Waltham Fields Community Farm (WFCF) has provided Waltham residents as well as people throughout the Greater Boston area with locally grown organic vegetables and fruits through its community-supported agriculture (CSA) program for the past 29 summers.
WFCF grows all of its fruits and vegetables on 9 acres at 240 Beaver St. and 2 acres at 185 Lyman St. as well as at affiliated farms in the region.
This year WFCF launched a winter CSA program. The Waltham Times asked farm manager Andy Andrews to tell us about it. Our interview with Andrews has been lightly edited for style.
Waltham Times: What is the CSA program, and how does it help the community?
Andrews: Our winter CSA program provides residents in Waltham and nearby areas with fresh locally grown produce. This can be very difficult to find in the winter, as most produce farms shut down in late fall and resume in the spring. While this is a first-year pilot program, we hope to expand it next year and increase the amount of produce going to our food access programs. The program also provides winter employment to our farmers, allowing them to continue pursuing their interest in sustainable agriculture.
Waltham Times: Why is the winter program being launched now?
Andrews: I had envisioned us starting such a program since arriving here at the farm in 2022. Since then we have conducted trials growing additional storage crops and greens in the winter which have proven to be quite productive. We are also actively pursuing funding opportunities to support the installation of additional high-tunnels (hoop-shaped covered structures to protect crops) so that we may expand access to locally grown food year-round. And we very much hope we may continue this program for many years to come.
Waltham Times: What kind of produce is included in the winter CSA? Is it all grown locally?
Andrews: The winter CSA program will consist of roughly half greens (lettuce, kale, arugula, collard greens, salad mix and bok choy) and half storage crops (potatoes, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, radishes, turnip, carrots, rutabagas and parsnips). About 98% of the produce offered in this program is grown here at the farm, with the other portion coming from an organic farm in Maine we have been working with for many years.
Waltham Times: What should the public know about how to apply? Are there still shares available for this year?
Andrews: We are currently sold out for the season but will be offering the program again next winter.
Waltham Times: What else would you like our readers to know?
Andrews: We are grateful to the City of Waltham that our new license agreement gives us access to land where we have constructed two greenhouses this year. This has given us more protected space to grow vegetables in all four seasons and expands our capacity to offer fresh locally grown produce in the colder months. We’re hoping we can continue and expand this program in future years.
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