As busy moms, both with two young kids, planning meals that are both nutritious + delicious isn’t always an easy task! We’ve heard about CSAs for the last few years, and while intrigued, neither of us had signed up as we were a little blurry on how exactly one would work for our families.
To get all the facts straight we teamed up with Tangletown Gardens, and their CSA which receives glowing reviews from the 900 families they feed each growing season. All their produce comes from a 142 acre family farm in Plato MN. The farm has been in the Engelmann family for generations, and Farmer Dean oversees the whole operation.
Since we had a lot of questions, and wanted to see first hand where the food comes from, we made arrangements for a visit. One drizzly Spring MN morning we packed up our families, rain-boots, and off we went. After about 45 minutes of driving we turned onto a crushed gravel drive and were greeted with rolling hills, numerous greenhouses, and a beautiful white modern farmhouse. The kids were equally as enamored, and one professed “I’m staying here forever!”
While we couldn’t accommodate that request, we’ll definitely be back and had the most amazing day! Talk about an eye opening experience – we learned SO much about the importance of knowing where your food comes from + sustainable farming. Here’s the inside scoop, and everything you need to know about a CSA:
What exactly is a CSA?
A CSA: or Community Supported Agriculture is a way to buy local food directly from a farmer. When you choose a CSA you’re voting for food that is locally + sustainably raised. There is a BIG difference when it comes to where your food comes from. As farmer Dean would say “you are what you eat.” Here’s an excellent example: you can have two identical heads of broccoli, both organic, and one can be 17x’s more nutritious – due to the health and quality of soil in which it was raised. Our jaws were literally on the floor when Farmer Dean gave us this explanation!
What are the CSA benefits vs. getting my produce at the supermarket?
The average food in this country travels 1501 miles before it gets to your grocery store. That’s a long trip! The food at TG is grown without chemicals and picked at the peak of ripeness, when it should be… not green like most commercially grown produce. But, why do my tomatoes look so beautifully red at the grocery store? That’s because they use Ethylene gas to speed up the ripening process after it’s picked…and often again in the truck on it’s way to you. Yikes! Ready to sign up for your CSA yet?! Wouldn’t you feel better if your food was traveling 40 miles as opposed to 1501?
How long is the growing season, and where do I pick up my box?
The growing season is 18 weeks of in-season ecologically grown produce and goes from mid- June to mid- October. It’s amazing that this little farm produces 15,000 pounds of fresh, beautiful food that leaves the farm each week. They offer several pick up locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding suburbs. To check out the full list of pick up locations, head over here. You can even pick yours up directly from the farm! It doesn’t get more local than that!
What if I don’t like something that’s in my box?
That’s what so amazing about this particular CSA. Pick up at the Tangletown Gardens location is farmer’s market style, meaning you’re not just grabbing your produce and leaving, but enjoying a whole experience including the community table. This is where other CSA members can exchange things that others have placed on the table. Since everyone has different tastes, you will likely leave with everything you want!
How do I pick the right size box, and what do we do if we can’t eat all the weekly produce?
They offer 3 different sizes of their traditional CSA shares. Small, medium and large, as well as a few other produce specific shares.
Small feeds 1-2 people weekly, and is a great supplement for the home gardener. Medium feeds 2-3 people weekly and large feeds 4+ people weekly and includes the most variety. Our recommendation? Find a friend or neighbor to split the large share. You will get a great variety (including fruit!) and likely be able to consume everything in the box.
How do I meal plan for the week, and will I know what will be in my box?
That’s where we come in! Tangletown Gardens will let their members know roughly week in advance what will be in each box, and we’re going to help you figure out how to prepare it for your week. Each week, we will create a meal plan using the items in that particular box. With the additions of their incredible meats and other items, we’re excited to bring you farm fresh meal plans that you and your family will love and feel great consuming!
Sounds great! How do I sign up?
Head on over to Tangletown Garden’s Website and sign up! Excited to follow along and meal plan? Sign up for their CSA, send us the confirmation and you will be entered to win our signature Clear Planner™ menu board to make planning easy! Hurry up June! We can’t wait to get started. In the mean time, head on over to Tangletown Gardens for your spring planting and Wise Acre Eatery for an incredible farm to table meal and get a glimpse at what you could be bringing home! While you’re there, grab some farm fresh eggs and meats from their grab and go selection.
Happy Spring!
Lindsay + Ashley
