Your guide to fresh, local produce grown responsibly.
Know your Farmer, Know your Food!
Living La Vida Local
By Crystal Stevens
When it comes to conscious eating, Saint Louisians have a copious amount of options. Individuals who value healthy fresh food grown within their community may support the local foods movement through many different avenues:
- Shop at Farmers Markets (don’t forget your cloth bags)
- Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm. CSA farms offer an affordable and continuous supply of fresh sustainably grown produce harvested within a day or even a few hours of pickup. Most vegetable CSA’s average $25 per week. CSA’s that offer local eggs, meats and cheeses will average about $55 per week. CSA members demonstrate their loyalty to small family farmers by paying for their share up front which gives farmers the funds necessary to purchase seeds and supplies for the season. With nearly 2 dozen CSA Farms serving the St. Louis Metropolitan area, there are plenty of options to chose from.
- Shop at grocers who support sustainable farming such as Local Harvest Grocer.
- Visit www.localharvestgrocery.com
- Learn how to farm! La Vista CSA Farm (between Alton & Grafton IL) is offering a limited number of reduced cost Beginning Farmer Training Apprenticeships for the 2014 Season. Visit www.lavistacsa.org for more info. EarthDance Farms is a renowned Farm School right here is The Lou’s backyard. Visit www.earthdancefarms.org for more info.
- Grow your own!
Slow Foods Saint Louis
www.slowfoodstl.org is an excellent resource which gives a detailed list of Where To Eat Slow which includes CSA’s, Farmers Markets, Grocers, and Restaurants.
The Green Dining Alliance
www.greendiningalliance.org is an excellent resource for diners because it gives a complete list of “green restaurants” in St. Louis. It is also great for restaurants because it provides information on how to become a certified Green Dining Alliance Restaurant.
Eat Here St. Louis, run by long time local foods advocate, Andy Ayers, is an excellent resource for linking growers and chefs http://www.eatherestl.com.
Being a locavore requires retraining ones taste buds to crave seasonal produce. This requires cooking with and eating what’s presently being harvested by farmers in the region throughout a growing season. Eating with the seasons can bring about creativity in the kitchen. Trying new varieties of locally produced fruits and vegetables can be a fun adventure. Locavores are also doing their part to reduce their carbon foot print, by limiting the travel miles of their produce. Vegetable lovers can agree that the robust flavor of vegetables in their raw form is delightful. Cooking with seasonal vegetables does not have to be complicated. Simple roasted vegetables can be just as satisfying as a complex side dish or an entrée with a dozen ingredients. When using seasonal veggies, try as many different salad recipes as you can. The nutritional value of seasonal local vegetables is tremendous and is maximized when eaten fresh and uncooked. Be adventurous!
On behalf of the farmers across the region: “Congratulations to Local Harvest on your triumph! Thank you for your dedication to supporting small farmers and to your amazing conributions to the Local Foods Movement in St. Louis” What a great community to be a part of!
“Support for local farms and farm products continues to grow. And how can it not! Once you taste the difference and meet your farmer, you’ll want this trend in local eating to last forever!”
— Maddie Earnest, co-founder and co-owner of Local Harvest Grocer/Cafe
La Vista Farm
Since 2002
Mid May through mid November.
Non GMO seeds
www.lavistacsa.org
(618)467-2104
Produce is grown using sustainable methods. (No synthetic pesticides! No synthetic Herbicides!) La Vista offers a Spring Greens Share starting in April. Offers members a variety of vegetables that can be grown in the region including broccoli, cabbage, Napa cabbage, Bok choi, Gourmet Salad Mix, specialty Asian greens mix, salad mix, fresh herbs, medicinal herbs, carrots, eggplant, golden zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, sun gold cherry tomatoes, kale, chard, peppers, eggplant, scallions, potatoes, garlic, sweet potatoes, Winter squash, and much more. Visit their website for a complete list.
Shareholders also enjoy access to the pick your own field, in which they can bring the whole family out for a day of picking delicious sugar snap peas, fresh herbs, strawberries, green beans, three varieties of cherry tomatoes, stunning flower bouquets, and medicinal herbs.
Farm Pick-Up on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2pm-7pm in Godfrey, IL (45 minutes from St. Louis).
St. Louis pick up every Saturday morning from 7am-9am at Garden Heights Nursery on 1605 South Big Bend Blvd in Richmond Heights.
Edwardsville Pick-Up on Tuesdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm at Green Earth Grocery.
Find us on facebook by typing Community Supported Garden at La Vista Godfrey IL.
Full Share $575 Alternate Share $325 + one time delivery fee of $35 for pick up in St. Louis, MO or Edwardsville, IL.
Sign up at www.lavistacsa.org. Email crystal@lavistacsa.org Call (618)467-2104.
Sign Up at our booth in the Farmers Market Section at STL Earth Day and at the Tower Grove Farmers Market Kick off Festival. Visit our booth at the Healthy Planet Natural Living Expo, March 30 in Webster Groves.
Open House and Farm Tour May 4th 12-2. Free Yoga in the Fields for members this Spring and Fall. Eric and Crystal teach a variety of workshops ranging from building a cob oven, outdoor cooking, and using medicinal herbs. See http://www.lavistaelc.org/elc.htm for more info. Weekly e-newsletter with fresh seasonal recipes from The Farmers Table.
Farmer Crystal writes for The Healthy Planet and has her own blog at growingcreatinginspiring. blogspot.com. La Vista CSA Farm is located on the scenic bluffs of the Mighty Mississippi in Godfrey, IL. 4350 Levis Lane Godfrey IL 62035
Dry Dock Farm
Since 2008
June through October
www.riverhillspoultry.com
Email drydocfarm@windstream.net
Sign up at riverhillspoultry.com
573-384-5859.
Members receive a variety of vegetables and herbs grown without pesticides including green beans, potatoes, broccoli, sweet corn, kale, radishes, and much more. Home deliveries with a cooler with 6 to 8 vegetable varieties. Each vegetable variety is based on a serving of 4. Example share: 1 lb. of green beans, 1 head of cabbage, 1 1/2 lb. of potatoes, 1 head of broccoli, 6 ears of sweet corn, 1 bunch of Kale, 1 bunch of Radishes. Included in their shares are 1 dozen farm fresh vegetarian fed cage-free eggs, fresh Herbs, and locally sourced fruit.
Full Shares $55.00 per week delivered every week to your home for 22 weeks. Half Shares $55.00 per week delivered every other week for 11 weeks. 4 week winter CSA share consists of storage vegetables, fresh greens, root crops, fresh herbs, fruit and eggs. Payment plans are available.
EarthDance Farms
Since 2010
Mid May-October 31st.
Thanksgiving shares available in November
Website: www.earthdancefarms.org
Contact person/email/phone number:
Laura Caldie
apprenticeship@earthdancefarms.org,
812-552-4912.
What your farm provides members: We are growing over 100 varieties of vegetables this year, including kale, cabbage, squash, tomatoes, radish, leeks, greens mix, potatoes, peas, beets, spinach, pumpkin, cucumbers, onions, sweet potatoes, collards, garlic, arugula, chard, turnips, zucchini, peppers, cauliflower, and many more! The only fruits are various melons. You-pick herbs and flowers also available to members on the farm. Example share (size of box, bag, etc): Varies seasonally. 7-10 items per share. Includes veggies, herbs, and recipes. “What’s Fresh” email newsletter will keep you posted on what to expect each week.
Price breakdown: $625 for new members, which translates to $25 per week. We require a $100 deposit and $25 new member fee to secure a spot, then 2 payments of $250, due March 31st and April 30th.
Pick up/delivery info: Pick up will be from 8am-12pm at the Ferguson Farmer’s Market. (20 S. Florissant Rd.)
How to sign up: Fill out the registration form and CSA Contract on our website. Then mail the signed contract and deposit/new member fee to:
EarthDance, 233 Dade Ave, Ferguson, MO 63135.
Fair Shares
Since 2008
Offering a 46-week season from April – February
Signup online at fairshares.org
Sara Hale, sara@fairshares.org, 314.853.5743
Local produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, nuts, grains, pasta, bread, candy, coffee, canned goods and more from over 80 farms and producers. $50 weekly share includes a meat, a variety of seasonal produce and other staples (all non-produce items are tradable). Full (weekly) and Half (bi-weekly) shares available in a number of payment plans. Pickups in Midtown (Wednesdays and Thursdays), UCity (Wednesdays) and Kirkwood (Thursdays).
Frontwards Farm
30 weeks
Sustainably grown and ecologically raised.
Contact Jason 618-713-5016
Email Jason.frontwardsfarm@gmail.com
Sign up at frontwardsfarm.blogspot.com
Shares include produce, eggs, flowers and herbs.
Greene’s Country Store CSA
Since 2013
May 13th Thru November 25th
www.Greenescountrystore.com
we are also on Facebook — greenescountrystore
twitter – BeAGreener
Call the store to answer questions or sign up
636-561-6637, greenescountrystore@gmail.com
Bringing together and coordinating growers and producers to one pick up point. A good weeks supply . Different options from $900 to $1500. We do it a little different — we allow you to pick your items off of a weekly list – it is spread out on tables in front of you and you can choose the size shape and sometimes the variety — we also have a trade and share table to give you an opportunity to try new things or more of what you really like
You can sign up by coming by the store and pick up information — We can also sign up over the phone with credit card — we also have a payment program that many of our CSA members love.
Lee Farms CSA
Since 2007
CSA runs for 20 weeks, begins 1st week of June
and runs until mid-October.
Rusty & Teresa Lee, Lee Farms, LLC
39358 Pin Oak Church Rd Truxton, MO 63381
www.facebook.com/leefarms
rusty@leefarms.net
314 954 0551 cell; 636 597 9921 farm
The CSA is produce (vegetables, watermelons, cantaloupes), and eggs. Meat from Lee Farms is available throughout the year as an additional purchase. Everything in the Lee Farms CSA share box is grown on our farm by our family.
The share box will contain 6 to 10 different items each week and will range from 7 to 10 pounds of vegetables. A share costs $495 for the season. Larger families purchasing multiple shares receive a 10% discount.
We have established pick-up sites in: Ladue, Skinker/DeBaliviere, Central West End, South City, Webster Groves, Crestwood, St. Charles, and Warrenton. The pick-up sites are divided into Tuesday or Thursday delivery days. This balance is important to ensure fresh veggies for all, and is determined as sign-ups progress. New sites can be established if interest warrants.
Liberty Farm
Since 2013
May 4th through November 2nd
Contact Chris@liberty-farm.net
Visit www.liberty-farm.net to sign up
or call 314-717-1155 for more information
Members receive a variety of seasonal vegetables, average of 8-10 lbs of produce throughout 26 weeks. Visit liberty-farm.net for a list of crops. Monday pick-ups are at the farm in Affton, from 6pm to 7pm. Saturday pick-ups at their booth at the Tower Grove Farmers Market from 8am to 12pm. They also have a delivery option for certain areas.
Full share $500-$540 (depending on type of payment) Half share option is either an average of 4-5 lbs. of food for 26 weeks, or 8-10 lbs. of food every other week (13 weeks) at a cost of $255-$290 (depending on payment methods). Visit online to receive emails about upcoming classes and events.
Local Chef StL
May through November (24 weeks)
Members receive vegetables, fruits, pastured eggs, antibiotic free meats, hormone free dairy as well as a Local Chef value added product. Pick up locations in Chesterfield, Weldon Spring, Manchester. Full and half shares available. Contact Robert Uyemura at localchefstl@att.net for more information
Local Harvest
Since 2009
Shares are provided year-round
Email weeklyharvest8@gmail.com
Or call Tower Grove at 314 865-5260
localharvestgrocery.com
Members receive an aggregated weekly food subscription. Customers can choose vegetarian, omnivore or even a “paleo” option. CSA members also get 10% off of other purchases when they check out at their grocery store. In low produce months, we provide North American Organic Produce as well as dairy options as a supplement.
Pick up/delivery info: Three pick-up days/times are available. Pick up your Weekly Harvest at the Tower Grove Store. Fridays 2-8:00 p.m.; Sundays 2-8:00 p.m.; Mondays 2-8:00 p.m. Delivery options are availabe. $50 a week + tax.
Our City Farm CSA
Since 2010
May – October
Sign up online- www.ourcityfarm.com/members
or call us at 314-282-5290
www.ourcityfarm.com
Contact Jeri Villarreal/info@ourcityfarm.com/
or 314-282-5290
Heirloom Produce, Pastured Poultry, Soy-free Eggs
Whole/Half/Mixed shares
Cafeteria-style plan, flexible pricing
Central West End pickup/local delivery
Riverbend Roots Farm
Since 2009
Contact info & how to sign up:
Call Kris or Stacey at 618-444-0567
Full Share w/ Pick-Up at the Farm $535
Full Share Delivered 560*
Individual Share w/ Pick-Up at the Farm $285
Individual Share Delivered $310*
* includes one-time delivery fee of $25
Sign up via their website www.riverbendroots.com
25 weeks from mid-May through early November
We grow over 60 items, harvested at their peak of flavor and nutrition, hand-picked and in-season including a variety of greens, scallions, cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, cucumber, garlic, and a variety of root vegetables.
Pick up your vegetables at the farm on Tuesdays or Fridays. For an extra fee, we deliver to the following areas; Tower Grove, Webster Groves, University City, Brentwood/Ladue/Richmond Heights, Creve Coeur, Central West End, Kirkwood, Maplewood, Edwardsville.
Seeds of Hope Farm
Since 2011
Contact info & how to sign up:
www.seedsofhopefarm.org
To sign up or learn more, contact Gabriel
at ghahn@caastlc.org or 314.566.8643.
Seeds of Hope CSA provides roughly a
$20 value per share per week, mostly vegetables.
Shares are available for pickup at 1120 Trampe Avenue in Spanish Lake on Friday from 3PM-7PM. A drop spot is also planned for Saturdays at Overland Farmers Market from 8-12. Additional pick up locations are in Overland and Bel-Ridge.
Subsidized shares are $10 per week, payable at time of pickup. Sponsorship and standard shares are payable at once or in two halves.
Sponsorship Share is roughly $28 per week for 28 weeks. (Pro rated if signup is after start of season)
Time frame in which produce is provided: mid May through mid November
Shared Bounty CSA
Since 2009
Contact Jim Prouhet
jim@sharedbounty.com, 314-280-7268
Late May until early November
Visit www.sharedbounty.com, and fill out the
membership form and mail it to us.
fruits, berries vegetables and herbs.
A full share is approx. 15 to 20 lbs. per week. A half share is approx. 7 to 10 lbs.
Full share at our farm — $ 770.00, or delivered to your door for — $ 960.00. Half share at our farm — $ 445.00, or delivered to your door for — $645.00. We offer farm pickup at our farm in Troy Mo., or we also offer delivery right to your door.
Sandy Valley CSA
Since 2013
Jefferson County Farm Family of the Year
Mid-May to mid-October, hopefully longer
if the season allows.
Contact Steve Christ, farmer@sandyvalleycsa.com,
(314) 852-7173 or (636) 479-9506
or Eva Christ, farmer@sandyvalleycsa.com,
(314) 852-7151 or (636) 479-9506.
We provide fruits (strawberries and blackberries), vegetables (everything from asparagus to zucchini) and this year we will be adding a wide variety of herbs.
We provide half shares and full shares. A half share encompasses approximately 7 different varieties of items each week (i.e., a pound of tomatoes, a few zucchini, a pound of green beans, a bag of greens, 2-3 peppers, a few onions, and a cucumber or two, along with some fresh herbs that might go along with the basket for the week). A full share is double that. We also provide our own farm-raised beef and eggs as add-ons for our members. All of our beef is always on grass and fed a small diet of grain that we also raise ourselves. All of our grain is non-GMO feed. We do not use any added hormones or antibiotics. All of our cattle are also born and raised right on our farm so we know everything about them from the day they are born. Our chickens are free range.
Half Share $455.00 per share, which for 26 weeks breaks down to $17.50 per week; Whole Share $910.00 per share or $35.00 per week.
We have pickup right at our farm on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. May through August; and then we change hours (due to school) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Visit sandyvalleycsa.com and we have a fillable PDF membership agreement on our site. We will be offering the ability to pay by credit card for an additional fee if anyone is interested. We also offer the option of paying in two installments.
Terripin Farms
June through October
Contact 217-440-4678
Email terripinfarms@att.net
www.facebook.com/terripinfarms
Shares include a variety of vegetables
Pick up in O’Fallon MO
The Grocery Bag
Since 2013
mid May – Nov
Sign Up :www.macslocalbuys.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/01/MLBGroceryBag_2014_110713a-1.pdf
www.macslocalbuys.com
Chris “Mac” McKenzie, 314-479-8155,
macslocalbuys@gmail.com
Veggies, Meat, Eggs, Bread, Treat/Sweet – 2 sacks of local goodness each week! Veg CSA, 2 lbs local proteins, 1 doz farm fresh eggs, loaf of artisan bread and a treat/sweet. $55 plus tax/week for 13 pickups.
Pickups Wed night at Civil Life Brewery 4:30-7:30pm.
The Farm at Kraut Run
May through October
Visit www.krautrun.com
Email farmatkrautruncsa@gmail.com
Fall shares available at an additional cost
Pick up at The Farm 4354 Wilson Road
Wentzville, MO
Organically grown vegetables, fruits herbs and flowers including heirloom varieties. Certified Naturally Grown Farm. Free range ducks, chickens and hogs are fed 100% non GMO feed. Pork and Eggs are available in addition to the cost of the shares.
Three Rivers Community Farm
Since 2007
Mid-May through Early November.
Sign up information is found on our website:
http://www.threeriverscommunityfarm.com
For more information please contact Amy Cloud
at 618-374-9470;
info@threeriverscommunityfarm.com.
Shares include between 8-10 different seasonal vegetables and herbs. A full share is $600 for 26 weeks; A half share is $300 for 13 weeks. CSA shares can be picked up at either the Schlafly farmers market on Wednesdays from 3-7PM; at a University City drop off site on Wednesdays from 3-7PM; at the Tower Grove farmers market on Saturday mornings from 7AM-Noon; at Studio Gaia in Edwardsville on Thursdays from 4-6:30PM; or at the farm in Elsah on Tuesdays or Fridays from 2-7PM.
Vesterbrook Farm
Since 2009
www.VesterbrookFarm.com
Cost is from $25-$80 per week
Shares are offered Year round
Contact farmer Mike at 573-560-0871.
Or visit www.VesterbrookFarm.com for additional information.
Certified Organic or Certified Naturally Grown Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs, Eggs and Pasture- Raised Meats. Home Delivery and several group sites including Clayton/Ladue, Chesterfield, Fenton, Kirkwood, Saint Charles, Saint Peters, Town & Country, Troy, and Wentzville.
YellowTree Farm
May through October
Contact Justin@yellowtreefarm.com
Shares include Vegetables, Mushrooms, Fruit, Eggs and local staples
Pick up at the Schlafly Farmers Market and The Tower Grove Farmers Market
Crown Valley Organics
Since 2013.
24 Weeks from May – November
Find out more or sign up at
www.crownvalleyorganics.com
or call (573) 535-4633.
We farm using no/low-till raised beds and absolutely no GMOs or harmful synthetic chemicals! Each weekly share box contains 8 or more different types of vegetables, fruits & culinary herbs with bonus medicinal herb bundles for tea! We offer weekly recipes, and a monthly potluck on our gorgeous farm and vineyard in Saint Genevieve. Pick-up locations: Tower Grove Market, South St. Louis; Rolling Ridge Nursery, Webster Groves; Greenscape Gardens, Ballwin/West County. Full Share (Weekly) = $525; Partial Share (Biweekly) = $265.