amber waves farm, amagansett, ny

One of the incredible joys of homeschooling is developing our curriculum around the bounty and richness of our local environment. That came in one of its most fruitful forms (literally and figuratively) this past fall when we became CSA members at Amber Waves Farm in Amagansett. To avoid the traffic of summer tourism and take advantage of the beloved vegetables that do so well in the autumn soil, we signed up for the Labor Day-Thanksgiving farm share. (In making a day of the trip, it also provided a chance to enjoy our beloved nearby Montauk off-season).

Amber Waves founders Katie & Amanda are a force of nature and for good as they collaborate with the local community on a range of environmental, educational and humanistic goals. In addition to the obvious function of raising great organic produce and providing local jobs, they donate to the Springs food pantry and provide remarkably affordable educational workshops.

As CSA members, we received a large weekly box of fresh produce (and in a world before coronavirus, U-pick privileges). The boxes are generous, and the vegetables easily covered our family's needs for over a week. It was a truly magical experience making our weekly trip to the farm to pick up our produce, interact with the gracious and welcoming staff, pick a fresh flower bouquet, amble about the grounds, and wave to the passing LIRR train.  They do a pretty great job of washing the produce, but certainly you will want to wash it again thoroughly when you get it home.

Being a CSA member at a local farm enables farmers to finance and plan for the season ahead, and this includes hiring. As we all know, real estate is a huge financial burden for local businesses, particularly our farmers and winemakers who need ample land. Signing up for a farm share is a tangible way we can keep our farmers on the Island and keep that fresh, affordable and delicious produce coming. Amber Waves offers a number of different CSA memberships and dates through their website, as well as special grocery pickup options. We are looking forward to participating again this fall and wish Katie, Amanda and their team all the best in the year ahead.