Mark and I joined a CSA Farm!

A CSA is community supported agriculture-

We joined the Strawberry Lane Farm in Trenton, MO. http://www.strawberrylanefarm.com/

We pay a weekly price- it comes out to be around $8 a week, and we pick up a basket of farm fresh veggies and fruit every week depending on what is in season and available at our organic farm. Its a great way to eat locally and support local farming!

Here is a bit about what it means:

How Does This Work?

CSA stands for CommunitySupported Agriculture. It is also called Subscription Farming, whch is a more accurate term for what we do. In a true CSA, all the members help the farmers a certain amount of time throughout the season and they share in the major decision-making for the farm. We are far enough from the city where most of our customers live, that subscribers are not expected to help do the farming, although they are welcome to help whenever they can. We do not have a core group (decision-makers) yet, but we are considering having one if anyone is interested.

Subscribers purchase their shares in the fall, winter or early spring for the following season. This allows the farmer to plan how much and what to plant and to have the production expenses guaranteed. In return for their investment, the subscribers receive a weekly share of fresh, locally-grown organic produce to be picked up at a set place from the middle of May to the middle of October. The exact starting date is determined by when crops are ready. This year, we plan to begin late May or early June, depending on Mother Nature's weather whims.

Becoming a subscriber creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it. This arrangement helps create an economically stable farm operation in which subscribers are assured the highest quality FRESH produce at a reasonable price and in return, the farmer is assured a reliable market for a diverse selection of crops. It is a partnership in which everyone benefits. This is local food harvested at its peak for quality and freshness, resulting in the best-tasting, healthiest food available with no harm done to the environment.