Photo courtesy Green Mountain Girls Farm Laura Olsen from Green Mountain Girls Farm holds one of their lambs The farm is one of a growing number of CSA farms in the area offering shares in vegetables, dairy, cheese, meat and other farm fresh products CSA's are becoming de rigueur in the area and Green Mountain Girls Farm is one of the newest.

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer.

Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

More recently, CSA's have grown to include meat products and dairy, cheese and much more than just vegetables.

One farm that offers more than many is Green Mountain Girls Farm.

Last week, the owners hosted an Open House and encouraged area residents to drop by and get to know the farm, its animals and its farmers.

Located at 923 Loop Road in Northfield, people who came to the open house were able to see the new piglets named Tic, Tac and Toe, met the milking team, both goats and the farmers who care for them, helped name the new lambs, checked out the progress on the new guesthouse and event space.

Despite the ongoing rain, about 100 people took the opportunity to tour the farm.

Dozens of names were suggested for the four new lambs, including Blackjack, Clue and even Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moe.

People had the opportunity to sample Barbeque pork, spit roasted goat, Pesto chicken pasta, fresh goat's milk, snap peas, salsa and green salad, all grown and raised on Green Mountain Girls Farm. The food was gobbled up.

"Great Spread. The food was fantastic," said Rosa Benoir of Northfield, as she and her daughter watched the goats getting milked.

Many kids and adults enjoyed watch- ing and helping with the evening milking, learning along the way about the goats and the steps in hand milking. Everyone had questions from the basic logistics to the broader, "Why does she have milk?" asked by one Northfield girl.

"One reason for an open house is that we love sharing our farm and offering people an opportunity to see how food can be raised humanely and sustainably," said Mari Omland, one of the farm's owners.

Starting later this summer, they will also offer overnight farm-stays and event space in the fully-finished section of the barn.

Products are available at the farm, the Northfield Farmers' Market, and through their new Omnivore's Farm Share. "We want to offer people a full farm share - meat, veggies, fruit, eggs and dairy," said Laura Olsen, the farm's other owner.

The farm is run by Rutland native Mari Omland and UVM graduate Laura Olsen who returned to Vermont in 2007 after enjoying careers in conservation and smart-growth nonprofits.

Their small hill farm is well suited to produce small amounts of a large variety of delicious food.

The Green Mountain Girls Farm was named to reflect on Vermont's past influence on our nation and the potential of small farms to catalyze healthier food systems. For more about the farm or the open house visit their website at: http://Vermont- Farm.blogspot.com or call them at: 505-1767 or 1768.