Buy the farm (at least a share)

For those wanting fresh, locally grown food without all the shopping and gardening, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions are a way to eat well and support local farmers. A number of area farms offer them, and now is the time to sign up.

They all work similarly: Pay in advance (around $13-$25 per week), then pick up your “share,” a weekly bag of produce—lots of greens in the beginning, then bursting bags of melon, squash, strawberries and other seasonal goodies toward the end. Eggs and meat may sometimes be an option, too. The only catch is you take what they give you: If you don’t like arugula or beets, too bad, they’re yours. If you do, great, they’re yours.

Some local farms with Reno pick-up locations that are now accepting subscriptions for spring, summer, fall or all of the above include the following:

• Churchill Butte Organics: The Stagecoach-based farmers of this year-round CSA actually deliver to subscribers at their home or workplace. For more information, call 721-6068.

• Custom Gardens Organic Farm: This Silver Springs farm also offers a Food-For-Work exchange where volunteers work five hours a week at the farm in exchange for CSA membership. For <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">{ document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,34,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,99,117,115,116,111,109,103,97,114,100,101,110,115,64,109,105,110,100,115,112,114,105,110,103,46,99,111,109,34,62,99,117,115,116,111,109,103,97,114,100,101,110,115,64,109,105,110,100,115,112,114,105,110,103,46,99,111,109,60,47,97,62)) } </script>, or visit http://customgardens.home.mindspring.com.

• Great Basin Basket (pictured): This CSA offers produce, fruit and flower shares from a variety of local farms. Call 843-6402 or visit http://greatbasinbasket.com, or call 843-6402.

• Grow for Me Sustainable Farms: A Jersey Cow milk share is also an option, as are student and small restaurant/café shares. Call 677-0636 or visit www.girlfarm.org.

• Rise and Shine Farms: Eggs or whole chickens can be added to your share through this Fallon farm. For more information, call 867-5873 or visit www.riseandshinefarms.com.

For a full list of CSAs in Nevada and elsewhere, visit www.localharvest.org.