North Reading Reads 2012: Local Food, CSAs, and Farmers Markets

These days more of us are interested in knowing where our food comes from and eating in healthier ways.

Kristin Kimball, author of The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love,  runs Essex Farm, in upper New York State, with her husband Mark. It operates as a Community Supported Agriculture farm, known as CSA, for over 170 families. Read what the Kimballs say about their farm, their farming philosophy, and how CSA works.  

The University of Massachusetts Extension program provides information about CSAs in this state. Local Harvest is also an excellent way to find out more about CSAs.  Do you participate in Community Supported Agriculture? If so, please tell us about your experiences in the comments section.

Those of us who don't participate in CSAs still enjoy stopping by farmers' markets to sample local food. In the summer, Ryer’s offers locally grown produce each week. My family and I often visit the Middleton market held in Angelica’s parking lot on Wednesday evenings. I’ve also been to the one on Saturdays at the Andover Historical Society, and to the large and lively market on Sunday mornings in Newburyport.

Farmers' markets aren't limited to summer. Here is a list from Mass.gov, which includes many winter farmer’s markets. Do you have a favorite Farmers Market?

Please join us for the first event of North Reading Reads 2012, a community reading project, Thursday, February 23 at 7 p.m., with “A Taste of Home: Connecting Music, Food, and Friends.” The Joy of Sax, led by Steve Swartz, of North Reading, will entertain us with jazz and blues. There will be selected readings from “The Dirty Life.” And we invite you to bring a favorite dessert to share. You will find others to talk to about  CSAs, farmer’s markets, and planting gardens.

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