More than a dozen farms in the Washington area have Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Customers pay an annual membership fee in advance to cover farm production costs. The farmer provides a "share" of the harvest: a box of seasonal produce, on a weekly basis, for a predetermined number of weeks. Most are certified organic or use organic farming methods. Crops and prices vary from farm to farm. Vegetables are picked up at the farm or at a delivery site. Some farms deliver.
It's best to shop around for a farm that meets your needs. The following farms are still accepting customers for the 2005 season. The areas they serve are listed along with their phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web sites, if available. To read about the program, go to: www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa.
Bull Run Mountain Vegetable Farm, The Plains, Va.; 703-745-4005 or .bullrun@arczip.com; www.bullrunfarm.com. Arlington, Falls Church, Alexandria, Centreville, Manassas, Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill.
Farmstead of Charlotte Hall CSA, Charlotte Hall, Md.; 301-884-3384 or farmstead88@msn.com. The District, Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland.
Fresh & Local CSA, Shepherdstown, W.Va.; 304-876-3382 or info@freshandlocalcsa.com; www.freshandlocalcsa.com. Bethesda, Silver Spring, Northwest Washington and Arlington.
From the Ground Up, Upper Marlboro; 301-627-4662 or clagettfarm@cbf.org; www.clagettfarm.org. Anacostia and Dupont Circle.
Great Country Farms, Bluemont, Va.; 540-554-2073 or farmer@greatcountryfarms.com">farmer@greatcountryfarms.com; www.greatcountryfarms.com. Home deliveries in Northern Virginia.
Green Farm, Mechanicsville, Md.; 301-290-0141. St. Mary's County and Northwest Washington.
Jug Bay Market Garden, Upper Marlboro; 301-627-6211 or jugbaymg@earthlink.net; www.jugbaymg.qn.com. Capitol Hill and Upper Marlboro.
Last Straw Farm, Leesburg; 703-443-9619 or laststrawfarm@direcway.com. The District, Montgomery and Loudoun counties.
Olin-Fox Farms, Reedsville, Va.; 804-453-4125 or growerivu@rivnet.net. Alexandria.
Potomac Vegetable Farms, Vienna; 703-759-2119 or MHNewcomb@aol.com; www.potomacvegetablefarms.com. Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Purcellville, Tysons Corner and Brookmont.
Sandy Spring CSA, Sandy Spring; 301-438-3927 or erintjohnson@comcast.net; www.sandyspringcsa.com. Montgomery and Howard counties.
Stoney Lonesome Farm CSA, Gainesville; 703-754-9145 or SLfarm2004@yahoo.com; www.slfarm.us. Brookland, Friendship Heights and Gainesville.
Waterpenny Farm, Sperryville, Va.; 540-987-8567 or Waterpenny@verizon.net; www.waterpennyfarm.com. Sperryville, Arlington and Lorton.
-- Walter Nicholls
