Category Archives: Community

Dan Moore of Farmshares Interview (part 1)

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Spring has sprung and if you are curious as to how you can eat better and support your local farmer, a CSA might be the perfect solution for your family. Recently, I asked Dan Moore of Farmshares.info a series of questions that will help you dive further into whether a CSA is the right choice for your family. I also asked a few of you in the community if you had further questions about CSA’s and those questions and answers will be in the next post.

Lilly: What is a CSA and what is the main reason to join one?

Dan: CSA stands for community supported agriculture and is a direct relationship between a farmer or rancher and the end customer with a risk sharing component. You give the farmer money early in the year, and they give you produce, meat or other food throughout the growing season.

The main reason to join a CSA is to learn more about who grows your food and how it is done. CSA provides a level of involvement with your food that is deeper than anything other than gardening.

Lilly: What is the most common question or concern you hear from people interested in starting a CSA?

Dan: The most common question is “how do I pick the right farm?”. Just as with any major purchase (share prices are typically in the hundreds of dollars and can be up to three thousand) you have to both know what you are looking for and do your research.

To the first point, many people are romantic about “getting food directly from the farmer” and ignore that they don’t like to cook, or travel often during the season, or work a job that will make a weekly pickup hard. There is enough variety in CSAs available, so think about what you need. If you want to learn the basics of CSA, I have put together a free email course.

To the second, while there are similarities, each CSA differs in what they expect of their members, the types of food they provide, and where you can pick up the share. So while tools like farmshares.info can help, you really need to review each farm’s website, talk to current and past members and mesh what the farm/ranch offers with your needs.

Lilly: What has been the biggest change you have noticed since you first became a CSA member in 2007?

Dan: Two big changes: 1) the widening of the CSA market, both in number of farms and products offered. It’s amazing to see new farms and new products be available in the CSA risk sharing model. 2) the turnover of CSA farms. I think the skills needed to be a successful CSA farmer include all the skills of a regular farmer, plus marketing and sales skills (plus management once the farm is a certain size). I see a lot of CSAs start up and run for 4-5 years and then shut down, either because the farmer is moving off the land or because they are focusing on other markets (farmer’s market, direct sales of a product, wholesale markets).

Lilly: How soon after joining a CSA did you realize the need to create coloradocsa.info which has recently expanded to become farmshares.info? What was the driving motivator?

Dan: I started out with a list of farms on which I had done research, and quickly realized that it would be helpful to others. A friend also joined a CSA in Denver about the same time and shared her list. After combining the two, I had a simple web page that received some traffic, indicating there was interest. After about two years of updating that page and fielding questions about CSAs in Colorado, I decided to build ColoradoCSAs.info in 2010. In 2015, my wife and I decided that the existing national directories were not as useful as they should be, and spent some time and money re-working and re-launching ColoradoCSAs.info as FarmShares.info, as well as pursuing affiliates and sponsorships.
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The driving motivation for the redesign is that CSA membership, for me, was a fundamental shift in how I viewed food and the food system. I wanted to share that with people beyond Colorado. photo-52

Lilly: What is the advantage of using a tool such as farmshares.info versus just jumping on the Google?

Dan: Farmshares.info gathers data from farms, standardizes it, and makes it very easy to compare farms that meet your needs. I always advocate contacting the farmer directly once you have narrowed your choices to two or three, since CSA information can change from day to day (for example, shares can sell out).

When you start at Google, you find farms that are best at showing up in Google, as opposed to the farm that might be closest to you, or have the type of share you want.

Lilly: How has the transition from coloradocsa.info to farmshares.info been? Can you give us a sneak peek of what to expect in the coming months or years?

Dan: The transition from coloradocsas.info to farmshares.info has been smooth–the launch affected our traffic slightly, but it has bounced back as we head into the prime signup season for the mountain west (Jan-May).

In the future, you can expect more features, greater coverage of the mountain west and eventually the entire USA, and more partnerships with companies that support local food.

Lilly: Most of us now think of CSAs in terms of produce, but ‘community supported’ has evolved in recent years to include other products. What are some of those changes?

Dan: I’ve seen two main changes in the offerings from CSA farms over the years. The first is a far wider selection of farm-to-consumer products available. These range from soap to meat to fish to bread to coffee–at least 40 different types of food are available via CSA. This is fantastic because it lets consumers support local farmers and ranchers even if they can’t commit to a season of vegetables.

The second is the rise, especially in farms selling produce, of the market share. Instead of the farmer picking out vegetables and boxing them up for you, you pre-pay for credit at farm stands and farmer’s markets. It’s a way to support a farm and share the risk of poor crops without losing choice. (The customer still shares the risk because if the farm has a poor season, or doesn’t produce much of a popular crop like tomatoes, the customer is still committed to purchase from that farm.)

Lilly: Can you forecast any predictions for the future of CSA’s in the US?

Dan: I think that CSAs will rise and fall as interest in home cooking rises and falls. CSAs just don’t make sense if you aren’t eating at home. The recent trend of people re-learning how to cook (see Michael Pollan’s books) makes me optimistic about the long term future of CSAs. danpam

Harvest Lentil Salad

“Beautiful beluga lentils” I seriously had to exclaim!

These lentils are unique and they get their name because they look just like beluga caviar. What a treasure to find in the Food Bank! I took some home to test out a new recipe using the other produce and goods available to the Food Bank clients.

The result was this simple salad. Consider this a base recipe. A recipe that would happily enjoy a bit of sparkling up with bits of dried fruit such as minced apricots or cranberries or even the jewels of pomegranates. The crunch of various nuts or seeds, such as toasted almonds, crumbled pecans or last week’s Candied Chipotle Pepitas would settle in nicely with these lentils. Roasted veggies, roots, or shreds of leaves could be folded in as well. A crumble of feta or shavings of parmesan would also do well in this dish. It calls for water, but cooking the beans in broth adds yet another layer of flavor.

This can be a simple weeknight meal or a side dish to an elaborate holiday dish. Let me know how you glam up these simple belugas.

Harvest Lentil Salad
Beluga Lentils can be found in specialty shops, gourmet groceries, co-ops or health food stores. Another lentil such as French, Green, or Brown lentils can work instead. The only lentil I would avoid are the thinner lentils, such as the red, which are better for soups than salads.

1 onion, finely chopped
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In a large separate bowl, whisk together the vinegar and honey. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking rapidly. Add the remaining salt. Fold the cooked lentils into the dressing and then add the apples and fresh herbs. Serve warm or cool and serve chilled.

Top Ten Benefits of Joining a CSA Farm Share

Top Ten Questions to Ask When Selecting a CSA.

1. Where is the farm? The closer to your own home the better, ideally within a 200 mile radius. Many of us in more urban settings may not have that luxury, but keep looking and you be will surprised at what you can find. There are even smaller urban farms that are popping up in backyards, front yards and empty lots near by.

2. What do you want? Farms at the very least know what they have planted or will be planting throughout the season. They cannot tell you how much will actually come out of the ground and flourish to harvest, but they have a very good idea about what to anticipate. Ask them! Most farms have a crop list as well as a harvest schedule available either on their website or via email. If the farm is obsessed with greens and you cannot stand the idea of eating them, keep looking for another farm. If you are hoping to can tomatoes find out if they offer extra boxes of produce, too.

3. Do you want to go beyond vegetables? In general, when most folks talk about a CSA it is in reference to ‘agriculture’ and most often a vegetable share. There are however many other types of CSA’s including fruit, meat, bread, beer, flowers and more that are either included or can be added to your CSA. These are often great options for continuing your local food mission, but if for example you are gluten-free & vegan, a farm offering meat & bread shares would not make sense for you.

4. Do you know anyone who has used this CSA? I am always a fan of getting referrals. Fancy websites do not necessarily reflect the quality of the actual produce. Ask around! On that note, once you become a CSA member share the good news and spread the word about the farm that is providing your your with so much goodness.

5. Do you like surprises or do you need to choose? I personally love peaking into a box not knowing what to expect and getting all sorts of interesting greens, roots and more to play with in my cooking. That may not work for everyone though! My brother has an awesome CSA that offers a surprise box, but typically they encourage members to select every last item through a pre-paid point system. I know other farms who let you choose from their farm stand on a weekly basis.

Do you love greens? CSA’s are a great way to get a trike-load full!

6. Can you skip a week? Most CSA’s are at least 5 months with some being year round, I hope you are able to travel and take a break during that time as we all need a little rest & relaxation. However, knowing what happens with your farm before you go is important. Can you skip a week and how does the farm make it easy to miss? Many farms have been taking this in to consideration and have their own program in place. That being said, I have enjoyed several CSA’s where you were still expected to pick up. I took this as an opportunity to gift my CSA to a family in need or a friend who I think would love having a CSA, but hasn’t experienced one yet. It is an opportunity to share the local food love!

7. Can you do a trial period? By the very nature of most CSA’s, you are signing up as an investing shareholder in the farm. When you start with this attitude it helps make it clearer as to why you would fork over about $500+ without having experienced the product. That being said, some of the bigger CSA’s, especially those that are year round will let you sign up for a limited period anywhere from 2-6 weeks usually.

8. Can you gift your CSA? Sometimes! Certainly, every CSA would be happy for you to buy an entire share as a gift, but any of the CSA’s that offer limited time CSA’s will have an easy way to do gift certificates. Actually, I bought my brother a few weeks of a CSA several years ago and he is still happily subscribing.
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9. Where is the pick up? I once had a farm share right around the time of our wedding. It was just starting out with barely any produce in the first month. We picked up a small amount of produce for the first few weeks and it was a nearly 30 minute drive. It quickly became obvious that the CSA wasn’t the best idea during the craziness of our wedding planning. Since then every CSA we have had was only a 5-10 minute drive, 15-20 minute bike ride and/or it was at the Farmers Market we regularly attended.

10. How much do you cook and how much do you want? Having a CSA will push you to cook more, which in my opinion is possibly the best reason to get a CSA. But, take into consideration how much produce you actually need. A standard CSA often caters to a family of four with one box or full grocery bag of produce. However, lately I have noticed CSA’s offering additional smaller package sizes. Always make sure you are not receiving more produce than you can consume. Some CSA’s discourage sharing with a friend, but honestly if you are single and really wanting a CSA find a friend or two to share with and you will all be much happier with the service.

Finally, this is less of a question and more of an action step, but visit the Farm OR the Pick Up Location. As possible, find out as many answers to the above questions as you can, but if you are still stuck, ask if you can visit the farm or pick up location. Several CSA’s also attend Farmers Markets, so that is another option as well. This means you will get to see the produce in action, whether it is covered in dirt & wilted or fresh and vibrant from an early morning harvest or good storage. You will also get to observe how the other CSA members are experiencing their share and if they are enjoying it. Be mindful, this may not be an option, but it is worth looking into as possible.

Also, here is a list of my favorite online sources for finding a CSA:

Certified Naturally Grown– This is a peer or participatory program that provides a certification to small farmers who would not be good candidates for the National Organic Certification. It saves them money & paperwork while allowing them to sell organically grown produce directly to consumers.

Local Harvest This is a great place to start for many CSAs.

Colorado CSA If you are in Colorado this a great resource including a series of ebooks where you can get a detailed listing of CSA’s in your specific area such as Denver, Boulder, Golden, Ft. Collins, Longmont, and Colorado Springs.

Do you have a listing (similar to Colorado CSA) that is local to your region? Please share it in the comments below!

What do you look for in a CSA? Share your favorite CSA in the comments below!

Once you are finally set up and started with your CSA, sign up for Lilly’s Table for recipes, meal plans and more that cater to those who are buying locally sourced, seasonally focused food.

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

Lilly’s Table turns Four!

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Juliette is holding up four fingers celebrating four years!

Midnight September 5th, 2010, our four-month old daughter was thankfully asleep as my husband and I poured small glasses of champagne to toast the first live meal plan of Lilly’s Table. The journey to get to that point was an eye-opening experience and since then there have been many more crazy adventures. I just took a peak at that first weekly meal plan and tried not to cringe, instead I forgave myself for all that I did not know and for everything that was still undone.

The First Week of Lilly’s Table!

For those of you who have not been with me since that exciting day, let me give you a quick sum up of all that has happened since. My husband graduated with a PhD in Physics, accepted a job at the University of Arizona, we moved to Tucson, my daughter and I began to meet wonderful neighbors and then I discovered the national Food Day. Next thing I knew, I signed up to coordinate Food Day there, which included a three course progressive dinner along the Santa Cruz River (which by the way only flows occasionally during monsoon season).

After the excitement of that first Food Day, I started teaching cooking classes to daycare providers through the Tucson Community Food Bank’s Farm-to-Child program and then signed up to do another year of Food Day. For our second year, the incredible Food Day community decided one event on one day wasn’t enough and so we developed Tucson Food Week which included festivals, classes, and a pop-up picnic.

I am on the mic, chatting to our first Tucson Food Day crowd as they eat dessert.

Then I became pregnant. I appeared on local TV to talk about the 2012 Tucson Food Week while doing my best to hide morning sickness… which doesn’t feel terribly different from being nervous in front of a camera apparently. 😉 I also followed up with a spot on the local Radio station KXCI, where I spoke not only about Food Week, but Lilly’s Table. It was awesome.

With the end of 2012 came news of another move, fortunately back to Colorado. I had fallen madly in love with Tucson, but was blissful to come back to the open arms of friends with plenty of kids just about the same age as ours. In an unexpected turn, we bought a home in a tiny town and a few week’s later welcomed our baby boy.

I have been close to my children and my computer since that move well over a year ago. I try not to feel exhausted just writing about all of this. Rather, I want to feel excited knowing that midnight toast with my husband, that tiny sip of champagne was the first of so many possibilities. The meal planning service hasn’t quite grown into it’s full potential. Although, I am tempted to argue I was a bit distracted: community events and babies clearly need a bit of assistance. But, what I put in to my children and the community of Tucson I receive exponentially back in love, appreciation and my own growth.

Regardless of whether Lilly’s Table has grown, I am incredibly grateful for every single member. And throughout all of the drama and distractions I remained ever faithful to the weekly meal plan and I have never missed a week. I cannot say the same about this blog and my supposed-to-be weekly newsletter, but it is my hope to add more to the schedule that resonates even deeper with you as a reader.

Which means…. I want to talk to YOU!

One of my greatest lessons from Tucson Food Day was discovering that community and celebration are essential. There are so many food organizations, farms, restaurants and more doing amazing work. Our mission during Food Day was to bring them altogether to celebrate. To high five and celebrate how we are the change we wish to see in the food world.

It is my mission to continue that. It is my mission to empower the celebration of food. I am now on the hunt, exploring ways to bring joy and good food to every table.

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Because here is the deal, even with four years under my belt as an ‘Executive Meal Planner’ and an ‘Executive Mama’, I typically feel I have no idea what the hell I am doing. Not because I am failing miserable, but because there are constant surprises, changes, growth, struggles and most of all… POSSIBILITIES.

That last word has been breathing in and out of me almost daily since moving back to Colorado. Life is brimming over with possibilities… most of which I do not know or understand yet.

So, back to today. Please be a part of the next four years of Lilly’s Table. My heart is exploding with all that could happen, but I need to hear from you. What do you want from me?

More stories?
More recipes?
More tasting parties?
More supper clubs?
Mama focused meal plans?
Kid’s lunch plans?
So. Many. Possibilities!

How can I best EMPOWER you, your family, your friends, your school to CELEBRATE FOOD?

Tell me what you hope to see unfold and I will do my best to deliver. All we have left friends are possibilities and love. Always love.

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Celebrate food,

Chef Lilly

PS- As of LT’s fourth anniversary I have decided to change my tagline from “Live well” to “Celebrate food”. Let me know what you think!?

SEASONAL BITE

NEWSLETTER

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well.

Category Archives: Community

Dan Moore of Farmshares Interview (part 1)

Harvest Lentil Salad

“Beautiful beluga lentils” I seriously had to exclaim!

Lilly’s Table turns Four!