By: Karen Phillips | July 08 2009
Posted in Rogue Valley - Grow It - Rogue Valley

Community Supported Agriculture programs (or CSAs) are a wonderful idea, both for local farmers and for all of us who love delicious, sustainably raised food.

The idea behind CSAs is a simple one: you “subscribe” to a local farm by purchasing a share in that farms crops for the year. Your subscription entitles you to a weekly box of fresh, seasonal produce during your farms growing season – generally somewhere between 20 and 28 weeks.

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It’s hard to overstate the excitement that comes with the first appearance of each new crop in your box: the first strawberries of spring; luscious, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes or glowing orange pumpkins destined for holiday pies. Becoming a member of a CSA also brings a deeper satisfaction as you develop a relationship with the people who grow the food you put on your table. It’s a wonderful thing to look at a meal you’ve prepared and know exactly where all of its ingredients were grown.

Southern Oregon is home to a number of wonderful CSA farms. Take some time this summer to get to know a few of your local farmers – and maybe even tour their farms. It might just be the beginning of a beautiful CSA relationship!

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Myrtle Creek

Big Lick Farm: Big Lick Farm raises naturally-grown heirloom varieties of vegetables, berries, tree fruit, melons, flowers. You can also add eggs and pasture-raised rabbit to your CSA share, and both full shares and half shares are available. Want to get to know your friendly CSA farmers? Big Lick gives farms tours and occasionally even hosts potlucks. Season length: 26 weeks.

Roseburg

Earth One LLC: The Earth One CSA offers veggies, fruits, nuts, garlic, goat cheese, eggs, herbs and mushrooms – all grown on their 107-acre biodynamic farm. They also make jams and raise organic chicken, beef and pork. Season length: year-round, website:

Norm Lehne Garden and Orchards: A second-generation family farm located just outside Roseburg in Garden Valley. This CSA offers farm-fresh vegetables, tree fruits, melons, hazelnuts, herbs and flowers. Both large and small shares are available, and they host several “farm days” during the growing season. Season length: 12 weeks.

Winston

Oh My Gato Farm: – Oh My Gato is a family owned and operated farm offering weekly boxes of vegetables, cut flowers, sprouts, baby greens, herbs. Members can choose between full and half shares, and optional egg shares are available. According to their website, owners Anthony and Sandee Szlachciuk are also creating gourmet cheeses to include in their CSA shares – yum! Season length: 28 weeks.

JACKSON COUNTY

Applegate

Barking Moon Farm: Melissa Matthewson and Josh Cohen run this four-acre organic farm along Thompson Creek in the Applegate Valley. Their CSA offers certified organic produce with optional egg shares. Barking Moon hosts a late season farm party; a great opportunity to meet your farmers and your fellow CSA members. Both full shares and small shares are available. Season length: 24 weeks.

Blue Fox Farm: A multi-generational family farm growing organically certified vegetables on six acres in the Applegate Valley. Blue Fox offers a different type of CSA membership program. Rather than a weekly box of vegetables, your membership buys “Blue Fox Market Bucks” to be used at any of the three Rogue Valley Growers Markets they sell at. Season length: April through November.

Ashland

HappyDirt Veggie Patch at Eagle Mill Farm: Eagle Mill Farm, where the HappyDirt Veggie Patch is located, has been chemical-free since the early 1980’s. Their CSA offers fresh vegetables, herbs, melons and flowers. Large and small shares are available and they offer a PayPal option. Season length: 20 weeks.

White Sage Gardens: - White Sage Gardens is a family-run "back-yard CSA" on 2/3 of an acre in Ashland. Every week, their CSA shares contain a selection of heirloom vegetables and flowers, as well as some herbal items. Season length: June through October, phone: (541) 488-7489.

Jacksonville

Siskiyou Sustainable Co-op: – Siskiyou Sustainable Co-op is a group of 15 Rogue and Applegate Valley farms producing a stunning variety of crops: organically certified vegetables and fruit, bison, poultry, eggs, even goat milk. Members can also purchase additional shares of locally-roasted coffee, wine, cut flowers and bread. The Co-op hosts a number of farm days and full and half shares are both available. Season length: 20 weeks.

Talent

Fry Family Farm: Susie and Steve Fry have been raising organic produce - and a large family - in Talent, Oregon since 1990. Regular shares include certified organic fruit and vegetables and members can also participate in a cut flower CSA. In addition, they offer full, half and “senior” shares. Season length: 20 or 24 weeks.

JOSEPHINE COUNTY

Cave Junction

Wild River Organic Farm: Wild River Organic Farm goes a step further than most southern Oregon CSA’s. In addition to receiving a weekly box of seasonal produce, members help participate in farm planning and are able to individually select which foods they would like in their boxes. Season length: May through October, website:

Grants Pass

Mud Puddle Farm: Mud Puddle Farm raises heirloom vegetables and fruits, with an eye toward tempting and expanding the culinary palates of their members. They offer optional shares of eggs and fresh flowers, and farm tours are available. Don’t miss the wonderful selection of recipes on their website! Season length: about 20 weeks.

KLAMATH COUNTY

Keno

Belweather Farm: Belweather Farm says it is committed to “growing delicious, healthy foods to grace your kitchens and tables.” Their CSA provides members with seasonal vegetables, fruits and cut flowers: strawberries, asparagus, carrots, spinach, salad mix, peppers, eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, dahlias and more. Season length: 24 weeks.

Klamath Falls

Fresh Green Organic Garden: Fresh Green Organic Garden is able to offer a year-round CSA in Klamath Falls because their greenhouses are warmed by a local geothermal heat source! Micro greens, heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and peppers are popular items in their weekly CSA box, and farm tours are available upon request. Both full shares and half shares can be purchased. Season length: year round.