Community Supported Agriculture...

… Or more about “Buy Local Now!”

Having been a proponent of organic farming, sustainable agriculture and such for years – I practically teethed on Organic Farming and Mother Earth News magazines! – I often forget that not everyone is familiar with such things. Sometimes it’s due to a lack of exposure, such as people who have always lived in cities and never had the opportunity to garden or farm. Sometimes people have just flat out never heard of such a thing. Other times, it’s just a lack of interest.

However, as more and more people become educated about the importance of the food we put in our bodies, they are taking an interest in where their food comes from and learning more about these things, including Community Supported Agriculture.

This great idea has been around for some time. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is defined on the USDA’s website as “a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community's farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production.

Typically, members or "share-holders" of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer's salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm's bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests.”

In some implementations of CSA, people why buy a share also do some of the work on the farm. In others, people pay for a season’s share of produce, but the farmer does all the work. Either way, it’s a good deal for both sides. The farmer gets a guaranteed wage for a season’s work, while those who support him get fresh produce on a regular basis.

If you’re interested in participating in a CSA, ask around in your local community, or search online. Places like Local Harvest have a map with farms marked that participate in CSA in the states. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association has listings for both the United States and Canada.

When you find one, hopefully close to you, ask questions. There’s a lot of variation on how these programs are implemented. If you have the opportunity, give it a try! CSA is a great way to support local farmers and get some great food at the same time.

Fresh food is good for everybody!