What is a CSA? (Community Supported Agriculture)

At their basic level, CSA farms provide a weekly delivery of sustainably grown produce to buyers during the growing season (approximately June to October).  Those people, in turn, pay a subscription fee.  But CSA consumers don't so much "buy" food from particular farms as become "members" of those farms.  CSA operations provide more than just food; they offer a way for eaters to become involved in supporting the farm and even in producing what they eat.

Being involved with a CSA operation always means sharing the rewards as well as the risks of farming.  The rewards include: enjoying the freshest produce available, ususally harvested the same day you receive it; knowing where, how and by whom your food is being produced; having a direct connection with the people who produce your food; and supporting the kind of stewardship that is good for the land as well as its people.

The risks include weather, pests and disease.  The risks of growing and marketing a crop can be great, but risks are bearable when shared by a group of subscribers.  By working together through CSA operations, farmers and consumers alike can benefit.

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Also we recommend a new book on how to care for seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs. It includes 250 delicious recipes, learn how to freeze, can, dry, and store food, thus living a sustainable lifestyle on locally grown produce. An Endless Harvest by Betty Levine. Beautiful illustrations by Emanuel Schongut. $15.95. Dealer, wholesale, and volume discounts available. www.anendlessharvest.com
We were able to buy enough for all of our members and offer it at a reduced rate to them.