26 Reasons to Join the CSA in 2016

This week we've got 26 reasons that 2016 should be the Year of the CSA for you and your family! Those new years resolutions to eat healthy? Easier than ever with JBG. Signing up for our CSA is quick and easy - join the farm today and start your vegetable deliveries next week!

1. FREE CITRUS!

   We're starting here because this offer is ending soon! New members to our CSA get a free bag of citrus just for joining the farm - use the code NWYR at checkout. Existing members - you can get free citrus too, by committing to a long-term share this year! Read more here and email the farm to start your commitment.

2. BUY LOCAL

   By joining a CSA, you are supporting a locally owned and operated business and keeping your dollars in the Texas economy. Unique local businesses are part of what makes Austin and Texas so special!

3. FOR YOUR HEALTH

   Plant-based and plant-rich diets are a great way to jump-start your road to health this year, and organically grown is as good as it gets. Joining our CSA is a commitment to home-cooked, health filled meals. Plus, sharing these eating habits with your kids will ensure they live long and healthy lives.

4. TRY NEW FOODS

   Kohlrabi and fennel? Komatsuna? Expand your culinary horizons each week when you open your box of goodies and dream up some awesome dishes. We also help you out by posting weekly seasonal recipes to our blog. (Psst.. decide you don’t like something? Customize your share and we won’t send it to you again!)

5. FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

   Supporting your local farm ensures sustainable land management, and organic certification ensures that we never spray harmful chemicals on the farm. East Austin housing developments? Never on this land!
   
   Photo by Scott David Gordon

6. MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE A GREEN THUMB

   That's okay, we've got a few out here! Our team is dedicated to growing the best organic vegetables in town and we've got years of experience.

7. CUT DOWN YOUR FOOD MILES

   It's estimated that the average American meal travels over 1500 miles before making it to a dinner plate. With all of that fuel, even a plant-based meal might not be too eco-friendly. In contrast, our farm is located just 10 miles east of the Austin airport!

8. ONLY THE FRESHEST

   Less food miles also means that your produce is much fresher when it gets to you. Most of your CSA produce was harvested no more than a day or two before it makes it to your doorstep, which means its has peak nutrition and flavor.

9. DISCOVER THE SEASONS

   Eating locally connects you to the seasons, to the land, and to your own health and wellness. Cucumbers will cool you down in the summer, while braised collards will warm you up when the temperatures start to drop. Enjoy the best pico de gallo of your life during the short window when cilantro, onions, peppers, and tomatoes all overlap and we promise you'll never go back to the store-bought stuff again.

10. IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR PAUL...

    And yes, we mean Qui. Great chefs all over Austin use JBG's produce because it's the best around! Why shouldn't your family too?

11. SHAKEY GRAVES KEEPS GIVING OUR HATS AWAY AND WE CANT AFFORD TO SEND HIM MORE WITHOUT YOUR HELP

    These hats, while awesome, are not edible. If you rep JBG on your head but not on your plate, maybe 2016 is the year to make the shift?

12. KNOW YOUR FARMERS

    Brenton manages the fields, Krishna crunches the numbers, Matt and crew pack and inspect all of your CSAs each week (while blaring old-time country tunes), and Ada manages outreach, events, and makes sure we're all having fun. Come out to an event or volunteer at the farm and get to know us! We're regular old Austinites just like you.

13. KNOW YOUR FOOD

    With all of the recalls, health scares, scary articles and stories around the food industry these days, getting a CSA share with JBG ensures you know exactly where your food is coming from and how it's grown. GMO? Heck no! Come out for a volunteer day and see your crops in the field and ask your farmers about it!

14. AWESOME DELIVERY DRIVERS

    The modern-day milkmen.

15. IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS EVERY WEEK

    Our delivery drivers are a group of jolly men (like Santa!) who deliver boxes of surprises to your doorstep each week. Like this summer, when they left sunflowers on porches all over Austin along with the usual CSA deliveries - what more could you ask for?

16. DIVE INTO OUR FARM COMMUNITY

    The "C" in CSA is important to us all at JBG. That's why we host twice-annual Potlucks, fun runs on the farm, cooking classes, pop-ups, plant sales, and more to encourage members to get out and meet their farmers and their neighbors. Your community pick-up location is a great place to trade recipes, ideas and more!

17. SAVE VALUABLE TIME EACH WEEK

    We bring the farm to you - either to a community site or right to your doorstep! We know you're busy, so save those hours spent at the grocery store by getting your veggies delivered in a CSA box each week. Give yourself permission to be a little lazy!

18. LEARN HOW TO PICKLE AND PRESERVE

    We aim to provide a big bounty of food for your family each week. We hope that we give you enough of your favorite veggies so that you can put up pickles, kraut, and kimchi for the off-season. We post recipes and host classes on preservation too!

19. EVEN OUR CARROTS LOVE OUR CARROTS

    Not only are they delicious, but when was the last time you saw something this cool in the supermarket?

20. NO MIDDLEMEN

    When you buy direct from our farm, more money goes direct to your farmers, which means that we can pay higher wages to our employees, and dedicate more efforts towards sustainability on the farm. When you buy from a supermarket, your farmers don't receive that same margin.

21. HELP FEED THOSE IN NEED

    Thanks to the support of our CSA members, JBG is able to donate thousands of pounds of produce every year to large operations like the Capital Area Food Bank, as well as grassroots efforts like Nubian Queen Lola who are both helping to ensure that the hungry in Austin are fed.

22. FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING

    We understand that you like to take vacations. And that some weeks you just don't have the time to cook. Maybe your garden is just having a bumper crop this week. That's why we make it easy to postpone your CSA deliveries any week of the year either online or by calling the farm.

23. FARM FRESH WATERMELON WHEN IT'S 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE

24. FOR THE LOVE OF ART

    C'mon, what would you do without Lucas and his farm-toons, or Amy and her amazing veggie art? Buying a CSA share supports our employees and all the wonderful things they do for the farm.

25. OPTIONS OPTIONS OPTIONS

    We've got 4 sizes to suit your needs - individuals to large families can all choose the size to suit them. JBG offers add-ons of local eggs from pasture-raised hens, and small batch locally roasted coffee as well. Finally, you can CUSTOMIZE your share each week, ensuring that you get the veggies to suit your household best!

26. HOT PINK CHARD AND ROMANESCO CAULIFLOWER AND PURPLE PEPPERS EXIST, AND WE THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THEM (AND EAT THEM TOO!)

      

    Join the CSA at Johnson's Backyard Garden today - it's never been easier, and it's a great way to start the New Year off right. Sign-up here - don't forget to claim your citrus as a treat from us when joining!