We have recently received many questionaires about a CSA food coop.
It seems that not many in our area know much about them, even though its popularity is growing nationwide.
I will elaborate a bit on what a CSA is and how it works. And also, how we intend it to “grow” in our area, if we can get enough support!
CSA stands for COMMUNITY Supported Agriculture – and BIG on the community part!
Imagine a community where everyone helps each other in acquiring good, healthy, wholesome food. Where some people, who may not be able to afford good foods, get their fair share of food by helping those that grow the food – the local farmers, with such tasks as weeding, digging, planting in the garden plots or harvesting and bagging the produce.
Others, pay the farmers in advance, for the season’s worth of produce, while others will pay in monthly installments for their fresh local produce, all to be picked up or delivered once per week.
And what, exactly do these people get for their money? Let’s give a partial list here:
Raw local Honey, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, herbs, spices, salad bar eggs (from free range chickens), corn, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, flowers ( potted and fresh cut), blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and the list goes on, depending on the number of farmers’ involved and what they all grow…
Sound good? It is good for the farmer, good for you, and good for the community. You get to know the person that grows your produce, visit his farm, and see what it takes to actually grow the foods you eat.
You make new friends, and become an integral part of your community. You help the community by helping the farmers and each other.
So what do we need to do to start?
- fill out one of our farm surveys about the CSA.
- Tell us what you want us to grow.
- Tell us if you want to help! Stop by the farmers’ market in Covington next spring and meet us!
- Come and talk to us!
- Make suggestions/ask questions on this blog!
We want to know what you want us to grow, and we want other farmers involved, so there is a constant flow of produce, and a variety of items available. And we can help the other farmers learn the value of not using chemicals on the foods they grow – we want good, nutritious, chemical-free foods!
For more information about CSA, please go to:
localharvest.org