Low Income CSA shares!

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) brings together a community of farmers and customers who pledge to support these farmers' operations, sharing the risks & rewards of food production.

Generally the CSA model relies on customers to pay in full before the harvest, which provides growers with the financial security to cover seasonal startup costs. So what happens when a community member wants to support a farmer but lives with a limited income, receiving SNAP (food stamps) benefits?

We have an answer.

Fresh Start Farms is working with Cultivating Community to sign up SNAP recipients for CSA shares for the 2012 season.

Why sign up? There are two major perks:

1. pay once a month as you receive food, instead of paying upfront


2. pay half the price: thanks to a doubling program through Wholesome Wave, we are able to match SNAP dollars on CSA purchases--meaning SNAP customers pay for two weeks of every month and Cultivating Community pays for the other two.

Only one catch... we only have a limited number of these low income CSA shares available, so register as soon as possible to reserve your spot!!

Look through the winter gray toward the light at the end of the tunnel, and you will find juicy ripe tomatoes in your future :)

Winter Market & SNAP

Hopefully you're all gearing up for the Portland Winter Farmers' Market opening this Saturday 9am-1pm at the Maine Irish Heritage Center!

Did you know that we will be accepting VISA/MC, as well as SNAP food stamps?? In fact, every time you swipe your food stamps card, you will get DOUBLE the number of tokens... absolutely free! That's right, we'll charge $5 to your card and give you $10 in tokens!

Wondering what you can buy at the indoor market? There are tons of options!

• Root & greenhouse vegetables


• Storage crops


• Dairy products


• Eggs


• Honey


• Breads, grains, flour


• Tempeh


• Jams & preserved foods


• Meats


• and much more!

Speaking of root vegetables, we stumbled upon a fun video from the Austin Farmers' Market all about TURNIPS. Get some ideas for this often under-appreciated crop!

Getting more out of your fruit & veggies!

Our friends over at the Lewiston Farmers Market compiled an excellent list of storage tips to help you get more out of your fruit & veggies!

"We tend to think of our refrigerators as a magic box that preserves food. However, it can dry vegetables out, causing them to shrivel. Some produce items in fact, store longer when not put into the refrigerator. "


Check it out and give your veggies the care they need.