What is CSA?
"CSA" stands for Community Supported Agriculture, the name for a unique relationship between a particular farm and the people who rely on it for food. The idea is to connect the farm with the eaters to strengthen the community, create a stronger, healthier farm, and provide better, fresher, tastier produce to the members.
In a nutshell, a consumer contributes a certain amount of money to the farm in the winter or spring, and then receives an assortment of fresh veggies each week throughout the growing season.
This financial commitment makes capital available to the farmer early in the season when seed, supplies, and other expenses are due, and it provides him with a known, finite market for the produce. This way the farm can grow a diverse array of crops, and also save resources and operate more efficiently by not having to grow and harvest produce that might not sell. The growing season is planned to produce the right amount of a variety of vegetables, delivering a weekly bounty of produce to each of its members. Originally, members all came to the farm at a predetermined time (for instance, Tuesdays from 3pm to 7pm) to collect their shares. As the distances between communities and farms has grown, though, many farms (our own included) have begun to bring their CSA shares to a location more central to their members (for instance, a school, church, or community center in a nearby city or town).
In a nutshell, a consumer contributes a certain amount of money to the farm in the winter or spring, and then receives an assortment of fresh veggies each week throughout the growing season.
This financial commitment makes capital available to the farmer early in the season when seed, supplies, and other expenses are due, and it provides him with a known, finite market for the produce. This way the farm can grow a diverse array of crops, and also save resources and operate more efficiently by not having to grow and harvest produce that might not sell. The growing season is planned to produce the right amount of a variety of vegetables, delivering a weekly bounty of produce to each of its members. Originally, members all came to the farm at a predetermined time (for instance, Tuesdays from 3pm to 7pm) to collect their shares. As the distances between communities and farms has grown, though, many farms (our own included) have begun to bring their CSA shares to a location more central to their members (for instance, a school, church, or community center in a nearby city or town).
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Though a CSA "share" is only a one year commitment between a consumer and a farm, oftentimes a much stronger and lasting relationship is formed. CSA connects people with one another, and with where their food comes from, making and strengthening ties within a community. You'll often hear consumers referring to a farm as "my farm", or to the farmer as "my farmer". Farmers, too, relish the chance to know the people who are enjoying the fruit of their work. It really does provide a connection to one another and to the land that is sorely missing in many of our lives.
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For some members, of course, CSA is just an affordable way to get extremely fresh, high-quality vegetables while supporting the local economy. The produce is fresher than even the farmer's markets, and the prices are lower because there's less waste and fewer resources spent on marketing. Of course we can see the value in a mutually beneficial
commercial exchange for its own sake--but as time goes on, many people come to appreciate the connection and community that blossoms within the CSA. Be open to the possibility that this is more than just a way to get great produce and you might be pleasantly surprised!
We're very excited to be offering CSA shares for 2012; We'll be distributing Tuesday afternoons from 4pm to 7pm at the Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa! More information and an enrollment form can be found here. We hope to add additional sites for 2013--maybe your town? Get in touch!!!
We're very excited to be offering CSA shares for 2012; We'll be distributing Tuesday afternoons from 4pm to 7pm at the Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa! More information and an enrollment form can be found here. We hope to add additional sites for 2013--maybe your town? Get in touch!!!
