Get Your Winter CSA Shares + a Potluck

Photo credit: Pacific NW CSA

Along with farmers markets, CSAs are a great way to access local, sustainably-grown food, and they’re not just for summer—many farms offer winter shares, too. This means you’ll get all sorts of delicious foods of the season—think brassicas (broccoli and Brussels sprouts), alliums (onions, garlic, leeks), and hardy greens like radicchio.

Winter Share Search

To find a winter CSA share, use this handy-dandy tool from the good folks at the Pacific NW CSA Coalition (formerly Portland Area CSA Coalition)—it’s the Find a Farm search tool. Under the “Season” drop down menu at the top of the page, click “Winter” and it will display in map form and in text below the map the various farms that offer a winter share, and their location/distribution points. A key to the map: Carrots are farm locations and peapods are delivery or pickup locations.

Some of what you might find in a winter CSA share. Photo credit: Pacific NW CSA

I heard from Anne Schneider, communications director at the Pacific NW CSA Coalition, about this addition excellent opportunity when it comes to paying for a CSA: “Oregon recently received funding to continue the Double Up Food Bucks program, which helps low income communities who buy food with SNAP get fresh food at a discount,” she explains. “So, if people currently use SNAP, they can purchase a winter CSA share through a participating farm and PNWCSA will match up to $100 of a winter CSA share.”

Feed Your Farmer Potluck

On Sunday, September 19 from 4pm to 7pm, PNWCSA is hosting a potluck gathering called “Feed Your Farmer” at Luuwit Park (under the picnic shelter) in the Argay neighborhood in east Portland [map]. “The idea is to show farmers gratitude for growing and delivering our food all summer long,” says Anne. “We’re asking people to show off their CSA cooking skills by preparing dishes made from the ingredients the farmers have provided.” Along with a dish to share, bring your plates and utensils as well. RSVP here.

It’s a potluck party in honor of the wonderful CSA farmers, and anyone who wants to show farmer appreciation is welcome to attend. I think it sounds fantastic.

As someone who helped run a CSA for a decade and who purchased many a winter share over the years, I can wholeheartedly encourage you to subscribe to a winter CSA share. It’s a terrific experience and makes for good eating. Here’s to our farmers who feed us!