Summer, the glorious growing season, supplies the greatest reminder of the beauteous bounties of nature… and what better way to partake in the gifts of Mother Earth than to join a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it works like this: farmers offer “shares” of their crops, and the public may purchase shares in the wintertime. In return, members receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
SIW (Stepped in What) Vegetables in Chadds Ford thinks outside of the veggie box, though, and allows members to pick out their own share from the displays. Another bonus—some CSAs require members to actually work on the farm, but there’s no such necessity at SIW. The farm is 100% drip irrigated, which saves water and man hours.
HG Haskell made SIW a CSA in 2001, and has become so beloved over the last decade that he even receives fan mail. Oh his blog, HG lets members know what’s on the share list each week, and recently began offering recipes of the week as well. Recent entries include a chile and lime-grilled corn on the cob, and a garlic and almond pesto, yum!
SIW grows a large variety of old fashioned (and newfangled) vegetables, fruits and flowers on the family farm in the scenic and fertile Brandywine River Valley. The growing season flourishes from June through mid October, and members get a little of everything that’s in season. They also get a 10% discount on any additional purchases.
Interested? Visit the SIW stand between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. It’s located on Route 100, right across the street from the farm where all the vegetables are grown. After marveling at the 75 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, mouthwatering sweet corn, homemade tomato sauce and pumpkin butter, you might be sending fan mail too.
Find SIW Vegetables at 4317 South Creek Road (Route 100) in Chadds Ford, PA. More information available at siw-vegetables.blogspot.com.
