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What is a CSA?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Local CSA farms produce food and distribute it locally to residents who buy "shares" in the farm, or become "members" of the CSA. Joining a CSA can be a great source of homegrown fresh produce for those in which gardening themselves is not an option. Typically CSAs take subscriptions from February though May, depending on how fast their shares fill up.
The History of the CSA
CSA farms are a fairly new idea in local agriculture. The first CSA farms can be traced back to Switzerland, Germany and Japan in the 1960s, although the ideas had developed separately in Europe and Asia. In the 1960s, consumers in Europe were concerned about the ecological aspects of modern forms of farming, and developed community partnerships in order to counteract the negative aspects of the urbanization of farmland. In 1965, mothers in Japan created Teikei, the first Japanese CSAs, in response to the rising cost of importing food.
In the United States, the idea of CSAs first developed in the mid 1980s, a concept brought to the country by Jan VanderTuin of Switzerland, and Trauger Groh of Germany.
How it works
With a typical CSA, a farmer will offer a limited number of "shares" of his crop to the public. Local residents will then receive a weekly box of produce, which includes a variety of crops, usually depending on what the farm has harvested in that particular time frame. Boxes are generally seasonal produce, and include a wide variety of different fruits and vegetables. The money from memberships is received early in the season, which helps the farmers focus on growing and quality, rather than marketing, selling, and financial security.
A main theme of CSAs is the idea of "shared risk" between farmer and consumer. By signing up to become a member, consumers "share" in the bounty of the farm, but also the hardships that the farm may fore go. If a pest takes out all of the pepper crop, consumers will not receive that particular item in their box. Likewise, if there is a bumper crop of cucumber and tomatoes, members may find the need to learn to make pickles or can salsa for the winter.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, many CSAs also offer additional farm products such as fresh eggs, locally raised meat, and home baked bread.
Some CSAs that service the Fox Valley area are:
Triple B Produce (New London, WI)
In 2010 members received about 200 pounds of produce for a 14 week season. We do our best to grow a variety of vegetables for our members. It is a great way to try things you wouldn't normally buy. In 2012 we will be offering work shares. Call for details.
Brenda Thyssen
920-596-3923
www.triplebproduce.com
Good Earth Farm (Oakfield, WI)
Join us for a delicious seasonal CSA experience! Our practices are to farm responsibly and, as we call it, live lightly on the Earth. We are an environmentally responsible farm using sustainable methods to grow a large variety of produce. On-farm events and worker shares are available to our CSA members. We offer several different share options and deliver to Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, the Fox Valley, and surrounding areas.
Nicole and Joe Schauer
920-583-2121
www.goodearthfarm.net
Park Ridge Organics (Fond Du Lac, WI)
Our Vegetable Share Program is a 20 week season of seasonal produce grown at or near Park Ridge Organics Farm. We have 8 drop off locations throughout the Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and
Neenah-Menasha area. Our members receive 8-12 different items per week in their box. We grow over 30 different items and over 100 varieties. Our half share size is portioned to feed a 1-2 person
household per week and the full share size a 3-4 person household. It varies depending on eating styles. We do offer a worker share option.
Robyn Calvey
920-979-9658
www.parkridgeorganics.com
Olden Produce (Ripon)
Here at Olden Produce our goal is not only to develop life, long relationships with our customers, but also educate you on more than where your food is coming from, but also how it is produced. Our CSA is a scheduled 20 week program starting the beginning of June and going until the middle of October.
Tracy Vinz
920-379-9004
www.oldenproduce.com
Goodwill Community Garden
Many people purchase new seeds every year because they don’t know if the ones
left from previous years are still good. There is an easy way to determine this. First,
dampen a thick paper towel with warm water and spread 10 seeds on half the towel. Then
fold the paper towel over and place it in a sealed plastic bag. Use a marker to write the
name of the seed and the date. Place the bag in a warm place such as the top of a
refrigerator. After two weeks count the number of seeds that have germinated and
calculate the percentage. The lower the percentage, the more thickly the seeds need to be
sown. This method will help you determine which seeds you need to purchase for the
season.
Of course the way that seeds are stored each year will also affect how long they
stay dormant and viable. At the end of the season seal the seed packets or place seeds in a
paper envelope with their information written on it. Make a small packet out of tissue and
1 tablespoon of powdered milk. The powdered milk will help to absorb any moisture.
Place the seed and milk packets into a glass jar and seal the jar. The jar should be kept in
a cool dark place. The back of the refrigerator is ideal. Replace the powdered milk packet
halfway through the winter and the seeds will be ready for planting in the spring.
by Susan Richardson
Starting a garden can have many benefits. In addition to food
security and self-sufficiency, gardening can be a great resource for
educating children, and can provide many other benefits. Home
gardening not only encourages us to consider reclaiming our capacity
to grow food, and is an outlet for restoring physical well being: it
is estimated that 170 calories can be burned for every one half hour
of planting, and 60 calories can be burned for every one half hour of
watering.
Gardening can also save money. The USDA estimates that a 20x25 foot
garden space can save up to $718.65 per year in fresh grown produce.
Even with the initial investments of tools ($20), seeds ($25 for
enough seeds to plant a 500 square foot site), a hose ($30) and soil
and seed starting flats ($15), this is still a savings of almost $630
per year.
For those in the community who have limited space in their yards, or
who live in apartment buildings, starting a garden is still a viable
option.
Community gardening is the action of developing public assets that
will sustain and enhance each of the communities in which they exist.
Throughout the Fox Valley, Goodwill’s Community Garden Partnership
(CGP) has been providing affordable garden rentals since 1999.
It is recognized by the State of Wisconsin as an outstanding partner
in conservation. Just $15 provides 500 square feet of growing space
at one of the Community Garden sites.
The CGP also provides opportunities for diverse groups to share
their experiences and knowledge with other gardeners at a variety of
community locations, while promoting such things as self-sufficiency,
environmental stewardship, creation of healthy civic space, and
donations to food banks.
In 2011, 516 gardeners from 3 counties participated in the rental
program, while donating well over 2500 lbs of food to local food
pantries. From 2002 to the present, Community Garden participants
have grown over 1,400,000 lbs of food, which provided food
values/savings at $1,662,000. In addition, the CGP provided
educational programming to 1300 participants, 800 of whom were
children.
The CGP sponsors seven garden rental sites with four teaching garden
sites in the Fox Cities, as well as an edible school yard development.
In addition, there are demonstration sites at the Salvation Army and
St. Joe's Food Pantry. In 2011, The CGP has opened its first Market
Garden collaborative with the City of Appleton and has plans to open a
2nd Market Garden/Community Garden site in 2012 in collaboration with
Outagamie County.
The CGP also provides educational classes to the community that
focus on how to grow, harvest, prepare and preserve food, as well as
ways to build soil and achieve better vegetable growth.
Community Garden sites offer such benefits as affordability and
water access, as well as access to mulch wood chips, leaves, and
resources from other gardeners.
For a complete listing of The Community Garden sites in the Fox
Valley area, as well as classes available, visit
www.communitygardenpartnership.org.
