Find Out More About Growing Home's CSA

Ready to register for 2010 CSA shares? Head over to our membership page.

Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a farming model that directly links consumers and producers. Our members support the farm by making an up-front payment at the beginning of the growing season that contributes to the farm’s operating budget. In return, members receive a weekly share of the farm's produce, and are invited to participate in farm events including our monthly potlucks, our harvest celebration, and are welcome to come visit the farm to u-pick berries or volunteer.

When you join Growing Home’s CSA, you are not only assuring yourself of fresh, organic vegetables all summer long, you are contributing to Growing Home’s transitional job training program. Our farms – and our CSA program – act as hands-on classrooms for the homeless and low-income men and women who join our job training program each year. Plus, 100% of the income we receive from CSA share sales funds the growth of our job training program and farm sites.

The CSA arrangement benefits both the farm and the members. Because members take on some of the financial risk of agriculture, the farm is able to try new and varied crops. And when the farm’s bounty is ready, members are able to share in the harvest. Being part of a CSA is a great way to know exactly where your money is going and where your food is coming from. At Growing Home, we offer an organic CSA program with a varied and exciting list of produce. Most of our produce is grown on our 10-acre farm outside Chicago in Marseilles, IL, although some comes from our urban farms on the south side of Chicago. 

What Will I Get?

Each Growing Home CSA share consists of a weekly 5/9 bushel box (about a paper grocery bag full) of freshly harvested, superbly cleaned, organic vegetables. We have found that one weekly share is ideal for a family of 2-3 who expect to eat a lot of vegetables, or a family of 4 with an average amount of vegetables in their diet.  If you are concerned about being able to consume a full share of vegetables each week, consider finding someone to split with: sharing is encouraged!  With your CSA you will also receive a weekly e-newsletter, discounts on produce at our market and Growing Home events, and access to the u-pick crops at selected Growing Home farms.  

What Produce Can I Expect?

SPRING: Growing Home’s spring shares provide samples of early greens as well as some of the heartier perennial herbs.  Our spring CSA will include asparagus, arugula, bok choy, garlic greens, baby lettuces, and spinach, as well as the occasional early herb, including sage, chives, and peppermint. (Week of May 10- Week of May 31)

SUMMER: the summer share will include warm-weather classics such as tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, onions, cabbage, swiss chard, cucumbers, eggplant, green and purple beans, snap and snow peas, winter squash, bell peppers, and a full range of herbs, including several large “pesto bunches” of basil throughout the season. The occasional watermelon may also make an appearance. (Week of June 7- Week of October 4)

 FALL: In addition to late season peppers, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, rutabaga, and onions, our fall share will include hearty cold-weather favorites such as hard-shelled squashes like acorn and butternut.  With the return of cooler weather, arugula and spinach will become available again. (Week of October 11- Week of November 1)

You can also find all of our 2009 CSA newletters here.

Ready to register? Head over to our membership page.