The agriculture-industry complex has sprayed vegetables with pesticides, injected growth hormones…read moreinto meat, and burned the soil with untold chemicals. Chickens are grown in cages barely large enough to move around in and ducks are force fed grain to enlarge their tasty livers. High fructose corn syrup is the sweetener of choice and a list of ingredients reads like a chemistry experiment. This is the world we live in. Captain Planet! He's our hero. He's gonna bring pollution down to zero! Unfortunately, there are no Captain Planets to save the day. Left to our own devices, we've filled our bodies with artificial hormones, flavors and fats. Is it no wonder we face epidemics of childhood diabetes, strange allergies, and gross obesity? Organic farming is the growing movement to provide meats, fruits, and vegetables free from the effects of these pesticides, growth hormones, and additives in an agriculturally sustainable manner. Organic and naturally grown foodstuffs are readily available at your nearest Trader Joe's or Wholefoods, but by and large, organic farming is still in its infancy. When I first heard of a community supported agriculture (csa), my thought was this must be a secret chef-only society. As it turns out, a csa is an open membership, where you buy-in a farm share for a particular season. Basically, you get organically grown produce sent to you directly from the farmer, supporting both your local farmer and organic farming. And, it's farm fresh produce, picked that week, maybe even that day! Knowing practically none of this and on the promise of camping, I took the opportunity to visit the organic farmer for my friend's Stanton St CSA at Windflower Farms this past weekend (as of the date of this writing). The drive from Jersey to Valley Forge, NY was a slow journey in excess of four hours, deep into the boonies. Turning the corner on gravelly Meetinghouse Road, the sight of 12 acre Windflower Farm greeted us. A pale blue farmhouse sat guarding the entrance. Ted Blomgren, the farmer, quickly introduced himself. He and his wife Jan, along with their boys, volunteers, and permenant farmhands, operate the farm together. After pitching our tent beneath the leafy green auspiciouses of a towering tree, we navigated down from the knoll to join Ted on a short tour of the farm. We started off at the tomato patch. I could see rows and rows of tomato vines weighed down with red and ripening plump tomatoes. The smell of a real tomato leaf is my favorite vegetable smell. It reminds of the gardens I had back home. I used to love rubbing a few leaves in my hands and breathing in the scents. In any case, Ted spoke intelligently about the use of plastic coverings to control humidity and encourage growth. The trick he said was to know when to take the covering off. Too long and leaf rot will set in early. Or how he lost his bean crop to black rot, and the methodology and testing that went in identifying the suspect seeds rather than saving the crop through chemical sprays. Walking along, we saw patches of red and white swiss chard, stalks of broccoli, flowing waves of bright green fennel fronds, leafy carrots with the orange roots just peeking from the dirt, green chili peppers, long yellow banana peppers, dusty brown potatoes, smiling sunflowers yellow and bright, squabbling roosters of all colors, rows of red, purple, white flowers, and a lost baby kitten wandering around the broccoli patch. In the afternoon, Ted took us on a tractor ride up a grassy bluff over looking the valley to watch the sun setting in the distance. The sleepy sun cast brilliant shades of red, orange and purple across the sky. Rolling hills covered in thick green grass and tall trees plump with leafy foliage dominated the vista. Unsurprisingly, weddings are commonly celebrated here. The ride back down led us through an old apple orchard, the fruit still green and sour, and a herd of cows where the calfs were leaping up and down playfully at the sight of us. In the evening, with a large campfire roaring, burning cords of garlic stems, and the scents of marshmallows roasting on long sticks lingering around, the stars, sparkling like diamonds, arrived en masse. The deeply blue sky so numerous with twinkling stars bright and clear made it feel as if I could reach up and scoop up a handful. The occasional shooting star brought an outworldly entertainment to our little group. How many tender wishes did that star carry back that night I wonder? As we were packing up our gear the next morning and munching on a breakfast of sweet potatoes and eggs (and a fresh tomato secretly picked..), I came to the realization that if there are any heroes left saving our planet, then it's folks like Ted and Jan Blomgren. Note: A big thanks to Nina for inviting all of us up to her CSA and also for letting me use her camera to take pictures: (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/RbspegQaEqOPtIrKkSQKVQ?select=p3M9bYdGDjax6V4aaGGmpg) Review 8/25/2008 I.M.Y.

This is our fourth season with Windflower, and we couldn't be happier with our CSA share. Ted and…read moreJan and their team grow great food, make a huge effort to communicate with and educate their members, and host us for a trip to the farm that's the highlight of our summer. Windflower is so special to us that on the most recent farm trip, my boyfriend proposed! Seriously, a wonderful place, wonderful people, wonderful food.

Quincy Farm was a new addition at our local farmer's market, and their selection has been a little…read moresparse compared to some of the more established farms... but the quality of their produce is out of this world! If they can maintain this level of quality they'll have a customer for life.

From the owner: Naturally-grown veggies for CSA (community supported agriculture) and farmers' markets…read more Also: A great connection to a real farm, cared-for by two hard-working wonderful people.

This is a cute roadside market that is tucked away in more of a residential neighborhood. My mom…read morerecommended this place for its amazing cider donuts and it did not disappoint. They also had a huge selection of really cool gourds, apple cider, a wide selection of jams, pumpkins, winter squash and mums. We picked up some jams, which were pretty reasonably priced, and gourds which were also well priced. This place doesn't have the curated atmosphere of larger farms like Indian Ladder but has good quality merchandise, particularly donuts and gourds so this is definitely now added to our rotation of Fall farm stops in the Albany area.

Nice family run "farm stand" or farm store with wonderful smelling homemade baked goods. Beautiful…read moreseasonal produce available. Great find tucked into suburban Niskayuna/Colonie.

Laughing Earth is primarily a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and, being that, are a farm…read morethat believes in giving good healthy food and flowers to their *community*. My farmers are my friends, and I am not at all some invisible number amidst their fairly full & growing CSA. As members, we don't just receive weekly shares in a place where we know the farmers and know where & how our (safe, healthy, organic) food is grown, but we have access to -- my favorite -- the picking garden. Each week of the entire growing season, we are invited and encouraged to walk through the picking garden, making a flower bouquet to take home, and cutting the herbs we'd need in the coming week. You know how people join places like Berkshire Botanical Gardens? Walking through the picking garden, gathering peace in the sunshine is that. And it's a kind of home, a kind of deep connection to where our food comes from and to the people who work on the land to cooperate with the earth and, in much sweat, bring the goodness to us. I have multiple health problems - stressful chronic health needs that are deeply met by fresh organic food. I can't eat processed food at all. I know I need vegetables constantly. I want to support my local farmers. A CSA makes sense. And these farmers support ME in healthy community -- you've gotta hear about the potlucks! Learning about bread-making from a local author was February and I'm still super-excited! -- and healthy community, by every health and longevity study, is THE factor to be rich in. You'll be exposed to poetry too.

I enjoyed the veggies from Fox Creek Farm crop-share this summer. Yet one of the best parts of…read morebeing a member of the CSA was actually coming out and visiting the actual farm. Our group was assembled with two adults and two kids: we all thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful trip out there. First off, we were encouraged to pick fresh herbs & flowers all for free! Matilda loved it so much she squealed with joy as we ran through the rows of plants and picked flowers. We all left very happy and was glad we made the to trek out there. The kids loved seeing the home where our summer vegetables were grown and we had a lovely hand picked center piece for our dinner table that night.

Our weekly CSA pickup from Fox Creek is one of the best parts of summer and fall! The produce is…read morebeautiful and - most importantly - delicious! Raymond and Sara and the rest of the farm workers take great care in their growing and harvesting, and it shows. We love the variety of vegetables (and a few fruits!) - many reliable standards like corn, tomatoes, snap peas, and broccoli as well as a few new ones like cooking greens, garlic scapes, and different heirloom varieties that have become some of our favorites. The farm is a wonderful place to visit, and the u-pick garden (that comes with your share) is overflowing with fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, and flowers in all colors and sizes.

Roxbury Farm is amazing…read more Shortly after I moved to the Captial Region ThinkAnd D. told me about this great little farm called Roxbury that he thought I would really enjoy. He is one of the few people whose taste I trust without reservation. So I immediately went to their website to try and subscribe to the CSA. Unfortunately I was too early. I marked the date when perspective members could apply for a share, and on that day I went back to the site. As it turned out the farm wasn't quite ready yet, and suggested I check back in a few days. The tragedy was that when I finally returned, all the open slots had already been filled. So I had to wait another year, and even then I was only able to get a share at a less than convenient site. It was only this past season that I finally was able to become a member at the drop-off site nearest to my home. With two years under my belt, I have seen bounty and I have seen loss. That's part of the CSA model. Your fate is tied to the farms. What you get is at the mercy of the weather. From that perspective 2011 was brutal. An early hail pushed off the start of the season. And even after a hurricane that flooded the creek and destroyed a massive amount of the farm's crops, they miraculously continued to deliver amazing vegetables (you can see the photo above for yourself). It was the subsequent tropical storm that really was devastating. The season had to end a few weeks early, and winter storage crops had to be used to prolong the deliveries for as long as possible. Even with these losses, my love for this farm is undiminished. Their biodynamic produce is delicious. The best corn is corn that has just been picked. I love the flood of tomatoes, red peppers and cucumbers at the height of summer. They combine naturally in a panzanella salad that requires no cooking just at the time of year when you don't want to turn on your stove. Winter out here is long. When summer rolls around, it should be celebrated. And there is no better way of celebrating it than eating freshly harvested produce that was grown nearby. I can't say enough good things about this farm. I can just thank them for all their hard work and happily keep subscribing to their CSA.

First off, let me make it clear that I am not, nor have ever been, a hippie. I hate granola and…read moreretch at the faintest scent of patchouli. When I see a sitar, I reach for my gun.* But I love, love, love cooking and eating well. And I love love love supporting alternative community endeavors. Roxbury Farm falls under the rubric of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). For those not familiar with CSAs, for an annual fee one essentially becomes a 'shareholder' in a farm for the duration of a growing season, receiving a portion of the farm's output on a weekly basis. We're very fortunate in this area because there's quite a few CSAs to choose from. Roxbury, though, is one of the oldest in the nation, has standards that go far beyond the government's definition of acceptable 'organic' farming standards, and is socially conscious, delivering free food to local pantries. Their weekly newsletter displays a pragmatic sensitivity to regional issues that I rarely see around this area. Roxbury's weekly share is geared for a family of three, and they've got dozens of drop-off points scattered about the immediate area, making pickup very convenient. For example, the distance to my drop-off location is a short bike ride away (but there's so much food that the trip really demands a car). Most of the produce is what you'd expect from this region, but the quality is vastly superior, and every once in a while you'll get something relatively surprising, like bok choy, garlic scapes, or some unusual pepper or green not available in local supermarkets. In terms of quantity, I can say that we've never finished off a weekly order without freezing or preserving some of it. It's a little pricey, but well worth it, especially if you've got a freezer or know canning. You'll have great vegetables (and fruit and meat, if you like) all year. And, you'll know that you're supporting local farmers. For more info, check out their website at roxburyfarm.com. And please note that this season (2007) is filled. You'll have to wait until the beginning of the coming year to join. * I own a staple gun.

These days, I'm making a habit of going to Forts Ferry Farms' pop up markets…read more I was introduced to a new-to-me herb, cilantro-like, from Peru. It is even more punchy than cilantro. I don't remember the name of it. Use sparingly. Heirloom tomatoes - I bought a flat of them so I made gazpacho and a fresh tomato sauce (using Marcella Hazan's recipe). I also ate some raw - still warm with a little salt. Tomatoes define the taste of summer. Peaches - this is the first year FFF is offering their own peaches. I don't know what kind of peach it is. It is smaller, the flesh more delicate with a more pronounced flavor. The memoir, Epitaph for a Peach, by David Mas Matsumoto, came to mind when I tasted it. This peach wasn't grown to be hearty and built to withstand the rigors of transport, it was grown to be flavorful; to be eaten and savored. I'm so glad FFF is here to remind us how produce should taste. I'd almost forgotten.

I knew nothing about this place when my wife suggested for a surprise lunch on a Saturday…read moreafternoon, and we had to rush over as they have limited hours. It was cold and raining outside and I was happy to get out of it and relax. Sadly, I quickly found out her surprise involved eating outside under a tent in the cold and rain on a November day. Sigh. At least they had blankets on the benches. We ordered in the far tent and the menu board was both helpful (it listed everything in each entree, including onions) and annoying (it indicated no substitutions were allowed, including onions). Not to be deterred, I picked the pepperoni pizza with hot honey, basil and Calabrian chili peppers. My wife ordered the Margherita pizza. Both were ready in about 15 minutes, but upon delivery to our table it became clear that a couple of things were off. First, my wife's pizza was cold and mine was pipping hot. Second, mine had so much basil- which in places was left in 2-3 leaf bunches- that perhaps they just cleaned out the pantry for the last order of the day. The crust in spots were burned, but I could live with that. However, it was so floppy that it couldn't be picked up under any condition. Everything but the outer inch of crust was like a thin wet tortilla. And their plastic cutlery wasn't up to the challenge, ripping the pizza toppings off and turning my pizza into a casserole. That being said, the flavors were wonderful on my pizza. The hot honey made for a really tasty flavor balance, and the copious amounts of curling pepperoni were a nice change of pace from the cheap stuff. The peppers were good too, and I wish I could source some locally. My wife's pizza was okay, though the whole mozzarella clumps reminded of dollops of Ricotta and they were very cold as if they were added after baking. Odd. I don't mind paying for expensive pizza if it is good. I am also not a pizza snob and will gladly eat subpar pizza. But, to overpay ($26 for mine alone) for pizza that is just a mess in a cardboard box rubs me the wrong way. The same goes for buying ($24) a cold pizza. The dessert we ordered was a Paris-Brest, and being a choux fan I absolutely loved it. Delicious with hints of coffee, almonds, nuts, and some flavorings I couldn't place, I would quickly come back here just for that. As for their pizza, I just don't know. On a nice pleasant day it would be fun, but too many mistakes on our pizzas makes me leery of ordering them again for those prices.

An absolutely incredible CSA!…read more The staff here are incredibly helpful and friendly. They go out of their way, even on busy days, to answer any questions you have about the produce, the farm, or anything else about the area that you want to know. They keep the place looking great all season long (both the "you pick" fields and the indoor store. The most attractive thing about this farm share upon first glance was the great hours. You can go Saturdays from 10-3, and W-F from 1-630PM to pick up your share. These hours are unbeatable compared to other CSAs in Western Mass and they make it easier for busy people with odd work schedules to participate, which I appreciate. I also appreciate that they have THREE farm share sizes to chose from. I strongly recommend getting the largest one, and getting a buddy (or buddies) and sharing it, it is a great deal and a ton of produce! The prices and how everything works is clearly spelled out on their website so you can check it out before you head there. The produce selection is also pretty awesome. We are never bored. My favorite part about farm shares is that it forces you to eat way more vegetables than you probably would otherwise, and it also forces you to be creative with recipes and explore new dishes to cook. The U-Pick component is also a lot of fun, especially if you have kiddos. The current U-Pick selection is quite robust, unlike other farm shares where you just pick a handful of items and you're out. The fresh herbs alone are enough to make the U-pick worth every ounce of sweat required to pick them on a hot summer day. Finally, I must comment on the view. I attached some pictures to make that point. Being at the base of Mt Tom provides beautiful views as you are out in the field picking produce. It definitely makes you stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and smile. I strongly recommend this place!

awesome folks! A beautiful local farm! Wonderful area and…read moretop of the line produce. Always clean and the owners are amazing!

It's a small shop with farm-fresh milk, eggs, and meat. I really like the variety of cheeses and…read moresausages they have. Looks like they host events on the weekends too, which is great for families. We were in the area and decided to check it out. It's a nice space.

Off the beaten or better yet paved way but a gem…read more A tiny shop with a handful of fridges full of the best cheeses, packed meats and sausages and dairy products. They're cheeses are all a must alongside their breakfast sausages and Italian sausage. Full of great flavor and incredibly lean with all the great taste. The rest of the store is stocked with pasta, sauces, breads, local goods, chocolate, ice cream and granola. Everything I've had has been delicious and I can't help but keep going back for some of my favorites. You'll find their name in local markets and farmers markets.