I first joined a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)  farm when I was living in New Mexico.  I paid a share of the cost to run the farm, volunteered about 8 hours every six months, and received a decent size bag of produce every week in the growing season (April to October).  I loved it, so after moving to San Francisco, I decided I needed to find another farm. 

In the Bay Area, we do have CSAs, but we also have access to numerous small farms, where for a small weekly rate, a box of produce is delivered to your home or neighborhood.  And, you don't have to volunteer. Plus, our growing season is year round. 

With the expansion and popularity of organic produce, we can buy incredibly healthy and tasty veggies and fruit at almost any corner store (at least in San Francisco).  But, what's special about being a part of a farm, is you not only get organic produce, but you get it straight from the farmer, which is usually local. So you are not supporting a mega-agribusiness, or burning large quantities of fossil fuels to transport your produce to your local market.  You are supporting a small family farm in an area close to where you live. 

But, the real reasons I joined my farm, Terra Firma Farms http://www.terrafirmafarms.com/,  are much more selfish:  I love to eat tasty, super fresh produce.  I am pretty sure we are saving money.  Its $21 per week for a medium sized box, which is plenty for a vegetarian household of 2, who eat at home 5 nights a week. I love the surprise of opening my box each week and seeing produce that I would not have thought to buy at the grocery store.  I am forced to try something new, almost every week, and some of the produce, I have not only never eaten, but never seen before either.  (It took me about a week to figure out how to shuck, shell, and cook fava beans).    And, the wide variety of produce requires searching for new recipes.   Also fun.  Ok, I might be a bit of a food nerd,  but I do love preparing and eating a new dish weekly.     

This past week we got golden beets, baby zucchini, baby carrots, red kale, cucumbers, red onions, garlic, ruby red grapefruit, strawberries, and cherries. 

Although I love Terra Firma Farms,  I know others who have joined Capay:  http://www.farmfreshtoyou.com/ (they will actually deliver to your home, but its a bit more expensive)