| Having trouble buying the highest-quality | | | | |
| seasonal organic produce? Unable to find a | | | | "Most CSAs offer a diversity of vegetables, |
| wide variety of natural and organic fruits | | | | fruits and herbs in season," the USDA notes. |
| and vegetables to bring home? Lack the | | | | "Some provide a full array of farm produce, |
| backyard space to grow your own natural and | | | | including shares in eggs, meat, milk, baked |
| organic foods? If you live in an area where | | | | goods and even firewood. Some farms offer a |
| shopping for organic food poses a challenge, | | | | single commodity or team up with others so |
| don't throw in the all-natural kitchen towel! | | | | that members receive goods on a more nearly |
| Many Americans in similar circumstances have | | | | year-round basis. Some are dedicated to |
| found the perfect solution: community | | | | serving particular community needs, such as |
| supported agriculture, or "CSA." First | | | | helping to enfranchise homeless persons. Each |
| popular in Japan and Switzerland in the | | | | CSA is structured to meet the needs of the |
| 1960s, the CSA movement has -- pardon the pun | | | | participants, so many variations exist, |
| -- taken root with a vengeance in the United | | | | including the level of financial commitment |
| States, where it is sometimes referred to as | | | | and active participation by the shareholders; |
| "subscription farming." How, exactly, does a | | | | financing, land ownership and legal form of |
| CSA work? By definition, CSAs are composed of | | | | the farm operation; and details of payment |
| "a community of individuals who pledge | | | | plans and food distribution systems." |
| support to a farm operation so that the | | | | Luckily, the Internet has made it easy to |
| farmland becomes, either legally or | | | | track down a CSA in your area. Several |
| spiritually, the community's farm, with the | | | | excellent online directories provide CSA |
| growers and consumers providing mutual | | | | listings: Santa Cruz, California-based Local |
| support and sharing the risks and benefits of | | | | Harvest, a supporter of "buying local" and |
| food production," according to the U.S. | | | | organic farming since 1988, has a wonderful, |
| Department of Agriculture. | | | | comprehensive online search engine. You may |
| | | | also search for farmers' markets, organic |
| Community members -- usually referred to as | | | | restaurants and food co-ops. |
| farm "shareholders" -- pledge to share the | | | | |
| expected costs of a farm's operation, | | | | The Sustainable Agriculture Research and |
| including the farmer's salary. | | | | Education (SARE) Program at Utah State |
| | | | University in Logan has a fully searchable |
| Members can stipulate that all produce must | | | | CSA locator, organized by state. Links to |
| be grown under the strict tenets of organic | | | | individual farms are only a mouse click away. |
| farming and organic gardening practices. Each | | | | |
| individual's investment yields a share of | | | | The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening |
| farm crops -- not to mention a close | | | | Association, headquartered in Junction City, |
| connection to freshly picked organic produce | | | | Oregon, also has a great guide. It specifies |
| that hasn't been sitting on grocery shelves | | | | whether farms are conventional, organic or |
| for days or even weeks. | | | | biodynamic (a more "cosmic" approach to |
| | | | farming; click here for a thorough |
| Perhaps CSA expert Elizabeth Henderson, | | | | description). |
| author of "Sharing the Harvest: A Guide to | | | | |
| Community-Supported Agriculture," puts it | | | | These websites also allow you to add your |
| best: "Starting a community supported | | | | local CSA to their resource guide so you can |
| agriculture project is a little like having a | | | | publicize your community's efforts -- a move |
| baby -- you unleash biological and social | | | | that will attract more shareholders. |
| forces that may take you in directions you | | | | |
| never expected." As a shareholder, you | | | | For additional information on setting up or |
| demonstrate respect for the earth by taking | | | | joining a CSA, visit the SARE online store, |
| responsibility for organic farming practices, | | | | where you may purchase a wide range of books |
| energy-efficient production and distribution, | | | | and reference guides for developing a |
| paying local farmers a decent wage, | | | | sustainable agricultural solution in your |
| controlling the land in your area and | | | | hometown. |
| elevating environmental consciousness. | | | | |