Reader comment on Sunday's column on Community-Supported Agriculture:

We did something similar. Howard County offers a program like that to support Howard County farms, although not all are organic. It was wonderful, the produce was fresh and it was great to know where it came from. Often we got recipes, usually we got at least one item we weren't familiar with so it sure expanded our horizons! And it was fun to see what we'd get each week. The only problem was that my husband and I have no kids, it was just too much produce for two people to use in a week. If you have someone to share any potential surplus with, I know you will love the produce you get! And it does feel very good to support local, small farms. You are correct, I wish someone had thought of this before so many small farms were bulldozed over.
--- Marcia Bresson

I couldn't agree with you more about CSAs. I would love to farm my own veggies in my own backyard, but the job and the family eats up most of my time. I live in Anne Arundel County and have been looking for a CSA to join because I want to support people who are farming responsibly.  Just down the road from me, a farm that's been a part of the county since the 1800s has closed down shop, as the farmer sold out to a developer and his wonderful farm land and peach orchards will be plowed under for more disappointing, overpriced tract homes.  I easily spent $300 last summer and fall buying his family's produce and hoping to stave off the inevitable, but as you so eloquently pointed out in your column--farming is hard, uncertain work.  Places like England and Holland manage to have their villages ringed by farms and green space--how wonderful if we could be so far-sighted. To keep a long-winded screed from getting endless, I'd like you to know that I've forwarded your column via the Baltimore Sun's online link to friends of mine who live out of state, and I'd like to pass on their comments (which I share):  HOORAY for you for pointing this out.
-- Teresa Bennett