404 Turkey Street, Hardwick, MA 01037
We attended the semi-annual Open Barn that the farmers at Chestnut Farms hold for their (meat CSA) shareholders each June (the other is in October). As usual, the animals were the stars of the day. The baby pigs were so cute! .
At the monthly pick-ups, Kim is usually doing about sixteen things at once, so it was nice to spend time chatting in a much more relaxed atmosphere.
For me, the open barns are a chance to connect a bit with the people behind the food, and to see first hand, and appreciate, the attentiveness and care that goes into raising the food that I put on the table for my family. It costs a bit more, but is worth it for so many reasons. Last fall, we had a bit of a budget crisis, but decided that the $22/week we spend to eat meat from Chestnut Farms was well worth the expense. We decided that a small amount of meat (10lbs/month) from responsible farmers was a way to fit it into our budget. As Kim says herself, CSAs don't work for everyone all the time. But, we are lucky that we can make it work for us right now.
