Buying the farm

Farmers' markets are great, but if you're like us, you're either too busy to shop, or you go and load up on the same thing every week. Joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) diversifies your diet and takes your commitment to locally grown produce one step further.

When you buy a "share" in one of the Illinois or Wisconsin farms listed below, you receive a weekly box of whatever was harvested that week throughout the growing season (about 20 weeks in the Midwest). You simply pick up your share each week from a drop-off location (usually a restaurant or CSA member's garage). If you can't stomach a full share each week (usually a bushel box or full grocery bag), you can split it with a friend or another member of the CSA.

You'll support small local farms with an infusion of cash at the beginning of the season—when they need it the most. And now that you're part of the farm, you can volunteer to help out if you're looking to escape the gritty city for a day playing in the dirt.

Angelic Organics
Caledonia, Ill., 815-389-2746, www.angelicorganics.com
Crops: Organic and biodynamic vegetables
Cost: The 20-week share is sold out, but 12-week shares are still available for $370.
Drop-offs: North and South Sides, Wheaton, Oak Park, other suburbs
Extras: Options to add a fruit box from farms across the country ($240–$400) and extend your share through December with winter vegetables ($100).

Cedar Valley Sustainable
Ottawa, Ill., 815-431-9544
Crops: This third-generation family farm was recently converted to grow sustainable and organic produce.
Cost: $318 for 20 weeks.
Drop-offs: Each member must go to the farm (about 80 miles southwest of Chicago) four or five times during the season and deliver boxes to other members who live near them.
Extras: Hormone-free meats, farm-fresh eggs, and an annual potluck picnic on the farm with other members

Home Grown Wisconsin
Waterloo, Wis., 608-341-8939, www.homegrownwisconsin.com
Crops: This is a co-op of 25 family-run farms, so it's able to offer a greater variety of produce than most CSAs.
Cost: $500 for 20 weeks; $275 for every other week
Drop-offs: Evanston, North Side

King's Hill Farm
Mineral Point, Wis., 888-752-2301, www.kingshillfarm.com
Crops: Year-round fruits and vegetables. During winter, the produce comes from other parts of the country.
Cost: $33 per week or $22 a week for a half share; plus a $60 annual membership fee
Drop-offs: North and South Sides, Oak Park, Lombard, other suburbs
Extras: You can pay weekly so you're not committed to an entire season.

The Land Connection (TLC)
Mackinaw River Valley, Ill., 309-678-2672, www.thelandconnection.org
Crops: Vegetables, fruit, herbs, duck eggs and chicken eggs
Cost: $550 without eggs, $660 with eggs, for 22 weeks
Drop-offs: North and South Sides
Extras: Orders for Wettstein Farm organic meat (used at Blackbird restaurant) can be added to your regular weekly delivery.

Prospera Farm
Berlin, Wis., 920-361-4747,www.prosperafarm.com
Crops: 15 types of heirloom tomatoes, nine varieties of squash, plus pumpkins and other vegetables
Cost: $400 for 15 weeks, $32.50 per month for a monthly subscription
Drop-offs: North Side
Extras: Options for a 10-week flower delivery ($68) or eggs ($20 per weekly dozen)

Sandhill Organics at Prairie Crossing
Grayslake, Ill., 847-548-4030, www.sandhillorganics.com
Crops: Vegetables and herbs
Cost: $475 for 20 weeks; fall/winter shares are $200
Drop-offs: West Loop, Oak Park, Glen Ellyn, other suburbs
Extras: Fresh fruit (not organic) and flower shares ($180 each)

Scotch Hill Farm
Broadhead, Wis., 608-897-4288, www.scotchhillfarm.com
Crops: These heirloom herbs and vegetables are not certified organic, but the farm has been chemical-free for more than 10 years.
Cost: $510 for 20 weeks
Drop-offs: Crystal Lake, Oak Park and the North Side
Extras: Eggs from old-breed chickens and goat milk soap

Sweet Earth Organic Farm
Wauzeka, Wis., 608-875-6026, www.sweetearthorganicfarm.com
Crops: Certified organic and heirloom vegetables, plus herbs and some fruits, such as cantaloupe and yellow watermelon
Cost: $485 for 20 weeks, $375 for half share
Drop-offs: North Side, Elgin, Northbrook and Evanston
Extras: Sweet Earth provides a chart of when it expects to harvest different types of produce.

Wormfarm
Reedsburg, Wis., 608-524-8678
Crops: Organic vegetables, flowers and herbs (plus some produce provided by other nearby organic farmers)
Cost: $460 for 20 weeks, $275 half share
Drop-offs: Instead of bringing the farm to you, Wormfarm asks subscribers to take turns spending Saturday nights on the farm. You'll stay in a private apartment, feed goats and then drop off produce to other members in the city and suburbs on the way home.
Extras: The farm is home to the Wormfarm Institute, a nonprofit that integrates culture and agriculture. Visiting artists at the institute mingle in the gardens with CSA visitors.