Essex Farm Memberships-Why it's a Great Idea

            The Champlain valley is home to the best farming operations in the Adirondacks, including the rather unconventional Essex Farm.  After visiting the farm, meeting Mark Kimball (the main operator of the farm), reading his wife’s book the Dirty Life and perusing through her blog, I’ve decided that if I could afford it, which I absolutely can’t at the moment, I would buy a share in their CSA. Not only does their year round, full diet, free choice membership appeal to me, but also their economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable practices (Essex Farm). Their farm has been called “the granddaddy of the revitalized local farm movement” (Demola) not for its use of innovative technologies, but rather for its return to the earth and simple practices.

If you want food that is sustainable, local, tastes good, brings people together, and is economically reasonable then an Essex Farm membership is a fantastic investment.

Part of Mark and Kristin Kimball’s efforts to show that the farm is environmentally sustainable is in how they make sure you know where your food is coming from. Whether it’s through Kristin’s book, in which she describes the details of the seeds they first purchased, or through Mark showing you on a farm tour where exactly the carrots are planted, there is no doubt that your food is coming straight from the earth. Mark even makes it clear that the cows are just more products of the earth when he casually sifts through their excrements, tasting a little bit and then remarking, “see, it’s just grass!” I thought he was crazy too, until I tried a bit and had to agree with him. Mark’s putting himself on the line to eat cow poop exemplifies his desire to show how everything on the farm is all connected- the grass, the cows, the crops, everything. 

Albeit the local food movement is not uncommon, Essex Farm’s economically and socially sustainable practices are what set it apart from other CSA farms. Every Friday, members come to pick up that week’s food at the farm, which brings the members together. They talk about how the cooked certain vegetables, new recipes, and what they liked and they didn’t like. Additionally, the program is $4,108 per year ($79 per week) for the first adult in the household and $3,640 per year ($70 per week) for the second adult (Essex Farm). And not only is that a good price for each person, but it is also good considering you will be eating healthy, wholesome, local food, which will save you money in healthcare costs. Essex Farm is a great place to put your money if you’re looking to support sustainable practices across economic, social, and environmental domains, and if you want to eat great food.

 http://www.suncommunitynews.com/articles/the-sun/big-ideas-brewing-at-essex-farm-institute/
 http://www.essexfarmcsa.com/
http://www.kristinkimball.com/blog/