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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] CSA-L

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: Pat Meadows <pat@meadows.pair.com>
  • To: neeterxxi@yahoo.com, "self-reliance, networking, and simple living, for small farm sustainability, rural independence and security." <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] CSA-L
  • Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:02:27 -0400

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 16:22:58 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

>What is CSA?
>
Community-Supported Agriculture. Basically, you buy a
'share' of a farmer's vegetables (and sometimes other
things, such as eggs or fruit). The customers (members) pay
up front (usually, not always).

Each week during the season you receive a box of varied
produce - whatever is being harvested at the time. Sometimes
they are delivered to your home, sometimes to a central
point, sometimes they are picked up at the farm. There are
many variations.

I think it's terrific, it has many advantages for both the
farmer and the members. CSA farmers usually have a
newsletter that goes to all their members, keeping them in
touch with what's happening on the farm. In some cases,
customers help out on the farm - picking, for instance.
Usually there's at least one picnic or barbecue for all
members.

Members get to know seasonal eating, and get to know the
farmers who grow their food in many cases. Farmers have a
steady market that enables them to prosper in a time of
dying family farms. Good all around!

The farmers have to be confident of being able to produce a
wide variety of produce in sufficient volume for all their
members - this is not easy.

And the members have to recognize that occasionally a
certain crop will fail and they won't have any. Members
also have to be willing to pay up front in many cases (but
not all - I know of a CSA in our area where members pay per
month).

Pat
-- northern Pennsylvania
"Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of
supply and demand. It is the privilege of human beings to
live under the laws of justice and mercy." - Wendell Berry




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