Don't have time to grow your own vegetables this year? Alaska CSAs are here to help.

As the snow continues to melt away, thoughts are turning to the garden.

For those who don't grow their own vegetables, local community-supported agriculture subscriptions are a popular way to fill the fridge and connect with local farmers. There are several Valley farms that host CSAs.

The co-op/subscription systems pays dividends for both the consumer and farmer.

"It helps us plan how much produce to grow and harvest, limiting our loss on crops grown, but not sold," says Megan Talley, manager for Spring Creek Farm.

"Farmers' market success is dependent on many things, and sales are not always consistent, so a CSA helps the producer with a more consistent cash flow. Typically, CSA memberships sign up before the season starts when the farmer has the most financial inputs to make, helping mitigate the farmer's financial risk. A fine-tuned CSA also builds a strong community that believes in supporting their farm for the long term success of the farm," she explained.

Sarah Bean of Arctic Organics, which is starting its 28th CSA year, says: "Community Supported Agriculture is an answer to what is a worldwide concern: the production and distribution of high quality, carefully produced food. In joining our CSA program, you are supporting your food producers directly and avoiding the middle people.

"You are purchasing sustainably and locally grown produce, thereby avoiding the high environmental and health costs and questionable merits of agricultural chemicals, genetic modification, and the fossil fuels and other resources necessary for growing it and shipping it long distances. In exchange, you will receive high quality, toxin free, nutrient rich, flavorful produce on a weekly basis, freshly harvested the same day it's delivered."

Here are details on three local CSAs:

Sun Circle Farm

Anne-Corinne Kell at Sun Circle Farm is starting her seventh CSA year after helping start the CSA at Spring Creek Farm.

The season is anticipated to run June 7 to Oct. 4, with vegetable pickup either at the farm on Wednesdays or at the South Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturdays.

Kell says the benefits of subscription are value – "I aim for 110 to 120 percent value for what you pay upfront" – and getting first crack at the freshest veggies from the farm. "You often get things when they are first available," she says. "No worrying about getting to the market as soon as it opens to get the sugar snap peas before they run out."

A full share is $700; a small share is $450. Kell says a full share averages 10 to 12 items weekly, while a small share is six to seven items. She says herbs and salad greens are included weekly.

Kell is pursuing organic certification through Washington state, which she hopes will be granted by summertime. (suncirclefarm.com)

Spring Creek Farm

Spring Creek Farm, which is part of Alaska Pacific University, offers weekly full shares ($600) or bi-weekly half shares ($300). The season is scheduled to start on June 21 and the season will run for 18 weeks, until Oct. 25.

Pickup is at the weekly APU Farmers Market on Wednesdays.

"Last season, the final actual value of the full share was closer to $750 so CSA members received a much higher value because we had a great season," Talley says.

"Shares change throughout the season. Typically, a share is between $25 to $40 per week in value, or seven to 12 items. In the spring, the shares are of full of a variety of greens, herbs, greenhouse tomatoes and roots such as turnips and radishes.

"By the end of the season we are in full swing with larger heavier varieties, such as broccoli, carrots, beets, potatoes and tomatoes." (facebook.com/springcreekfarmalaska)

Arctic Organics

At Arctic Organics, Bean says a subscription provides "an abundance of produce for a two-to-four-member household. Count on enough produce to supply your vegetable needs all weeklong."

The subscription ($650) runs June 14 to Sept. 20.

Bean says the great thing about a veggie subscription is the variety that comes with the weekly pickup.

"The contents of each week's delivery will vary according to which vegetables are ripe for the picking," she says. "Every delivery will include a good supply of salad ingredients.

"Look forward to new and unusual vegetables such as kohlrabi, chioggia beets, leeks, yellow Finn, purple and other varietal potatoes, Easter egg radishes and purple cauliflower, along with the old standards."

Arctic Organics has pickup in three locations: 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays in downtown Anchorage; after 4 p.m. Wednesdays in  Eagle River; 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the farm. (arcticorganics.com)

At the markets

The enthusiasm for the new growing season is great, but there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the ongoing farmers' markets too.

From Wednesday to Saturday, either the Center Market or the Thankful Thursdays market are open at the Mall at Sears. On Mondays, the Colony Farmers Market is open in the Valley.

Center Market: Look for A.D. Farm, Alaska Seeds of Change, Far North Fungi and Rempel Family Farm are among the vendors this week.

"Good news on the egg front, my daughter just bought a flock of ducks that are already laying," Alex Davis says. "Our duck egg numbers won't be high but they should be consistent. Also, we are making a line of chicken eggs available that are grown without corn or soy in the feed."

Davis also will have pork, storage vegetables, Alaska Sprouts items, barley products, live lettuce, honey and other items.

Allison Dunbar of Far North Fungi says "as the weather warms, so does our mushroom production. We have harvested our greatest number of mushrooms this week and are excited to sell them at the Wednesday and Saturday market this coming week."

Far North will have blue oyster mushrooms both fresh and powdered.

Thankful Thursdays: The market will include dog treats from Drool Central, a load of local items from Duane Clark, jams from Three Bears Farm and garden starts from Farm 779.

Clark will have jams, salsa, grass-fed cuts of meat, potatoes, zucchini relish, honey and seafood. In addition to the garden starts, Farm 779 will have coconut kefir, beet kvass, kombucha, krauts and other items.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

Local farmers markets

Monday in the Valley: Colony Farmers Market, noon-6 p.m., 610 S. Valley Way, Palmer

Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street