This spring, the Farm School teacher (TN) from our school has offered the families of the GSMS community the opportunity to participate in a Community Supported Agriculture project whereby we pay a small fee (for seeds, plants, tools) and as ours is a co-op CSA we also work 3 hours per week at the farm (which is fabulous!) and we receive fresh, seasonal, organic produce.
Last week along with the others working this week (DK, JB, and of course TN) I cleaned and weeded rows of strawberries, planted two (or was it 3) new rows of strawberry plants, dug herbs, and thinned fruit trees. I took home oregano and sage which I planted in the back of my larger garden next to the rhubarb.
This week along with GK, DL and TN I helped to finish and place two herb boxes, mixed soil to prep the boxes, weeded and cut back asparagus, hilled new asparagus, and picked strawberries -- lovely, fresh, organic gems. In the meantime, GDG (along with MK) deadheaded flowers, collected eggs, and jumped on the trampoline. We finished our work just before 9 a.m. This week, I took home a bowl of strawberries, a handful of cherries (young trees, still early), and a half dozen brown eggs.
Did I mention we began at 6 a.m.? Even when being awaken at 5 a.m. GDG was eager to get up and go along. The farm is such a great experience for us 'city dwellers' and appeals to my strong need to garden.
I look forward to Wednesday mornings this summer.
What Is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
The UMass Extension says, "CSA reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy to connect local farmers with local consumers; develop a regional food supply and strong local economy; maintain a sense of community; encourage land stewardship; and honor the knowledge and experience of growers and producers working with small to medium farms. CSA is a unique model of local agriculture whose roots reach back 30 years to Japan where a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." This concept traveled to Europe and was adapted to the U.S. and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. As of January 1999, there are over 1000 CSA farms across the US and Canada.
CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and a community of supporters which provides a direct link between the production and consumption of food. Supporters cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower. Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it.
This mutually supportive relationship between local farmers, growers and community members helps create an economically stable farm operation in which members are assured the highest quality produce, often at below retail prices. In return, farmers and growers are guaranteed a reliable market for a diverse selection of crops."
