You can’t be commitment shy, however, if you want a share of the harvest from a local farm. Doing so requires plunking down hundreds of dollars and binding yourself to the fate of the farm and the vagaries of the seasons.

The risk, however, brings reward — bright lettuce, plump eggplant, juicy strawberries and heirloom tomatoes picked not far from where you live.

Farms that sell shares are known as community-supported agriculture, or CSAs. Shareholders pay to receive a box or bag of produce each week for the duration of the growing season, usually May or June through October or November. Some CSAs require members to pick up their produce at the farm and others arrange for some kind of delivery, if not to individual homes, then to a central drop point.

CSAs have proliferated here in the past few years, said Doug Stienbarger, director of the Washington State University Clark County Extension, which provides a searchable database of farms online.

When Stienbarger started working at the extension in 2000, he knew of only three Clark County CSAs. Now there are about a dozen, which means more shares and a broader range of choices for consumers.  

The price for a full share varies by farm, but tends toward $500 for the season.

That may seem like a lot of money, Stienbarger said, “but most of us don’t tally up what we spend on produce at the grocery store.”

There can be an advantage to paying upfront.

Shareholders lock in their purchase price at a time when grocery costs are rapidly rising, said Anne Lawrence of Storytree Farm in Vancouver.

Lawrence, whose farm already has sold all its shares for the season, leads a group of Clark County CSA farmers who meet regularly to swap ideas.

Before signing up for a CSA, prospective shareholders should ask farmers a lot of questions, both Lawrence and Stienbarger said. Ask for customer references, the quantities supplied for a share, and what kinds of fruit and vegetables to expect. They also suggest visiting the farm.

For those who are used to shopping at the supermarket, buying produce from a farm requires adjusting expectations and meal plans.

“Many (CSAs) are certified organic, and others are close, so that means the produce may have blemishes and look less perfect,” Stienbarger said.

The seasons dictate the produce that comes with a weekly share. Expect greens in spring as production builds to the bounty of summer.

“You start eating seasonably, so your food taste changes,” Lawrence said. “There’s nothing like craving a strawberry in January and biting into that thing they call a strawberry (from the grocery store). Our Hood strawberries are amazing, and you’re not going to buy them in California, because they don’t ship well.”

Lawrence urges prospective shareholders not only to query farms, but to ask themselves some questions, too. Do I really love vegetables? Am I an adventurous eater?

“You are not going to go to the grocery store with a list,” Lawrence said. “You’re going to take home produce and figure out what do with it. Just about the time you’re sick of lettuce, then you’ll start getting something else.”

How to join

Here’s a list of Clark County community-supported agriculture farms:

Creative Outlet Nursery & Farm
11602 N.E. 192nd Ave., Brush Prairie
Shares: Full share is $500 and a half share is $275.
Season: 23 weeks from mid-May through October.
Pickup: At the farm or Battle Ground Farmer’s Market; group drop sites are arranged, delivery available.
Contact: 360-608-2137, creativeoutletnursery@gmail.com, creativeoutletnurseryandfarm.blogspot.com.

DanDee Farm Naturals
503 N.E. 257th Ave., Camas
Shares: Sold out, waiting list available for 2009; $700 for a full share, $360 for a half share.
Season: 25 weeks from mid to late May through October or mid November.
Pickup: At the farm.
Contact: 360-834-7472, dandeefarm@comcast.net, dandeefarmnaturals.farmnotebook.com.

Dee Creek Farm
2402 Little Kalama River Road, Woodland.
Shares: Sold out, waiting list available for 2009; $350 for a full share.
Season: July to October.
Pickup: Delivery locations in Woodland and Vancouver.
Contact: 360-225-9711, admin@deecreekfarm.com, deecreekfarm.com.

Farm Girl Foods
12101 N.W. 17th Ave., Vancouver.
Shares: $600 for a full share, $300 for a half share.
Season: Late May or early June through mid-December.
Pickup: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the farm; delivery available for $5 within a 15 to 20 mile radius from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Contact: 208-631-1424, annclemon@yahoo.com.

Garden Delights
15417 N.E. Parkinen Road, Brush Prairie.
Shares: $500 for a full share, $275 for a half share.
Season: 20 weeks beginning June 3. 
Pickup: Tuesdays at the farm.
Contact: 360-892-4479, gardendelightherbs@netzero.net.

Gee Creek Farm
1606 N.W. 215th Circle, Ridgefield
Shares: $500 for a full share, $275 for a half share.
Season: 22 weeks, from mid to late June through November or early December.
Pickup: At the farm.
Contact: 360-887-0463, info@geecreekfarm.com, geecreekfarm.com.

Hidden Oasis Farm
5410 N.E. 229th Court, Vancouver
Shares: Sold out, waiting list available for 2009, a full share is $860.
Season: 40 weeks, March through mid-December.
Pickup: Delivers door to door.
Contact: 360-256-6896.

Hunters Greens
1116 N.E. 156th St., Brush Prairie
Shares: $440, $75 for a flower share, $100 for a winter share.
Season: 20 weeks, June to October.
Pickup: At the farm, 100 block of West 28th St., and Fisher’s Landing Park and Ride at 164th Avenue and Highway 14.
Contact: 360-256-3788, greens@huntersgreens.com, huntersgreens.com.

Purple Rain Vineyard
21313 N.E. 147th St., Brush Prairie
Shares: $986 for full share, $493 for a half share.
Season: 34 weeks from May 2 to December 17.
Pickup: Delivers to Vancouver, Battle Ground, Brush Prairie.
Contact: 360-256-8658, info@purplerainvineyard.com, purplerainvineyard.com.

Red Basket Farm
23804 N.E. 182nd Ave., Battle Ground
Shares: $500 for a full share, and $250 for a half share (pick up every other week). Flower shares available for $100.
Season: Late May to October.
Pickup: At the farm, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Contact: 360-687-7030, bkaterae@comcast.net.

Rosemattel’s CSA
10311 N.E. 72nd Ave., Vancouver    
Shares: $600 for a full share, $350 for a half share.
Season: 23 weeks from May to October.
Pickup: Battle Ground Farmers Market, Ridgefield Junction.
Contact: 360-576-9767, otbgsm@yahoo.com, rosemattelscsa.com.

Storytree Farm
6227 N.E. 124th St., Vancouver.
Shares: Sold out, waiting list available for 2009; $550 for a full share, $300 for a half share.
Season: June to October.
Pickup: At the farm.
Contact: 360-576-7139, csa@storytreefarm.com, storytreefarm.com.

6 Acre Farm
1036 SE 283rd Ave., Camas.
Shares: Sold out, waiting list for 2009; $500 for a full share, $275 for a half share.
Season: June to October.
Pickup: Tuesdays at the farm.
Contact: 360-834-7000, 6acrefarm@comcast.net.