Sometimes the best place to find healthy eating success is in your own backyard, literally. So many times we have to choose between our health and our budget, and that is an extremely unfair choice to have to make. Thankfully many communities are starting to come together in order to get healthy, and one of the ways they are doing this is with community-supported co-ops.
In a nutshell, a co-op is when a group of people pays a certain fee in order to share a farm-style operation. When taking part in a co-op, each person will be able to share the benefits of making their own ‘ homegrown’ produce, and they will be able to eat whatever they grow with confidence that they know exactly how it was raised and whether or not it is truly organic.
Because the community shares the cost for the same piece of land, a co-op is a great way to stay on budget while eating whole, fresh foods. Another benefit is that you will typically pay once or twice a year, so even an investment of a few hundred dollars will likely save you hundreds on buying produce throughout the year.
You Can Also Join a CSA
If you don’t have the time or energy to tend to your own produce, a CSA might be right for you. CSA stands for community-supported agriculture, and true to its name, it is when the community comes together to support the agriculture in one way or another.
When it comes to a CSA you will usually pay a fee to a local farm and in exchange, you will get a select amount of produce a few times a month. Generally, you will not have a say in the produce that you are getting, which can be unappealing for some. But if you make the determination to plan your meals around the type of produce that you get then a CSA might be a great move for you.
How Do You Find A CSA?
While local farm owners would readily know where you can find your local CSA, not everyone knows where to find the farms in their area. Thankfully, another easy option is to look on your local or community website. And, of course, when all else fails, a simple Google search of your county name and CSA should give you some great starting points.
You should never have to choose between your budget and your health. Joining a local CSA is a good way to eat healthy while sticking to your budget.
