If you’re strapped for time and cash (who isn’t these days), but you’d still like to eat organic and support your local farmers – check out farm-share opportunities near you.

No Longer a Secret Society

For decades farmers have shared their crops and costs with co-op members. Buying direct from the farm cuts the cost of middle men and limits your food’s time from being picked to being enjoyed. Most farms have limits to the number of shares they can offer, so you will want to do your search as early in the year as possible.

Eat Fresh in the Big City

Farm shares bring locally grown organic produce to your doorstep at reasonable prices. Whether you get your share delivered right to your home, or somewhere close-by, chances are that you will save time from your regular grocery store trip.

Shared Risk

As part of a farm’s co-op, you take responsibility for the success of the crop. This may not mean that you’ll be plowing the fields, but you will lose if nature destroys the vegetation. Co-ops are very fundamental organizations that may not be staffed as well as a chain market. So, also beware that speedy delivery and top notch customer service may not be their first priority.

In order to find farm share opportunities near you, you can do a simple internet search for “buy local farm share Chicago,” (for example).