Community Supported Agriculture
Photo by Katura Cleland
- to provide people with fresh, safe food from a nearby farm
- to sustain and support local agriculture
- to strengthen our communities
- to nurture the health of our environment
(for example, weekly delivery of local organically grown products avoids unnecessary packaging, avoids transcontinental trucking fuel waste, and is environmentally sound)
Conventional direct produce marketing, such as at Farmers' Markets and farmstands, requires a farmer to spend about one third of his/her time selling. With a CSA association, the consumers agree to purchase a portion of the season’s harvest from the farm in advance, allowing the farmer to concentrate on growing the crop. This results in better yields of higher quality and significantly reduces the level of risk for the farm.
The Share • A regular share in the CSA is designed for a family of two adults who eat a wide variety of vegetables. A jumbo share, half again as much, is available for larger families, group eating situations, or for those who like to put up vegetables for the winter. The chart to the right shows the time in the season when each vegetable will be harvested, the total amount of each per share, and the number of times it will be included. Should the amount of one crop fall short of the listed amount others will be increased to fill out the harvest. Peak quantities occur around Labor Day. Produce will come with minimal packaging, much the same as if you went out to the garden and picked it yourself.
The Delivery • Each week during the harvest season a basket of vegetables is delivered to families at homes or workplaces. Others pick up their vegetables from the Upper Valley Co-op, an organized pick-up location, or the farm. Some CSA members deliver to families in their home communities, enabling many areas to be served. The season is about twenty weeks long, from June through October.
The Cost • The cost of the Four Springs Farm CSA program is based on the actual cost of vegetable production and delivery. The price for the full season of vegetables is $350 for the regular share. $440 is the total cost including pack and delivery (some work shares are available for people who need to reduce costs). A scholarship fund is also available to lend a hand. Since there are more expenses in the beginning of the season, members are asked for payment either as they sign up or in installments well before the delivery season begins.
Membership • More than fifty families are members of the Four Springs Farm CSA and share some of the same values:
- they like a wide variety of fresh organic vegetables
- they like to cook with “what’s on hand”
- they have a social, economic, and/or environmental interest in supporting local agriculture
- they like to have connections with the source of their food and they are a valued source of information steering production decisions for the farm
To become a CSA member, call to have an application mailed to you or download our brochure and sign-up form (PDF, 140KB) to print for mailing.
Questions? Please call Jinny at (802) 763-7296, email clelands@valley.net, or write us at 776 Gee Hill Road, Royalton, Vermont 05068.
Links
- Read about Jinny and CSAs in the Times Argus: "Farm fresh" (May 8, 2004)
