ORGANIC CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION - Grist Magazine on Joining a CSA

[Guest guest]

They have several places at least in every state in the States PLUS

provinces in Canada.

Good luck !

blessings, Shan

 

Find a CSA Near you (_click here_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery) )

_http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery)

 

 

Grist Magazine on Joining a CSA

_http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10790.cfm_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_10790.cfm)

 

* Cash and Carroty

On joining a CSA

By Umbra Fisk

Grist Magazine, March 10, 2008

_Straight to the Source _

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/03/10/?source=daily)

 

 

Umbra,

 

I have heard mention of community-supported agriculture programs but don't

really know what they are. The name sounds very cool, but can you let me in on

the specifics?

 

Bryties

Redding, Calif.

 

Find a CSA Near you (_click here_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery) )

_http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery)

 

Dearest Bryties,

 

The springtime alarm is sounding, and your question is perfectly timed. Some

of you might be experiencing hints of spring right now, some not (like me!

I'm in a secret location where the all-time snowfall record is under threat)

-- but regardless, it's the time of year for all of us to look into

community-supported agriculture possibilities for the growing season.

 

 

 

 

Last August, we _went over a few of the details_

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/20/csa/)

_http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/20/csa/_

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/20/csa/) of community-supported

agriculture. The timing was off. Let's do a brief review -- I'll switch it up

for

those who do click back -- and then wade into serious proselytizing.

 

 

It costs money to run a farm. Farmers need cash to buy seeds, babies,

fertilizer, compost; fix equipment, pay employees, pay the mortgage, etc., long

before they will sell a single lettuce leaf or lamb. These investments are

risky, in a way, because if there is a crop failure, the farmer can't recoup

through sales, and risks going into debt or going broke. Community-supported

agriculture is one solution to this inherent problem. In a CSA, consumers

provide

farmers with operating capital, in essence buying their food ahead of time

and taking the risk of crop failure along with the grower.

 

 

How might this work in your actual life? This month, you would look around

at your local food co-op, or online, and discover a few CSA farms in your

area. Get their publicity materials, which could be a website or a small flyer.

The materials will give a cost, an amount of food, and a description of the

system by which you will get the food. For example, for $450 you might get a

" full share " at a vegetable farm, enough veggies to feed a family of four on a

regular basis. For a little less money, some farms will let you buy a half

share, which is _handy if you're a single person_

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/29/csa2/)

_http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/29/csa2/_

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/29/csa2/) or smaller household. You

would pay that money now -- this is the farmer's operating capital, up front.

On

a regular schedule -- say, every Wednesday from May to October -- the farm

will harvest a box full of various veggies for every member, including you,

and leave it at a drop site, which might be a house in your neighborhood, or a

local store, or a farmers' market.

 

 

After paying money in March, the only thing you would need to do is pick up

your veggies every week and eat them. Usually, though, you can participate

much more if you like by working on the farm or going to parties and other

farm-related events. The model I describe is just the basic one; there are many

variants, and CSA is not only for vegetables.

 

 

Did I mention that CSA is a model used by fairly small farms? Often people

just getting going on their veggie farm, who want to feel connected to their

consumers and have a role to play in their communities, use CSA. I do know

farms on the larger end of small that still use CSA as a steady income to help

stabilize operations and have good community relations.

 

've left no room for proselytizing. Well, CSA is GREAT. It's a real gift to

a farmer to place faith in them, to give them cash to get the work done, and

to participate with them in the joy of food. You get a special box full of

amazingly yummy vegetables (or whatever they grow) every week, which forces you

to eat creatively and healthily. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

 

 

OK, you're ready to go, right? Is everyone reminded about CSA sufficiently?

Go read my other articles. The end of the first one gives _directions for

finding CSA on the web_ (http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/20/csa/)

_http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/20/csa/_

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/20/csa/) if your local natural foods

store can't help, or if you

don't have a natural foods store. The second talks about _how to deal with

unfamiliar foods_ (http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/29/csa2/)

_http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/29/csa2/_

(http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2007/08/29/csa2/) , and I'll give the secret

here: butter.

 

 

Broccoli rabely,

Umbra

 

Find a CSA Near you (_click here_

(http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=homedelivery) )