Reviews for: Even' Star Organic Farm

WOW!! The Even Star produce we get each week moves our home cooking from good to GREAT!! Some of the food we especially love includes mushrooms, peppers, sweet potatoes, strawberries, blackberries, arugula, tomatoes!! We look forward each week to obtaining some nutritious and delicious produce from Even Star!! A highlight of each week!! GO Even Star!! WE LOVE YOU!!

Simply put: Brett and team are the best.

I have been a CSA member with Even' Star Organic Farm since 2020. Over the years, I have been both a traditional box member and subsequently a farmers' market member. Having this flexibility, which works well with my work schedule has been a huge boon.

The farm does organic farming right. What do I mean by this? Brett and team emphasize stewarding the land. Knowing where my food comes from and how it was grown is my number one priority. I never feel unsure of my food's quality when I get it from Brett. Moreover, he treats his customers as friends. He takes the time to get to know us. There was one point at which I had not seen him in person for many months. When we finally did, he picked up our last conversation as if we'd seen each other just the day before.

If you want amazing produce, pickled vegetables, fresh organic eggs, sauces and more, all with a personalized touch, this is the CSA for you!

Brett Grohsgal and Christine Bergmark's Even? Star Organic Farm is one of the great finds in the DC area. Their early strawberries are the best I've ever eaten. It's worth a membership just to have these berries in abundance.Their wide variety of greens are exceptional and their many varieties of tomatoes are to die for! And those are just the beginning.

We have been CSA members for over 15 years and have always been highly satisfied with the produce we receive! We look forward to getting our delicious fresh veggies and fruits each week!! It is definitely an highlight for us. We get great value with our CSA membership. Brett is very knowledgeable and we have learned so much from being a part of his community.

We started our CSA journey with the idea that less is more. Less travel and less processing throughout the planting-to-harvest cycle equals more of all the things we wanted in our food: Freshness. Seasonal selection. Great taste.

We were not disappointed when we discovered Even' Star Organic Farm. Brett & Christine's commitment to growing organic is 100%. What we didn't expect was the level of enthusiasm. The pre-market descriptions of what will be available are comprehensive, informative, and (for me) entertaining. Preparation recommendations are even included!

I know "curated" isn't a word one expects to see in the context of a farm but wait until you taste the strawberries! You will then appreciate and understand what I mean.

For us, a big advantage is knowing and trusting the source of our food. We love it when we can do business with people who practice sustainable and natural methods, are experts in their field (no pun) and it's even better when they love what they do.

Even'Star Organic Farm is more than a farm: it's a lifestyle! Brett brings to the public fresh, local, whole-fiber foods that are worlds away from anything you can find in the grocery store. His winter greens, free range eggs, and summer fruit and vegetables offer a sustainable approach to health. I am so grateful that he is in our community and would advise anyone to jump at the chance of a CSA membership with Even'Star - winter and summer. Having recently read 'The End of Overeating' by David Kessler, access to high quality, nutritious local food is critical for health and also probably for overeating. I have been a member of Even'Star Organic's CSA for over 6 years! Thanks Brett!

I have been a member of the Even Star CSA since before my teenagers were born. Almost every Saturday since around 2008, I have shown up at Lafayette Elementary School in DC and bought the best produce in the world from former fancy DC chef turned genius farmer Brett Grohsgal. When we moved to Virginia in 2021, I *still* didn't quit the CSA, despite the godforsaken bridge I now have to cross.

I'll start with the tomatoes. In a way, they are probably the reason you should *not* buy from Even Star, because they will ruin other tomatoes for you forever. No tomato that you will ever have in your life is as good as the tomato that Brett grows.

And then there are the strawberries. Same problem. I am not sure I know what a strawberry was actually supposed to taste like before I tasted Brett's Earliglows. And now I kind of hate other strawberries. Sigh.

There's so much more, of course--okra, kale, eggplant, blackberries, figs, the (sublime) sweet potatoes. Even Star is the best! Try it!

3) Brett Grohsgal sends out great informative emails. He's extremely easy to reach by phone and very responsive to concerns and questions. When you hear from him, you're hearing from someone who's spent years as a farmer, and years as a chef. You can also hear from him via books, as he teamed up with a fellow chef to write several cookbooks.

4) Though there may not be a choice, everyone has their own favorite seasons to minimize vs. maximize time in the kitchen. I look forward to cooking indoors during months like Freezing February.

A CSA with such EXTENSIVE winter programming and experience...that's a CSA for me! Time by the warm stove is extra-welcome in colder months, and as many folks know, the hardy greens of winter are EXTRA delicious!

So it's full circle to deliciousness. : )

That's what you get at Even' Star Farm!

I'm grateful to live in the DC region with its bountiful offerings, not least of which is an amazing array of CSA options. As I set out to join a CSA, Even' Star Farm jumped out as a clear choice for me. This comes from someone usually terrible at settling on a decision. My family can attest to that, and much more importantly, to the issue at hand! They can tell you how Even' Star Farm is a great choice for reasons that matter a lot. Here's a list of a few of our reasons.

1) The A-number-one reason is simple. *DELICIOUSNESS!*

2) The second reason is also simple, and it means a lot to me. Joining the Even' Star Farm CSA means all of your share comes from this small, certified-organic farm. In noting this, I'm not saying that farm partnerships/etc. can't be a good thing. But a simpler CSA structure usually makes for an easier understanding of growing practices, and easier familiarity with the place where your food "grows up."

What's one of the best gifts you ever got? How about a subscription to Even' Star Farm's CSA? When my wife and I got married a friend signed us up for our first winter season with Brett, his wonderful family, and great crew. 17 years later, enjoying both winter and summer offerings, our taste buds, health, and understanding of great food and farming is forever changed for the better. A master all-season farmer, Brett was also a pro-chef and is a foodie. Even' Star grows for quality but most of all I think they grow for memorable, unique flavors. They have introduced my family and I to so many delicious and varied sweet potatoes, tomatoes, greens, melons, berries, the best eggs, and more. The greatest compliment we could give Even' Star was making their sweet potatoes our sons' first foods. Along with exceptional taste, Even' Star has strong ethics, offering fair prices, respect for workers, a deep appreciation for their shoppers, and care for nature and the land. They are the best!

We live in the DC metro region and have been foodies and CSA customers with multiple producers for many years. Additionally, I have extensive experience in the food service industry. With that said, Even Star has been a superlative partner. Their produce and products are top-notch. Available in all seasons with convenient drop points and farmers markets throughtout the region. Very flexible. The other day i was speaking with Brett, one partner of the husband and wife team, re: options for the summer season, and he somewhat apologetically referenced the lack of variety that some might perceive from their offerings. I jokingly replied that if the incredible diversity of carefully curated heirloom tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, herbs, pickled veg, and heaps of exotic greens, among many other things, is percieved as lacking variety, then I dont know what people are looking at! I cant speak for your individual needs and desires, but I can confidently recommend Even Star to anyone.

Wow! My wife and I discovered this fantastic CSA about 14-15 years ago! The Even Star produce has changed our approach to eating and doubled our enjoyment of our meals! The produce is always super fresh! Brett offers simple but excellent ideas for cooking and serving many of his goods, which means we can have something more delicious than possible if we had to figure it out on our own. The familiar items (e.g., tomatoes, strawberries) are really yummy. Even more fun, Even Star has introduced us to new foods (e.g., tomatillos, peachy mama peppers) which are now our favorites! We have done the "box delivered to our neighborhood" alternative; and we have done the "go to the Saturday market at Lafayette school" option -- both are recommended. In sum, good health to Even Star Farm and great eating for us! Very satisfied customers, Dave (& Sara) Bethesda MD

Even Star Farm earns the 5 star review I am giving, hands down. My family has lived around the world due to military service, and we know something excellent when we find it because we have seen so much already. Even Star Farm has taken ABOVE AND BEYOND measures to protect their members from COVID, they care about the community as a whole, they publish amazing recipes and excellent information on how to use all that they grow, and on top of all that they have the highest quality products found anywhere locally. If you want to belong to a community of people who will support you in a genuine and caring way as if you were family, offering the highest quality foods to help support your immune system, join Even Star CSA.

I am a new member of the Even' Star Summer CSA and am so glad I signed up. Their fruits and vegetables are extremely good. Plus, you get great cooking tips! I feel very lucky that I am able to provide such delicious, healthy food to my family.

The gorgeous array of wintertime greens and the luscious fresh eggs (with thick, rich, orange yolks that have ruined the store-bought variety for us) keep us coming back year after year. Try it and you won't look back!

We've been subscribers for a dozen years now and have been consistently pleased with the total package of high-quality food and truly expert and relevant advice and recipes for getting the most out of the produce. It really helps to have such specific suggestions, especially as you get to try foods with which you may not be familiar!

We'll keep coming back and encourage you to give it a try.

We have been subscribed to Even' Star for many years now and will continue for many more. Especially interesting is the winter share. Brett cultivates and grows an unusual and delicious selection of hardy greens that we have come to rely on for good taste thoughout the cold months. The eggs are so good, and even better because his chickens live a truly free life. Lately they started a meat share, which has been unparalleled for taste, and again, we can eat with an easy conscience knowing that their animals live a truly good life in service of our meal. The boxed CSA has forced us to learn to think outside our cooking traditions and to be in sync with the seasons. It's been a wonderful experience for us and we recommend it.

Growing my own greens and herbs totally spoiled me for storebought stuff, and the salad mix, assorted young greens, and herbs from Even' Star Organic Farm CSA are just as good as I'd pick fresh from my yard, but the variety is way better than I will ever have space for.

Everything is delivered nice and neat with emailed advice on further preparation for use and suggestions for the best culinary uses. If you love greens year-round, you must get a winter subscription, end of discussion. (I'll leave another review once I experience a summer subscription.) I usually get an anemic-feeling craving for fresh veggies in late winter, but instead I feel pumped up with vitamins this year.

There are other goodies, too, like root vegetables, canned tomato sauce, and jam to get you through the cold months. There is even convenient pick-up at the nearby My Organic Market.

Over the years of subscribing to both summer and winter plans, I have not only vastly improved my diet, cut down on trips to the supermarket, but have also expanded my palate. Who knew Jerusalem Artichokes were so good? And that radishes aren't just little red bulbs with white insides? Plus - greens are more than lettuce and spinach? A big plus is the cooking tips/cookbooks Brett makes available.

As Australian expats living in southern Maryland for the past two years, Brett and his staff played a huge part in making us feel at home. Even'Star gave us access to wonderful produce all year round in a little corner of the world where there are very limited options. We relished the variety in the weekly winter box delivery and enjoyed the freedom to choose with the summer farmers market option. More than that, our CSA subscription gave us the opportunity to learn about growing and eating locally. Brett's willingness to answer all our random questions was greatly appreciated.

Even Star Farm has changed our lives! We used to think that veggie paradise was the produce section at Whole Foods. But that stuff pales in comparison to the fantastic tasty greens, mushrooms, sorrel, tomatillos, and other delectables that we get each week from Brett! This CSA will provide A+ quality of well-known items, such as sweet potatoes and tomatoes -- but we get unusual varieties with richer flavors than we've ever had before. In addition, Even Star often gives us some stuff we never tried before -- and usually with a couple of bites we're addicts. If you join, be sure go to the annual party at the farm -- fun to see the chickens and veggies and meet some other lucky members of this great CSA! Dave & Sara

I highly recommend Even' Star Organic Farm's CSA because they are organic, high quality, flavorful and delicious, conveniently deliver to My Organic Markets, and other locations in the DMV. So one can shop and pickup their CSA in the same place!

The CSA's that deliver to Alexandria, VA and produce at the Del Rey and Old Town Farmers Markets are mostly NOT organic. For some reason organic and local is hard to find in Alexandria, VA.

Even' Star's greens and Mesclun salad mixes, which they offer in the winter CSA are excellent and better than what you get in the organic section of your market. The variety in the winter CSA is wonderful and delicious. One gets several types of sweet potatoes, for example, and exposed to new types of turnips and radishes. Early in the winter CSA, which includes the fall, one also gets amazing peppers and tomatillos. It is a really good value for the money. Each box contains plenty of greens and variety of other vegetables to make several meals.

For anyone who is considering a winter CSA, I highly recommend Even Star. I like to eat a lot of different vegetables--and you get a box full every week of greens, root vegetables, and every week is a joy to see what will be in the box. The kale is outstanding--it's not bitter at all and that's a real surprise. The fresh salad greens are well-washed and mixed with many varieties. I love getting unique items that I've never tried before because it expands my horizons beyond what is typically found in a standard grocery store. I make nice vegetable soups almost every week now with some added carrots, celery and onions from home. Also, the herbs like cilantro and dill aren't weekly, but are really nice to have for added flavor. I'm really looking forward to visiting their farm one day soon. They have a CSA party for members in the late spring which should be fun to see where all the magic happens and meet the caring folks who grow my delicious, organic, nutritious meals

I recently attended a workshop with an Oglala Lakota man teaching about connections with the earth as means for emotional healing, like from grief, as well as normal physical health. Even' Star Organic Farm fosters that primal connection. It is a joy for me to be there, to be able to get such beautiful food, it feels like true abundance, and great fun to prepare, because it is so beautiful and joyful. And then I get to eat it! It is delicious. I simply cannot eat processed food from the grocery store any more. I eat what is in season at the farm. I feel sorry for processed food; all its abundance, joy, and taste are stripped from it. Not so at Even Star! The plants are happy, the chickens are happy, the ground is happy (and the dogs are happy!), joy exudes there. It is reflected in the food, and it makes my body so much happier. I am healthier, and getting even better, every day. This is what food should be.

I've been a winter CSA member for 5 years and this has got to be the best CSA in the DC area. The foods are excellent, often hard-to-find varieties. Brett, a former chef, is always testing for tastier or hardier strains and shares cooking suggestions as well as local food commentary with CSA members. He co-authored a terrific cookbook too. Even in the recent tough winter, the selections were varied, creative and generous.

This winter was my first season as part of Even' Star's CSA, and it was great! Wonderful veggies, a nice mix of other products like jams, salsa, salt/spice mixes, and more. The sweet potato varieties they have, oh my gosh, life-changing, some of the best sweet potatoes I have ever had. Their weekly emails, range of pick up locations, and responsive customer service make this farm such a joy to support.

This is our first season receiving produce from Even'Star and we are loving it! Brett and his team and extremely professional and communicative, always emailing the day before to let everyone know what is coming in the veggie box the next day and even giving tips on storage, cooking and eating.

All of the vegetables have been so high quality and delicious and we always receive a wide variety. We have been a part of CSAs before and really noticed a difference in the quality of the service and communication. Additionally, all of the high season produce has been in really useful and reasonable quantities- we haven't had a week when we received 3 dozen of one veggie and nothing else- there is always an excellent variety so that we don't have to buy any additional fruits and veggies at the grocery store or market. Love it!

simply put, Even' Star always strives to make the customer happy. From the helpful workers on the farm and at the stands to the top of the chain , Brett G, the entire outfit understands what their customers are after. Even'Star provides top notch produce 12 months out of the year. I have been completely satisfied as a CSA member and going back prior to the CSA's creation (1998). I have recommended the Even'Star farm to everyone I come into contact with.

The quality and variety of the produce made this a rich experience. We were introduced to some amazing heirloom tomatoes, Armenian cukes and dedicated farmers. Despite the challenges of a rare hurricane, the boxes remained diverse and the quality high. We ate very well this summer and are looking forward to our first experience with the winter share.

I have been participating in Even Star's CSA since 2007. They are amazing. The vegetables are wonderful, and the farmers ask the CSA members each year what they liked and did not like so they can adjust their plantings. Each week before the delivery, they send an e-mail detailing exactly what will be delivered, how long each item will last on the shelf or in the refrigerator, and some suggestions for preparation and recipes. They are by far the most thorough and conscientious CSA around.

I have been buying food from Even' Star at the Lafayette farmer's market since 2009. Everything they grow is fantastic, and much of what I've bought from them has redefined how I think about that food. For example: tomatoes. They are, quite simply, the best I have ever had. Juicy, succulent, and amazing. My only complaint is that they have ruined me for other tomatoes, even in nice restaurants. Their sweet potatoes--several varieties--are also the best I have ever had. Their arugula will redefine the way you think about and eat arugula; it has a pungent spiciness and, I kid you not, an actual finish, like a wine. It, too, has ruined me for lesser arugula. I always hated radishes; theirs, I love. I could go on, and on, and on. Everything they grow is simply that good. And Brett, who is there every Saturday, is so much fun to talk food with. Whether it's hearing a good recipe from him in person or following one in one of his terrific cookbooks, he never lets me down. A final word about their CSA: I cannot recommend it highly enough. A single share in the winter CSA will give you a ton of delicious greens that could easily feed a family of four for a week. They are so generous, and what they give you is so good. Their summer CSA is also excellent; I chose the farmer's market option so I can actually pick out what I want every week. The second-best part of being in the CSA--after the food itself--is getting the emails that Brett sends out every week listing the offerings. With Proustian detail, he outlines everything that's in your box (in the winter) or everything that will available that week (in the summer). I simply cannot recommend Even' Star highly enough. If you are on the fence about whether to join a CSA, pull the trigger and join theirs. You will love it.

We are first time summer and winter CSA members. It was an odd year because of the very hot summer (2010) and the very cold winter (2011). This impacted both diversity of veges and quality (i.e. tough lettuce) of some items. Despite this I have to say that the veges and few fruits your recieve are excellent. I also enjoy the random sauces, herbs, spices, and flowers that EvenStar adds to the mix. They are EXCELLENT at communicating what you'll receive week-by-week, and very accomodating should anything go amiss (i.e. if you didn't receive a box or if weather prevents delivery). I'm very please with this CSA and highly recommend it to others.

I am an summer and winter csa subscriber and the vegetables from Even Star are exceptional. vegetables I previously dismissed (like okra) have ended up being some of my favorites because they are so fresh and delicious. The weekly boxes of vegetables are abundant. This is a farm that knows how to run a CSA and does it very well.

2008 was my first year trying a CSA and I was lucky enough to get a share from Even' Star Farm. Their produce was bountiful and beautiful. The opportunity to try new varieties of heirloom tomatoes was truly the high point of the subscription. Also the Peachy Mama peppers were a real pleasure and available in abundance. I highly recommend this CSA, the owners are kind enough to provide you with a cookbook so you have plenty of ideas for preparing your produce. It was a great first CSA experience and well worth the money.

This is my first year with Even' Star Farms but not my first year with a CSA. This man loves his farm, his work and his customers. This much is evident in the beautiful crops he grows and the respectful and informative communication with his CSA share members. I highly recommend Even' Star Farms.