CSAs

ScottM

ScottM

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iBazinga!
Is anyone here involved with CSAs?

If so what are some of the pitfalls one should be looking at if contemplating becoming a subscriber in a local CSA?

What do you look for in a CSA subscription and where do I find out about local CSAs?

Of course it is probably too late this year to get involved but I was thinking about learning what I could now for a subscription for next year.
 
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Scott,

Are you planning on seceding? CSA? Confederate States of America!

Barb
 
One Short said:
Scott,

Are you planning on seceding? CSA? Confederate States of America!

Barb
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CSA is Community Support Agriculture.

What it is is an investment in a local farm. Then each week you earn back an amount of food produced by that farm.

Many of these farms use organic methods and heirloom seeds to produce fruits, vegetables, meat, etc. that you cannot buy in stores. It also helps to ensure that the local small farmers stay in business and do not have to sell their land to tract house developers.
 
Interesting, I've never heard of the like before. Around here people just like to grow gardens. My neighbor puts his produce out on the side of the road for anyone to take. There is a can out there for donations if you feel like it.
 
One Short said:
Interesting, I've never heard of the like before. Around here people just like to grow gardens. My neighbor puts his produce out on the side of the road for anyone to take. There is a can out there for donations if you feel like it.
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My roommate at banjo camp is a CSA farmer.

He spends his off season courting 'subscribers' aka investors. Then during the growing season he can concentrate on actually running the farm and already knows what his income is going to be. He also has the involvement of some subscribers coming out to the farm to do work. It is a great idea if you ask me. Even though I live in a rural to ex-urban area we cannot grow vegetables in our yard as we have a septic system that takes up most of the area. So this is a way to get some vegis and stuff that we normally would not have room for, nor could we buy, and most assuredly do not have the time to deal with.

The CSA farmer from banjo camp told me that this year was the first year they decided to add meat to the list and are raising a cow. He was surprised at how quickly the subscriptions came in and he is going to add a 2nd cow next year. He also has a neighbor who is doing wine.

This is all good for the soils too. Growing one thing can really deplete soils. With CSA there is biodiversity in what is grown and that helps put back nutreants into the soil. There is a great article in National Geoghrphic about soil depleation from just a few months ago.

I think I may try this but before I pony up $20-30/week for a season I want to know what I am really getting myself into.
 
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smigaldi said:
CSA is Community Support Agriculture.

What it is is an investment in a local farm. Then each week you earn back an amount of food produced by that farm.
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Never done it myself, but I have heard of it (though not the "CSA" acronym or name). Sounds like a good idea to me - Sounds like good food too!

The closest I've come isn't very close, but... A friend of my dad's owned a farm and my parents used to buy half a cow from him each year. Steaks, roasts, ground meat, and even some sausage that wasn't from that cow. Sure was nice to just be able to grab a steak out of the freezer and grill it when the thought struck. It was darn good meat too. :yes:
 
I don't even want to think about the type of heirloom seeds necessary to produce meat!:hairraise:
 
dmccormack said:
We have an easier method -- a honkin big garden.
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Well it is fun to do your own garden but part of the appeal is that it helps keep smaller local farmers in business and also keeps thier land protected from development.
 
AdamZ said:
Well it is fun to do your own garden but part of the appeal is that it helps keep smaller local farmers in business and also keeps thier land protected from development.
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In Lancaster County they implemented a green plan -- seems to be working, in spite of the hordes that sell off a rancher in Jersey for $450k, build a spec home on an acre lot to "live in da country" and learn that the country involves manure, flies, and unpleasant odors from time to time.
 
smigaldi said:
Hmmm I pay a little money and pick up a basket. How is that harder than growing "a honkin big garden" ??
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Especially when the only things that grow for you are junipers, pines and weeds... :redface:
 
dmccormack said:
In Lancaster County they implemented a green plan -- seems to be working, in spite of the hordes that sell off a rancher in Jersey for $450k, build a spec home on an acre lot to "live in da country" and learn that the country involves manure, flies, and unpleasant odors from time to time.
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:p The kid next is deathly afraid of spiders. I've only got them like everywhere. I cut down on the number a lot when I put in bug lights.\

//Weird thing is I mentioned it to his "step dad" :rolleyes: and he had no idea. Weird house.
 
I have not heard of these, but it sounds a little bit (but not entirely) like a co-op. There are tax implications with co-ops, so if it could be deemed to be a co-op, be aware.
 
We subscribe to a CSA in the Northwest, Full Circle Farm. We are nothing but happy about it. We do grow some of our own stuff too. While in some ways it is ridiculous to pay to have stuffed shipped up from Washington (with the attendant "carbon footprint" to use the buzz term) almost all of our produce in Alaska is shipped anyway so there isn't much difference, except for the quality (is better) and is delivered to our local town (instead of having to drive to Wasilla or Fairbanks, which means less >100 mile drives to town for groceries) and is organic (groceries have limited amount of organic produce here, even in the larger cities.)
 
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We subscribe to a CSA here in NYC. The other options are to go to a premium grocer for good quality produce or an ordinary grocer where the produce is hit or miss... sometimes very "stale", if that is the right word. We are happy with the CSA. My only complaint is that it is a long walk with what seems like a ton of weight and if the weather is bad you don't have a spare hand for the umbrella..... This year they opened up a distribution depot (usually the community room of the local church) nearer to us so things are better.

-Skip
 
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We subscribe to one here in MN. All veggies, no meat. What we like is that it is one of few that will let you pick a few favorites, then try and weight your share heavily with those items when they come in season. This is our second summer doing it, and will continue next year. Try it for a year, Scott.

Tim
 
Friends are part of a CSA here (I would be, but I just don't cook enough at home to make it worthwhile).

You can split a subscription with a friend, to make the amount of food more manageable. Also helpful when you get the 1 ton delivery of zucchini.... :D

--david
 
Ghery said:
That, or Canadian Standards Association. I know, I hang out with standards geeks too much.
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When I see UL, CE, and CSA stickers- I think of a Harry Turtledove novel.
 
I used to be a CSA member. The first couple of years were great - a wide variety of top quality produce. I got to try several new types of veggies without the problem of what do you do with umpteen pounds of a vegetable you can't stand.

Things went swimmingly until the CSA folks lossed sight of their original purpose and began to sell at the local farmers' markets. At that point, the quality and variety in the weekly CSA boxes dropped rapidly -- it seemed that the CSA supporters were getting what didn't sell at the previous weekend's market. I dropped out after getting nothing but radishes three weeks running.

A well run CSA program can be a real bargain, a poorly run one can be a money pit.

Bruce
 
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