We're in the midst of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture's CSA month, and since we can talk local programs until the cows come home, we're taking this time to introduce you to some community supported agriculture programs right here in Buncombe County.

Showing the way to CSA

We don't want to put the cart before the horse, so let's start with a definition. In its basic form, a CSA allows an individual (let's say you) to purchase part of a farm's harvest at the beginning of the season — then once the harvest starts, the CSA functions like a subscription, allowing you to get a share of the farm's produce or goods, usually weekly.

Some farms will deliver everything or set a pick-up location for your box, but there are also market-share CSAs that let you meet the farmers at a market to pick out your own goods and multi-farm CSAs that give more diversity of products. If your office is on board, you can even get a workplace CSA.

For the traditional spring + summer CSAs, it's best to sign up between January and March to secure your share (hence ASAP's declaration of CSA Month).

Finding your farm

Buncombe has a bounty, so there is a lot to choose from around here — like produce from Olivette Farm, meats from Hickory Nut Gap, or even flowers from Blazing Star.

ASAP has a handy list of farms that offer pick-up in Buncombe and surrounding counties. The list also gives you an idea of what kind of goods will be offered and whether the farm has a fall/winter CSA option.

If you'd rather meet your farm face-to-face before you decide, mark your calendar for Thursday, March 12. ASAP is hosting a CSA Fair at the YWCA of Asheville, where 12 area farms will showcase their goods, answer questions, and offer tastings. Stop by between 3:30 and 6 p.m.