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Community Supported Agriculture

The following is an excerpt taken from www.localharvest.org They do such a good job describing CSA’s, why replicate it.

Thinking about signing up for a CSA but want to learn more about the idea before you commit? Read on.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.

This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief…

Advantages for farmers:

  • Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
  • Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow
  • Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

  • Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
  • Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
  • Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
  • Find that kids typically favor food from “their” farm – even veggies they’ve never been known to eat
  • Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown

It’s a simple enough idea, but its impact has been profound. Tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs, and in some areas of the country there is more demand than there are CSA farms to fill it. The government does not track CSAs, so there is no official count of how many CSAs there are in the U.S.. LocalHarvest has the most comprehensive directory of CSA farms, with over 2,500 listed in our grassroots database. In 2008, 557 CSAs signed up with LocalHarvest, and in the first two months of 2009, an additional 300 CSAs joined the site.

Shared Risk

There is an important concept woven into the CSA model that takes the arrangement beyond the usual commercial transaction. That is the notion of shared risk. When originally conceived, the CSA was set up differently than it is now. A group of people pooled their money, bought a farm, hired a farmer, and each took a share of whatever the farm produced for the year. If the farm had a tomato bonanza, everyone put some up for winter. If a plague of locusts ate all the greens, people ate cheese sandwiches. Very few such CSAs exist today, and for most farmers, the CSA is just one of the ways their produce is marketed. They may also go to the farmers market, do some wholesale, sell to restaurants, etc. Still, the idea that “we’re in this together” remains. On some farms it is stronger than others, and CSA members may be asked to sign a policy form indicating that they agree to accept without complaint whatever the farm can produce.

Many times, the idea of shared risk is part of what creates a sense of community among members, and between members and the farmers. If a hailstorm takes out all the peppers, everyone is disappointed together, and together cheer on the winter squash and broccoli. Most CSA farmers feel a great sense of responsibility to their members, and when certain crops are scarce, they make sure the CSA gets served first. Still, it is worth noting that very occasionally things go wrong on a farm – like they do in any kind of business – and the expected is not delivered, and members feel shortchanged. At LocalHarvest we are in touch with CSA farmers and members from all over the country. Every year we hear get complaints about a few CSA farms (two to six farms a year, over the last nine years) where something happened and the produce was simply unacceptable. It might have been a catastrophic divorce, or an unexpected death in the family. Or the weather was abominable, or the farmer was inexperienced and got in over his/her head.

In our experience, if the situation seems regrettable but reasonable – a bad thing that in good faith could have happened to anyone – most CSA members will rally, if they already know and trust the farmer. These people are more likely to take the long view, especially if they have received an abundance of produce in the past. They are naturally more likely to think, “It’ll be better next year,” than are new members who have nothing to which to compare a dismal experience. The take-home message is this: if the potential for “not getting your money’s worth” makes you feel anxious, then shared risk may not be for you and you should shop at the farmers market.

This Old Farm CSA Opportunities

(You can download our CSA agreement here.)

CSA Meat Shares

We encourage you to utilize a wonderful menu service offered by Cooking Traditional Foods .  By utilizing this service you can make ease of your all natural meal planning and then we will help you source the wonderful meats that you need to make it complete.     For $25 per week we will provide 2 meat options/week for a family of 4.  For $50/week we will make available all meats needed for your meal plan for a family of 4 with the exception of seafood.  We may have to make substitutions at times and will supply substitue recipes if needed.  All meats provided will be raised in a sustainable manner following all principles we subscribe to.  Billing will take place upfront covering 3 months at a time.  Buying our meats, makes your place a good place to eat!

Educational CSA

This Old Farm is launching a workshop series to be held Saturday afternoons, from 2 PM to 3:30AM at the farm or other location upon notification.  Jessica Smith will share information about different aspects of farm life from organic gardening to raising chickens to preserving the harvest.  Whether you are new to growing your own food or a seasoned veteran, there will be something for everyone.  They make a great addition to your homeschool curriculum.  Unless otherwise advertised each class will be $15/ a piece or $25/ family.  A $5 discount will be given for any good quality garden implements donated to the farm (ie shovels, farm rake, hoes, hand tools, gloves, hose)  If in doubt, ask if we need it.  All class topics will be posted in the calendar.  If there is something you would like to learn about and you don’t see the topic, please let us know.   These classes are also part of an educational CSA.  This is intended to be a hands on CSA.  As a CSA share owner you will be registered in each of the available workshops.  As is standard with a CSA, you will recieve a share of the harvest each week representing a basketful of produce intended to fulfil the needs of a family of four.  Each Educational CSA is $550 payable in two installments.  Though we encourage you to take part in the education part of the CSA we will provide CSA baskets for the same price without the educational opportunity if you are tight for time.

Egg Subscriptions

Good pasture raised eggs can be hard to find.  To ensure a consistent supply for your family, we supply egg subscriptions.  You could think of this as us raising the number of chickens it takes to supply your eggs.  You own that supply.  We ask you how many you want per month and then your subscriptions are the first to be supplied each month before other delieveries are made.  We appreciate your consistant order and you benefit by knowing where your next eggs are coming from.

Cow and/or Goat Shares (Call or email for details)

Sale of raw milk is not legal in Indiana.  Because some desire to have and drink raw milk we offer boarding of your goat or cow at our farm.  We take care of helping you find an animal and of boarding and milking your animal in exchange for a monthly fee.  Please call or email for further details.