Fall is the season for apple picking and pumpkin carving, and a visit to a local farm is a great way for kids to celebrate and learn about the harvest season. Families who become members of area farms through a program called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) can take advantage of fun farm events such as potluck dinners and tomato-tasting festivals-in addition to receiving a weekly share of the farm's produce throughout the growing season.
More than two dozen CSA farms have established themselves throughout the greater Twin Cities area and western Wisconsin within the past 15 years, according the Land Stewardship Project, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable agriculture and communities. CSA is a relationship between local farmers and community members in which individuals or families support the operation of a farm by paying an annual membership fee. In return, the farmers provide their members with a regular portion of the farm's harvest.
Share arrangements, membership requirements, and prices vary. Some CSA operations deliver the produce to the neighborhoods where members live; others ask members to come to the farm to pick it up. Some farms may also require members to work on the farm at certain points in the season; for others, the financial support provided by the membership fee is all that is necessary.
While it's certainly nice to receive a big box of fresh vegetables every week, members quickly learn that it's not just about the produce; it's also a way for them to learn about their ecological community and spend some quality time on the farm.
"For us, CSA doesn't just mean 'here's a box of vegetables,'" says Chris James of Fresh Earth Farms in Demark Township. "It means 'here's a farm.' It's an education."
For Chris, the essence of the CSA experience is the opportunity for members to learn about food, farming, and community. Most of Fresh Earth Farms' members come to the farm each week to pick up their shares, giving them a regular opportunity to see the farm, ask questions, and even get recipe advice from other members.
"There's really a community feel," says Chris. A recent tomato-planting party at Fresh Earth Farm in May resulted in the planting of 2,000 tomato plants in three hours, according to Chris, thanks in large part to kids' efforts.
"We even had a bunch of other activities planned for the kids that day," laughs Chris, "but they were much more interested in helping with the planting and getting their hands dirty."
The benefits of CSA go both ways, says David van Eeckhout of Hog's Back Farm in Pepin County, Wisc.
"As a farmer, it's a comfort to know that everything planted has already been sold," he explains. "The fresh, high-quality products benefit the consumers. And we all get the sense that we're building community, connecting to something real."
Relationship building is also at the heart of CSA farming for Patty Wright of Spring Hill Community Farm in Prairie Farm, Wisc.
"CSA membership can certainly change the way people eat," she says. "My members tell me that they eathealthier, cook more, invite families over for dinner."
Shares for the summer and fall harvest are reserved in the spring. For a local CSA farm directory, visit the Land Stewardship Project's website at www.landstewardshipproject.org.
METRO AREA
1. Aamodt's Apple Farm
6428 Manning Ave., Stillwater, 651-439-3127 ,customerservice@aamodtsapplefarm.com, www.aamodtsapplefarm.com.
Pony rides, petting farm, hot air balloons, winery.
2. Afton Apple Orchard
14421 90th St. S., Hastings, 651-436-8385,
aftonapple@aol.com, www.aftonapple.com.
Berries, baked goods, corn maze, petting zoo.
3. Applewood Orchard
22702 Hamburg Ave., Lakeville, 952-985-5425, apple@mninter.net, www.applewoodorchard.com.
Fall raspberries and pumpkins, apple products, hayrides, maze.
4. Bob's Bluebird Orchard & Craft Barn
26205 Fairlawn Ave., Webster, 952-461-3143, LLeis67@aol.com.
Berries, pumpkins, baked and frozen goods, craft items in barn.
5. County Pumpkin Patch
17201 Elm Rd., Maple Grove, 763-420-3432.
Pumpkins, gourds, fall decorations, farm animals.
6. Deardorff Orchards
8350 Parley Lake Rd., Waconia, 952-442-1885, deardorfforch@aol.com, www.deardorfforchards.com.
Pumpkins, flowers, gift items and baskets, tractor-pulled wagon rides Friday - Sunday, kids' haystack, petting farm.
7. Deer Lake Orchard
1903 10th St. SW, Buffalo, 763-682-4284, deerlakeorchard@att.net, www.deerlakeorchard.com.
Pumpkins, baked goods, gifts and crafts, petting zoo. Pony and wagon rides, hot dogs, brats, and live entertainment on "Apple Fest" weekends September 10 - October 16. Fifth Annual Rib Fest October 15.
8. Emma Krumbee's Apple Orchard
507 South St. E., Belle Plaine, 952-873-3006, www.emmakrumbees.com.
Pumpkins, Christmas trees, bakery, restaurant, country store, farm tours, petting farm. Scarecrow display, play areas, hay mazes, fall produce, and entertainment during Great Scarecrow Festival in October.
9. Fall Harvest Orchard
345 Co. Rd. 30 SE, Delano, 763-972-3894, fallharvest@frontiernet.net, www.fallharvestorchard.com.
Working farm with pumpkins, eggs, gourds, corn and popcorn, farm animals, Apple House with snacks, gifts and crafts, wagon rides $1.
10. Fischer's Croix Farm Orchard
12971 St. Croix Trail S., Hastings, 651-437-7126, info@fischerscroixfarmorchard.com, www.fischerscroixfarmorchard.com.
Pumpkins, berries, baked goods, corn maze, petting farm, picnic facilities, weekend hayrides.
11. Nelson's Apple Farm
3270 Douglas Ave., Webster, 952-461-3355, www.nelsonsapplefarm.com.
Pumpkins, apple cider, Christmas trees, gift shop, seven-acre corn maze, farm animals, weekend wagon rides.
12. Peter's Pumpkins & Carmen's Corn
12860 Old Brickyard Rd., Shakopee, 952-906-0247, peterspumpkins@yahoo.com, www.peterspumpkins.com.
Pumpkins, vegetables, berries, herbs, flowers, decorations, and sweet corn. Weekend hayrides and face painting.
13. Pine Tree Apple Orchard
450 Apple Orchard Rd., White Bear Lake,
651-429-7202, www.pinetreeappleorchard.com.
Food Alliance Certified Farm, pumpkins, berries, bakery products, apple products, preserves, gifts, wagon rides, corn maze. Call for pricing and entertainment schedule.
14. Riverside Farms
15238 Adam St. NW, Elk River, 763-427-6023.
Bedding plants, fruit, berries, fall vegetables.
15. Victoria Valley Orchard
4304 Victoria St. N., Shoreview, 651-484-4500, mollypap@pro-ns.net, www.victoriavalleyorchard.com.
Raw un-pasturized honey, decorative produce, caramel apples.
16. Wood's Edge Apples
1901 50th St. NE, Buffalo, 763-682-4409, woodsedgeapples@att.net.
Pumpkins, raspberries, fall decorations, honey, cider.
17. Wisp-O-Willow
22350 Sunrise Rd. NE, Stacy, 651-462-5149.
Berries, cherries, plumbs, Minnesota's Largest Tree Maze.
NORTHEAST
18. J.Q. Fruit Farm
8082 33rd St., Princeton, 763-389-2567, JQFruit@sherbtel.net, www.jqfruitfarm.com.
Cider, berries, syrup.
19. Nordic Ridge Gardens
19147 Co. Rd. 434, Bovey, 218-247-7726,
888-327-6386, gene@nordicridge.com, www.nordicridge.com.
Pumpkins, fall decorations, berries, weekend snack bar, farm tours, farm animals, hayloft maze with tube slide, cornfield maze, playground and picnic area, weekend hayrides - tractor-drawn or horse-drawn hayrides with team of Belgian-draft horses – $2/person; winter sleigh rides and sliding hill.
20. Ranum's West Lake Mary Orchard
5730 Hwy. 114 SW, Alexandria, 320-886-5539.
Pumpkins and vegetables, homemade apple juice, weekend hayrides by appointment and at Annual Harvest Open House Oct. 1 & 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
SOUTHEAST
21. Cox Apple Orchard
25726 456th St., Cleveland, 507-931-3685, 507-351-2917, cox.wn@pocketmail.com, www.coxappleorchard.com.
Only place to buy "Stella Minnesota" apples - an early season red-orange apple; apple cider, pumpkins, squash, nursery stock, farm store, crafts, gift items.
22. Kathan's Ridgeview Orchard
1165 Tschumper Ridge Rd., La Crescent, 507-895-2289, kridge@acegroup.cc.
Pumpkins, squash, honey.
23. Northwoods Orchard
8018 75th Ave. NW, Oronoco, 507-280-0591, www.northwoodsorchard.com.
Pumpkins, raspberries, fall decorations, corn mazes, wagon hayrides, farm animal interaction area.
SOUTHWEST
24. Carlson's Orchard Bakery & Restaurant
11893 Montgomery Ave., Winsted, 320-485-3704, pies@tds.net.
Pumpkins, apple and bakery products, weekend hayrides, restaurant serves lunch items 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and pork chop dinners with live entertainment on certain Sundays September 29 - October 16. Call or e-mail for schedule.
