January 9, 2008
Community Supported Agriculture
Since we began the conversation on eating locally grown foods, have you wondered about where you could get more locally grown foods? One way is to support a local farmer. In exchange for monetary and/or labor support, the farmer usually will share the crops that have been grown. This concept is known as Community Support Agriculture.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) works by people giving a farmer financial support in the winter and spring months to purchase needed supplies for the growing season. Throughout the growing season, some farms accept or require labor support. When the crops are harvested, the farmer then shares what was grown to those who have provided support.
Most farms calculate the costs they need for the season and have minimum pledges of support they accept. In return of your investment, you receive a certain amount of product. However, since farming depends on nature, there is no guarantee that you will receive exactly what was outlined in the agreement.
Most CSA's grow fruits and vegetables, but you can also get meat, flowers, dairy products, and herbs, depending on the farm.
If you are interested in learning more about Community Supported Agriculture, there are many great resources at the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agriculture Library.
In Northern Illinois there are several farms that are part of CSA. Check out Local Harvest to find a farm near you. If you are interested in joining a CSA, now is the time to sign up. Be sure to watch for notices on the farms websites or call the farms directly. Some farms sell out early.
Posted by Jennifer McCaffrey at 12:57 PM |
