Join the Community AND Improve Your Health

Do you know the acronym "CSA"? If you said, "Community Supported Agriculture" give yourself a pat on the back!

We have entered an era of very cheap produce, but it comes at a cost. Many industrial crops are doused with pesticides and herbicides to insure their growth. Such chemicals can remain on and even in the finished product. While the government does diligence in making sure these chemicals are not harmful in acute dosages, no one knows the health effect of them in low-dose over many decades.

Part of the benefit of a CSA is that you purchase a share of a local farm's bounty. You know where your produce (and even eggs) is/are produced. You can choose organic if you want to avoid pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, by buying from the farm down the street, you are not only supporting the local economy; you are also eating the produce that fights off the same pathogens and environmental challenges you do. Some experts believe this is a great way to fortify your body.

There are ample CSA's in Ann Arbor. You can find a list at http://www.ecovian.com/s/ann-arbor-mi/csa, but I would like to highlight one in particular. Green Things Farm is run by Nate Lada and Jill Sweetman, two recent graduates of the U-M. Nate and Jill are first-time farmers working with the Tilian Farm Development Center. The program is using Ann Arbor's Green Belt to help new farmers get started and break the cycle of small farms losing out to industrial farming. If you would like to buy into Nate and Jill's farm, visit them at http://greenthingsfarm.com/.

A CSA is a fantastic way to increase your vegetable consumption this summer. Share it with a friend or neighbor during the weeks that you are vacationing or overwhelmed by the bumper crop! In the end, a CSA is a great motivator to try some new vegetables, meet your local farmers and improve your health.

For my out-of-town readers, just google "CSA" and you'll get the one's local to you. Happy eating!