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Community Supported Agriculture for Organic Food

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 fruitsfruits 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 andincluding shares in eggs, meat, milk, baked
organic foods? If you live in an area wheregoods 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 haveyear-round basis. Some are dedicated to
found the perfect solution: communityserving particular community needs, such as
supported agriculture, or "CSA." Firsthelping to enfranchise homeless persons. Each
popular in Japan and Switzerland in theCSA is structured to meet the needs of the
1960s, the CSA movement has -- pardon the punparticipants, so many variations exist,
-- taken root with a vengeance in the Unitedincluding the level of financial commitment
States, where it is sometimes referred to asand active participation by the shareholders;
"subscription farming." How, exactly, does afinancing, land ownership and legal form of
CSA work? By definition, CSAs are composed ofthe farm operation; and details of payment
"a community of individuals who pledgeplans and food distribution systems."
support to a farm operation so that theLuckily, the Internet has made it easy to
farmland becomes, either legally ortrack down a CSA in your area. Several
spiritually, the community's farm, with theexcellent online directories provide CSA
growers and consumers providing mutuallistings: Santa Cruz, California-based Local
support and sharing the risks and benefits ofHarvest, 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 asrestaurants  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 mustCSA locator, organized by state. Links to
be grown under the strict tenets of organicindividual farms are only a mouse click away.
farming and organic gardening practices. Each
individual's investment yields a share ofThe Biodynamic Farming and Gardening
farm crops -- not to mention a closeAssociation, headquartered in Junction City,
connection to freshly picked organic produceOregon, also has a great guide. It specifies
that hasn't been sitting on grocery shelveswhether 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 itThese websites also allow you to add your
best: "Starting a community supportedlocal CSA to their resource guide so you can
agriculture project is a little like having apublicize your community's efforts -- a move
baby -- you unleash biological and socialthat  will  attract  more  shareholders.
forces that may take you in directions you
never expected." As a shareholder, youFor additional information on setting up or
demonstrate respect for the earth by takingjoining 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 andhometown.
elevating  environmental  consciousness.



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