What is in a Summer CSA share?

When I signed up for my very first CSA share as a customer back in 2004, I really had no idea what I was getting into.

I was taking a leap of faith based on a paper brochure and a phone conversation with a farmer. 

Maybe you know what I felt like?

Of course, this was back before it was common for most small businesses to have a website full of more information on their products.

I did it at age 21, when I barely knew how to cook, let alone knowing how to identify all of the veggies I would be getting in the future.

But, I was gung-ho.  Determined to try it.  To support a farmer.  Know where my food comes from.  And get more adventurous in the kitchen.  Learn a thing or two or... thirty!  Ha!

But as it turns out, that was a fateful moment for me, because it set me onto the path that I'm on now, as a CSA farmer myself!

So, I really do know what a leap of faith and financial commitment it can be to join a CSA.  I've been there myself.

And that's why I'm here to help you, if you're in my place yourself, considering joining a CSA farm share program for the first time (or shopping for a new CSA).

 

What is in a Summer CSA share?

Are you interested in taking the leap of faith to join me and the rest of the Ripley Farm team in our CSA in 2025??  

I'm here to help you by answering the most frequently asked question about our farm share program...

"What's in a box?" 

 

Here we are holding the nebulous CSA "box". :)

 

Well, the short answer is...

A Ripley Farm Summer CSA share comes literally straight from your farmers hands to you. 

The box contains a seasonal blend of 7-9 organic vegetables grown with love on our farm. 

Throughout the 16 week season of July-October, we emphasize popular favorites, as well as surprise you with occasional specialties not found in grocery stores. 

We aim to have a seasonal selection of greens for salads, easy veggies for raw snacking, and veggies for cooking in every week's box. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  But, what does this actually look like? 

I get you.  You gotta see it to really understand.  I'm like that, too!  :)

So, for the longer answer with pictures, take a peak at our farm's actual Summer CSA shares distributed in 2024...

(Thank you to past Assistant Farmer Hannah Johnson for the photos below!)

 

What's in season in July? 

July is our first month of serious harvests on our farm, and is full of super fresh goodies.  You'll likely see a diverse set of vegetables including:

  • lettuce of many varieties and colors
  • salad turnips
  • baby carrots
  • beet greens
  • peas
  • kale
  • fresh herbs like dill, purslane, basil, or cilantro
  • pac choy (aka Bok Choy)
  • Other Asian greens like Chinese leaf cabbage and Tatsoi
  • garlic scapes
  • radishes
  • scallions (green onions) 
  • cabbage
  • Swiss chard
  • and more!

 

July 3, 2024 -  Week 1

 

July 10, 2024 - Week 2

 

July 17, 2024 - Week 3

 

July 24, 2024 - Week 4

 

    July 31, 2024 - Week 5

     

     

    What's in season in August?

    August is the month that SUMMER really starts to come in!  You'll likely see a diverse mix of vegetables including:

    • lettuce
    • summer squash
    • cucumbers
    • tomatoes
    • cherry tomatoes
    • carrots
    • beets
    • green beans (and other colors of beans)
    • green peppers
    • cabbage
    • herbs like basil & dill
    • garlic
    • fresh onions
    • misc. specialty crops like tomatillos, etc.
    • and more!

     

    August 7, 2024 - Week 6

     

    August 14, 2024 - Week 7

     

    August 21, 2024 - Week 8

     

    August 28, 2024 -  Week 9

     

    What is in season in September?

    September fall begins... but not before SUMMER is fully played out.  In this month, you'll likely see summer mixing with fall vegetables including:

    • lettuce
    • kale
    • Asian greens like pac choi, Chinese cabbage, and Tatsoi 
    • summer squash
    • cucumbers
    • onions
    • garlic
    • tomatoes
    • cherry tomatoes
    • peppers (green and red and specialty varieties)
    • carrots
    • broccoli
    • cabbage
    • radishes
    • winter squash
    • beets
    • potatoes
    • and more!

     

    September 4, 2024 -  Week 10

     

    September 11, 2024 - Week 11

     

    September 18, 2024 - Week 12

     

    September 25, 2024 - Week 13

     

     

    What's in season in October?

    October is a full-on fall storage vegetable harvest month on our farm, but you'll get to see your fresh favorites like greens, too!  You'll likely see a diverse mix of fall vegetables including:

    • lettuce
    • carrots
    • broccoli
    • pac choy
    • beets
    • onions
    • kale
    • Swiss chard
    • garlic
    • fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro
    • winter squash
    • potatoes
    • cabbage
    • kohlrabi
    • radishes
    • leeks
    • peppers (green and red)
    • and more!

     

    October 2, 2024 - Week 14

     

    October 9, 2024 - Week 15

     

    October 16, 2024 - Week 16

     

     

    Plus EVERY week there is a newsletter with farm happenings, veggie tips and seasonal recipes to help you use and enjoy your vegetables. 

     

    Does all this mouth-watering freshness make you want in?? 

    If so, we'd love to have you join nearly two hundred other families in Central Maine who are eating more fresh veggies! 

    Learn more about our 2025 Summer CSA farm share program here. 

    We'd love to have you!  Sign up will open on this coming Friday, January 17, 2025.