share $986 ($29 per week)
Options: Eggs
Contact: www.purplerainvineyard.com; 360-256-8658
Queen Bee Flowers, Portland
Grows: Specialty cut flowers
Pick up: Southeast Portland
Season: June (12 weeks)
Price: Contact for details, membership deadline May 1, new membership available
Contact: www.queenbeeflowers.com; 503-231-2806
Sauvie Island Organics, Portland
Grows: Seasonal vegetables
Pick up: At farm or in Southeast, Northeast or Northwest Portland
Season: Mid-May through Thanksgiving (29 weeks)
Price: $845
Options: Half bag of gourmet salad greens a week
Contact: www.sauvieislandorganics.com; 503-621-6921
Square Peg Farm, Forest Grove
Grows: Vegetables, fruit, eggs, pork
Pick up: Tuesdays at farm
Season: June 17-Oct. 21 (19 weeks)
Price: $340 for small share; $670 for large share; accepting new members
Contact: 503-357-1214
Sungold Farm, Forest Grove
Grows: Tree, cane and bush fruits, more than 50 varieties of vegetables, and cut flowers grown on a fifth-generation family farm
Pick up/delivery: Tuesdays at the farm, Intel campuses (employees and contractors only), and the Prudential NW Properties office in Newberg; Wednesdays at Portland Farmers Market downtown; Thursdays at Nike (employees and contractors only), Wilshire Park in Northeast Portland, and Columbia Sportswear (employees and contractors only); Saturdays at Beaverton Farmers Market and Portland Farmers Market at PSU; Sundays at Hillsdale Farmers Market.
Season: June 16 (18 weeks)
Price: Season share is $324 until May 1; new memberships available
Contact: www.sungoldfarm.com; 503-357-3851
Sunroot Gardens Urban CSA, Portland
Grows: Vegetables, fruits, culinary and medicinal herbs
Pick up: Southeast Portland
Season: May through October (25 weeks)
Price: $625 for full share, $500 for half share; no new memberships available for 2008 season, waiting list for 2009
Options: Call for details
Contact: www.trashfactory.net/sunrootgardens; 503-686-5557
Viridian Farms, Dayton
Grows: Fruit and heirloom European vegetables geared toward the gastronome
Pick up: Saturdays at Portland Farmers Market; Thursdays at Grand Central Baking on North Fremont
Season: Begins May 24
Price: $500 for full season (20 weeks),$260 half season (10 weeks, beginning May 24 or Aug. 2)
Options: Artisan cheeses and yogurt from Fraga Farms and Ancient Heritage Dairy; imported olive oil, salt and vinegar
Contact: www.viridianfarms.com; 503-830-7086
Winter Green Farm, Noti
Grows: 40 varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables
Pick up: Thursdays at East Bank Farmers Market; Northeast and Southeast neighborhood pickup sites; Saturdays at Hollywood and Portland Farmers Markets; Sundays at Milwaukie Farmers Market
Delivery: Eugene, Bend, the coast
Season: Mid-June through mid-October; extended season mid-October through mid-November
Price: Prices vary according to location; see Web site for details. Membership open in all areas, except Bend
Contact: www.wintergreenfarm.com; 541-935-1920
Wooden Bridge Farm, Skamokawa, Wash.
Grows: Pasture-raised chicken, duck, turkey and eggs. 100 percent grass-fed lamb; Certified organic tomatoes
Pick up: Thursdays at Portland Farmers Market at Eastbank and various locations in Portland and Vancouver
Season: May 15-Sept. 25 at Portland Farmers Market at Eastbank. Year-round egg delivery for other locations
Price: Contact for details; new memberships available
Contact: 360-795-3383
Your Backyard Farmer, Portland
Grows: Heirloom varieties, vegetables
Delivery: Home delivery
Season: First week of March and end second week of November (37 weeks)
Price: Prices vary; call for details; new memberships available; deadline April 30.
Options: Choice of vegetables to be planted for specific dietary needs
Contact: www.yourbackyardfarmer.com; 503-449-2402
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