While in the depths of dreary winter, we can escape the chill imagining a warm and bountiful spring in Central Ohio, one where fresh, locally-grown produce and markets abound, supplying seasonal fare to the community. A number of local programs help turn these visions into reality, bringing healthful foods closer and simplifying the process from farm to table.
By joining an increasingly popular Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA program, through a local farm, allotted portions of fresh vegetables, herbs and other food items can be enjoyed at regular intervals for a flat rate. Essentially a "share" of a farm, CSAs are like produce subscriptions to items a farmer might have freshest and most readily available. Typically, CSA produce bags are delivered weekly to corresponding drop-off points, usually at farmers markets or related businesses. There are often payment plans in place with options for varying subscription lengths available. Large CSA shares can be divided by families or neighbors, with some choosing to preserve or can items to last year round.
Below is an abbreviated list of CSA programs in the Columbus area:
13 miles west of Columbus, Kevin Eigel raises grass-fed, hormone-free beef at Just This Farm near Darby Creek with his wife, Marcia. For eight years prior, Kevin worked as a full-time vegetable farmer, selling his wares at weekly farmers markets including North Market, Clintonville and Worthington. From there, Kevin transitioned into work with solar energy and energy efficiency, creating Ecohouse to conduct energy audits and implement energy saving techniques and materials in buildings in Central Ohio. Most recently, his passion has come full circle, back to the farm where organic techniques have been implemented for over 11 years.
At Just This Farm, cows are grass grazed on clover pasture and are never subjected to growth hormones or antibiotics. Water is fresh, land is ample and the resulting beef is impeccably wholesome and flavorful. Kevin sells his beef in 3 sizes: 1/8 mixed side, about 60 pounds of meat, 1/4 mixed side, about 80 to 120 pounds of meat, and a full side, which can range from 160 to 240 pounds of meat.
Sunny Meadows Flower Farm, purveyors of fresh, chemical-free flowers and produce, are now taking orders for their Thanksgiving arrangements. Recently featured as part of our "Get to Know You" series, farm owners Gretel and Steve Adams will fill the arrangements with fresh-cut flowers from their 7-acre farm in Columbus, along with ornamental seed pods, twigs, gourds and other seasonal fare.
Arrangements are available in three varieties and two price ranges. The first, a festive $35 variety arranged in a Mason jar, acts as a thoughtful hostess gift or treat for a close friend or family member. A $65 low-sitting arrangement is a perfect decorative center piece at the holiday table. Finally, a $65 tall arrangement can be ordered for a grander display or entranceway. The two large varieties will be arranged in heirloom pumpkins from neighboring Dangling Carrot Farm.
All season long, one is presented with calculations. First, comes the planning math. Garden planning season finds you with charts and calculators and seed catalogues all spread out in a jumble. There's no headache like comparing ounces of seed in one catalogue to grams of seed in another, trying to decipher which is the better price for an actual number of seeds that will turn into another actual number of viable transplants, which will take up 'X' number of row feet in the garden at such-and-such a spacing...
To my chagrin, when I phoned about a month ago to check their opening hours, I was informed that there was to be no apple picking this year.
"I might have just enough for a pie out there, but surely, not enough for you to take home," said Charlie Fritsch, the owner of the only organic apple orchard in Ohio.