We bought a half -share into a farm that exists only for its share holders. It is $200 a year and we’ll bring home boxes of fruit and veggies every week. I’m going to volunteer there too, and they’ve promised to load me up even more. They offer more than 50 kinds of produce.
These kinds of farms exist only for their shareholders. We have a miserable backyard for a garden, though we’re doing some raised beds and container growing. I’ve been growing my own produce from seed and they’re sprouting nicely. But this farm will certainly add to our ability to dehydrate and can produce this growing season. And $200 is a small price to pay.
Find a CSA near you here:
Your state agriculture department likely also has lists of CSA farms. Unfortunately, this movement appears to be dwindling in our area. I couldn't find a single CSA within reasonable driving distance, every one that had been operating close by was gone.
Another really good way to get fresh vegetables and fruit is pick your own farms. Your state ag. dept. will have lists of those too. I used to fill my freezer every summer with corn, lima beans, broccoli, green beans, apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries from PYO farms nearby.
It's a great outing for kids. Don't worry about climbing trees for the fruit, btw. They provide pickers.
Here's the list for Virginia:
https://www.pickyourown.org/VA.htm
Sad thing is the smaller farms that offered this are most likely being taxed out of their land and being bought out.
I think it's more likely some people shifted to running a regular farm, at least one never planted anything to sell, others appeared to just not sell enough memberships or weren't convenient. Taxes aren't that bad here but you really have to know what you're doing to succeed in any business.
Perfect example is me. I was interested, was ready to sign up. The only one I could find was a 100 mile round trip for me to pick up.