Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture is a connection between a nearby farmer and the people who eat the food that the farmer produces.

The essence of the relationship is mutual commitment: The farm feeds the people; the people support the farm and share the inherent risks and potential bounty… Farmers alone have been shouldering the risks of this increasingly ruthless global market, which has forced millions of them from the land. CSA offers one of the most hopeful alternatives to this downward spiral, and it is the only model of farming in which customers consciously agree to share the risks and benefits with the farmers.

Excerpt from Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen’s Guide to Community Supported Agriculture
By Elizabeth Henderson and Robyn Van En

You might discover differences among CSAs, but the concept is the same: you make a financial investment in the farmer’s methods, their harvest, and Mother Nature’s cooperation, and in return you get seasonal, usually organic, produce. You have a connection to your food. You can see where it is grown. You can meet others that share your enthusiasm. You can talk recipes with the farmer (especially at Kam’s—she’s a chef!) Some programs require an upfront full payment for the growing season. The Guilford Garden CSA requires payment when you pick up your weekly produce basket during peak season. Each week the basket varies and Kamala usually sends out a reminder to let you know what to expect.

Go here to learn more about the Guilford Gardens CSA.