Our first year as a member of Bull Run Mountain Farm CSA has been a thorough disappointment. We were so unhappy with it we stopped picking up the allotments each week as the quality and quantity were not acceptable. Most of the vegetables we received were eaten-through by bugs, under-developed or nearly rotten. We ended up using it mostly as compost material. We were very disappointed with this experience and would advise against joining this CSA. We frequent a variety of local farmers markets and understand the type and quality of vegetables available through local Virginia farms during the summer season. We had very realistic expectations and were prepared for CSA vegetables to be less than perfect; maybe even less than farmer's market quality. Unfortunately, Bull Run Mountain Farm CSA failed to meet even these minimal expectations. Over the course of the summer we received only a handful -- literally a handful -- of vegetables that were able to be served as part of a meal. The rest were in sad shape or so paltry that they could not even constitute a meal. Our membership was for a "Bunch", which the website defines as a full share, or 1/2 bushel. If, according to the website, a bushel is enough to feed a family of vegetarians for a week, the full share sounds like a lot of food. It did not turn out that way. I cannot imagine a few bunches of mustard greens, a single rotted cauliflower head, a thyme plant, two unripe cherry tomatoes, a dozen very small fingerling potatoes, and a single stubby cucumber feeding a family for more than a single (not too appetizing) meal, let alone multiple days. Often, herbs were provided in place of vegetables. While appreciated in small quantities, the herbs did not supplant the quantity of vegetables we believed were part of a full vegetable share. We did receive some large, fresh zucchini in quite good shape, but that zucchini was the only vegetable provided of reasonable quality. The farmer's weekly emails were filled with grandiose predictions of incoming vegetables but always included warnings of possible disappointment; stories of coyotes eating vegetables, slugs attacking plants, and rain ruining seedlings made us wonder what is happening at this farm. It comes off as witty and refreshingly honest at first. After a few weeks, though, you start to realize those warnings are just preemptive excuse-making. It is easy to make excuses that some consumers have too high of expectations or do not understand the process of CSAs. I would caution against assuming that any negative posting reflects an unreasonable expectation. We were fully prepared; yet, in all aspects Bull Run Farm CSA was a disappointment. I would highly recommend against it. read more

I subscribed to a veggie share for the 2008 year and signed up for a "peck", which is designed for one person. At $360 for 19 weeks that comes out to be around $19 a week. As someone who has subscribed to CSAs before I was disappointed. The share was about half the size I was expecting and some of the vegetables like the salad greens looked like dried weeds. Other veggies like the eggplant came out to be miniature in size and with a "peck" you are only allowed one! To be fair some of the other veggies like the butternut squash were a good size and fresh and tasty. The CSA's I've subscribed to before were in California so maybe they produce fresher veggies at a cheaper cost and perhaps my expectations are out of line with the Virginia CSAs? Maybe I shouldn't compare the two regions, but some of the California CSAs also had a trial period that allowed you to sample their veggies for a few weeks before committing to an entire season. For Bull Run and possibly others, you have to commit for the whole 19 weeks and can't get a refund if after a few weeks you change your mind about wanting the subscription. I think I'd rather go to a farmer's market and have the ability to pick out what I want, I think the cost would come out the same if not cheaper and I have the ability to choose the freshest veggies. read more

This was our first experience with a CSA. We are always looking for healthier food sources and routinely shop farmers markets. I researched the website carefully and went into it with the perception of eyes wide open. We were not prepared for the disappointing consistently low quality of the vegetables. To be frank, at half way through the season we have found that we throw away much more than we eat. I don't mind having to clean the vegetables and don't mind the model of getting what is in harvest. However we have found that the quality of the vegetables are far below what we would consider edible. They are mostly wilted and eaten through by insects. We have thrown away more than we have consumed. We signed up for an egg share, however two weeks our eggs were simply forgotten. Some of the fruit is tasty, however frequently has over ripe fruit included in the delivery. Quite frankly, if a farmer can bring quality vegetables to a farmer's market , why can't the same come from a CSA? This was an experiment for us and would definitely not repeat or recommend it. read more

This is my second year with Bull Run and I am looking forward to this year's weekly supply of fresh, organic vegetables, fruit and eggs. Some of the reviews complain about having to take what is grown rather than selecting what you want like a market. That's the big difference in a CSA - rather than planning your meals and then buying the food (regardless of whether it's in season in your area) you have to plan your meals around what is fresh locally. Leigh always sends an email in advance so you have some notice about what you are getting. I enjoyed finding new recipes (including the many delicious ones provided on the Bull Run website) and coming up with new meals. I find the prices fair, especially for the two-person share I have. An added bonus is the occasional trips to the farm where you can see exactly how your food is grown. read more

Bull Run Mountain Vegetable Farm - Turkeys at Bull Run Farm. - CSA Near Me - The Plains, Virginia

Potential Bull Run Mountain Farm subscribers - don't believe the cranks! The produce is good and consistently high quality, and the selection and portions are as promised. I'll never understand why people will take the time to write a bad review on Yelp but won't take the time to research a purchase ahead of time. Being unhappy with the variety/selection of vegetables is completely your fault since the CSA's website has the last 10 years worth of deliveries posted! Five minutes of research tops gets you accurate information about what you can expect. On the quantity, again this is clearly laid out on their website: "This means a one person size share will get 8 vegetables with one or two servings of each vegetable. A two person size share will contain about 8 vegetables with 2 to four servings." This is readily available and accurate information and if you expect different, that's not their fault. So let's say you skipped the website and just spent $600 without doing any research. Did you talk to Leigh when you picked up your veggies? Did you say "listen I know this is supposed to be 2 servings but it's just not cutting it." I told him how fast we were going through the okra and not only did he let me have some when it wasn't part of that week's share, he let me take more than usual. He wants me to come back next year! As far as his attitude, I'd be a "smug bastard" if I had to shuttle around vegetables in a van in the heat of the summer and then deal with you people, too. Maybe smile and say thanks instead of "Ugh I can't believe he expects ME to eat only ONE cucumber this week." (ps: he is not a smug bastard.) read more

I had the misfortune of subscribing to a Bull Run CSA share a few years ago and then much better luck with other CSAs in the area. People who defend Bull Run must have zero exposure to any other DC area CSA, ALL of which are exponentially better. Other CSAs wash and bag your veggies and put them in shaded locations. So you don't have to wait in line in the hot sun to get your 3 stringy okras and 1 baseball bat zucchini, wilting along with your veggies. My CSAs since I left Bull Rull has provided me with veggies on par or better than what I find at good farmer's market stands. Other CSAs wash their eggshares so you don't have to wash away chicken poop before you can use the eggs. Other CSAs wash and bag their lettuce so that a single rinse through in the salad spinner makes them dinner ready. Other CSAs send weekly email updates with helpful recipes and storage tips, not meandering excuses about bears eating all the greens again or blight killing off all the tomatoes early. Other CSAs pick their veggies at their peak, not foot long zucchinis, fiberous okras and garlic scapes, and weedy inedible salad mixes. Other CSAs offer little seasonal treats like peas and grape tomato, even though they're extremely labor intensive to harvest, because they know how much their CSA clientele appreciates these seasonal treats. Other CSAs include herbs other than ezopate and basil. Maybe Leigh has fixed all these things in the few years since I swore, wilting in the hot sun, "never again". But please don't drag other CSAs down to Bull Run's level, when they're much much better than some of you Bull Run defenders to think is possible. read more

I agree with the words of another reviewer--I feel pretty burned by this CSA. Every week my husband and I feel angry and duped. I've been part of other CSAs so I understand that you get what you get, and I also understand that organic produce won't be as big and flawless and pretty as stuff from conventional farms. But I wasn't expecting anything as pitiful as this. I keep waiting for the explanation that it's been a bad year, in which case I would be understanding since that's the point of risk-sharing with a CSA, but Leigh seems to think everything is hunky dory. Others have elaborated on what he thinks passes as edible produce so I will only add one more thing. When we were given big stalks of bolted, bitter lettuce three weeks in a row, that's when I went from disappointed to angry. It's one thing to have a bad year (though the reviews here seem to indicate that every year is a bad year) but it's another to try to pass off crap as a bountiful share of produce. As I throw another big bucketful of stuff in the compost, I feel totally ripped off. read more

I had just signed up for this CSA when Leigh, the farmer pulled the vegetables from the ground and put them in a container for me. I ask you, DOES IT GET FRESHER THAN THAT? This guy's got a serious green thumb. Have you seen him go into his chicken run? The birds all want to be around him. He clearly has a thing... a gift with animals. He has a big rescue dog that guards the place, barked at me, but that's what it's supposed to do, right? Maybe I never tasted truly fresh vegetables before, because these had more flavor than any I had ever put in my mouth. I'll be a customer for a long time to come. (As regards the negative reviews, they seem to be somewhat outdated.) read more

There are a lot of CSAs in the Washington region and I urge you not to pick Bull Run Farm. I ordered a peck for 2009 and was extremely disappointed. The produce was of average quality and the portions were extremely meager. Frankly, for the money I paid I could have gotten twice as much produce at any of the local farmers market. I also agree with one of the other reviewers who said Leigh was something of a smug bastard. I buy enough farm raised vegetables to know the hit you take from buying organic/local. Bull Run produce generally wasn't disgusting but it wasn't anything to write home about either. And as a final pet peeve, I have to comment on the horrendous emails Leigh would churn out every week. Each week Leigh would compose free from poetry about the going ons about the farm. I remember such iinsightful comments as " I saw Mr. Bear today wandering around the fileds" or "Mr. Rabbit seems to be getting mighty hungry!" Who freakin cares. I signed up for good quality produce not shoddy poetry. In read more

There are a lot of CSAs in the Washington region and I urge you not to pick Bull Run Farm. I ordered a peck for 2009 and was extremely disappointed. The produce was of average quality and the portions were extremely meager. Frankly, for the money I paid I could have gotten twice as much produce at any of the local farmers market. I also agree with one of the other reviewers who said Leigh was something of a smug bastard. I buy enough farm raised vegetables to know the hit you take from buying organic/local. Bull Run produce generally wasn't disgusting but it wasn't anything to write home about either. And as a final pet peeve, I have to comment on the horrendous emails Leigh would churn out every week. Each week Leigh would compose free from poetry about the going ons about the farm. I remember such iinsightful comments as " I saw Mr. Bear today wandering around the fileds" or "Mr. Rabbit seems to be getting mighty hungry!" Who freakin cares! I signed up for good quality produce not shoddy poetry. read more

Until I'd had something to compare it to, I didn't know what was reasonable to expect. I now belong to the CSA at Willowsford Farm, not far from Bull Run, so I think this is a fair comparison. In contrast to Bull Run CSA, Willowsford: - delivers vegetables and herbs, freshly picked, not harvested and mostly wilted - fruits and vegetables with some dirt clinging, not caked in mud - fruits and vegetables appear to have been picked by hand or harvested gently, not raked through a field - they are pre-divided and placed in individual boxes, so there is no question as to how much you receive versus others arriving - the Willowsford staff is friendly. So, there you go - one persons experience. read more

My husband and I have been sharholders for over 10 years. We appreciate the relationship we have with Leigh and the farm, and while some years have been better than others, the "haul" each week has generally tracked our garden as well as several farmers markets in the area. This year has been all about TOMATOES. 22 of them last week - the huge heiloom ones you find at whole foods as well as the smaller "best boys". I think this is actually the best year yet (although 1 eggplant year stands out to me as well). In any event, variability is always going to be there, Your review helps others learn about great local businesses Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees. read more

If you are considering this CSA, please pay close attention to the dates of the reviews. Most of the decent reviews are years old. I can reiterate what the reviews from 2015 forward have stated about poor quality, minuscule amounts that are actually edible along with significant portions going straight to compost, multiple excuses and promises that do not pan out. One week I cracked open 4 eggs for breakfast that were not only fertilized but had actual baby chicks with feathers inside. Leigh's explanation, "They must have been old. " NO KIDDING!!!! Who harvested and distributed those eggs??? I am reluctant to open the remainder of that carton. I purchased an add-on fruit share and, so far, the only fruit has been tiny pears that dropped off the stressed tree(s) and rotted on my counter before they would ripen, just as I expected. I have pear trees myself. I understand when to harvest them ( they are always unripe when harvested) and how to ripen them. This week, there were gorgeous peaches in the egg fridge. Leigh did not include any in our share just one tiny watermelon he admitted was underripe. Tried to eat it, but it was only fit for compost. Leigh is pleasant. That is the strongest point I can say about the CSA. We have belonged to another CSA for a few years but chose to switch when Sunnyside eliminated their Saturday pickup. Leigh accommodated us with a Saturday, on the farm, pickup. Luckily for us, Sunnyside is willing to offer us a partial share for the remainder of this season so we will switch to Tuesday pickups and will kiss goodbye the over $1000 paid to Bull Run for a bushel share plus eggs plus fruit in favor of getting beautiful, delicious, organic, and highly varied produce elsewhere in copious quantities. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! This is the entire email of the upcoming week's share, the Aug. 18, a sample of the litany of promises Leigh makes. 3 weeks into August and he is trying to say he still has few tomatoes to share? Every other farmer and garden for miles around is drowning in tomatoes. August 18 Week ten vegetables Friday's vegetables (I think this is what I'll be picking) green bell peppers - plenty of large bells. The only thing that holds back from giving you a dozen a week isthat if I leave some large ones the vine they will turn into red, orange and yellow peppers in a few weeks. purple bell pepper sweet corn (maybe this week, definitely next week) Italian basil (all you can eat and then some) Thai basil tomatoes (cooking, slicing and maybe some cherry tomatoes. They are finally starting to ripen.) eggplant -- they are real slow in starting - once they do it will be all you can eat from then on out. The hot peppers are starting... soon it should be all you can eat herbs - for Monday I picked sage, rosemary and spearmint. Is there anything you want? Next week, after Monday deliveries, I'm flying out to visit a brother and sister in Colorado. And I won't come back until Sunday. One of my neighbors, Brian, will do next Friday's picking and delivering. Leigh read more

As a first-time CSA'er I was disappointed with my experience with Bull Run. Don't get me wrong, the farm owners are very nice and they host a variety of events at the farm throughout the growing season, which is nice. The fruits and veggies were always fresh and of good quality. But I was disappointed in the quantity provided in the share given the price. I did the family share, which was quite pricey, and chose to pickup at the farm each week. But it always seemed like there wasn't enough to go around, and the share never lasted a week (and frankly, I'm the big veggie eater in the family, the kids and my ex rarely touched it). So despite spending a lot of money on the share I still made my weekend rounds to the local farmer's markets. I love the idea of the CSA but if you're a big veggie eater it may not be worth the money for you. This year I'm back to the farmer's market every weekend, where I'm getting more for my money and can choose what I want. read more

Mreh. We had a 2 person farm share for 2011, and were pretty disappointed. The produce was often medium-to-low quality and the quantities were surprisingly small. Certainly, we could have taken our $30/week to the farmers market and gotten a lot more produce of a lot higher quality. By a long shot. Maybe it was a bad year for the farm, but based on my experience I would not recommend this farm share. read more

SO I was pretty disappointed with this CSA. The share size every week was tiny compared to the price we paid. I definitely could have gotten twice as much produce at a local farmers market. Also I was not impressed with the quality or variety of vegetable we received. The vegetables did not last more then 2 days in the refrigerator, which leads me to believe, they were not very fresh. In addition the flavor was far from exceptional. Also the vegetable themselves were tiny. My friend's mom, in her tiny suburban garden, grew cucumbers and eggplants at least twice the size of the ones we got from Bull Run farm. They often ran out of items each week, the good stuff, and they made up for it by giving us more weedy greens and pac choi. I feel pretty burned by this CSA. read more

This is my first year participating in this Farms CSA share. When I chose my CSA, I was excited for the produce I would be provided on a weekly basis. This is now my 5th week as I started after the initial week and every week I become more and more disappointed. For my peck share I am paying $27 per week and based on my frequent trips to local farmers markets I could spend that money and have an entire refrigerator full of fresh vegetables. I feel I am maybe getting a good $10 worth of produce each week that is enough for 1-3 serving sizes. When I first signed up for the CSA I was looking forward to using this as part of my weekly shopping. Little to my surprise I am spending a fortune on very very poor produce. I understand we have had a wet summer however, local farmers markets are packed each week with amazing vegetables. For anyone considering this farm as your CSA I would highly recommend choosing another one who provides a more hearty weekly share. Some of the items we have received include: basil, cucumbers (very small and only one for a single share), squash, sweet corn, kale that was very bug eaten, garlic, an herb plant weekly, small jalapenos, very small cherry tomatoes (4), small tomatillos. My final thought is how can you even consider having people use your service when it barely covers one day of food for one person? The highest price I've ever spent on one day of vegetables. read more