by Mary Houle

What is a CSA? Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a term used to describe buying a share of the produce of a farm for one season. CSAs are here to stay. A farmer needs up-front cash at the start of the season to buy seeds, fertilizer, and machinery. The citizen has the opportunity to join the farm as a crop shareholder and pays ahead of the first delivery of the weekly harvest. Paying ahead of the season assumes both risks and benefits in the mix. If the crops were a boon, the recipient would benefit from a larger share of the harvest to take home; if the crops were meager or failed, the customer would share in that risk as well. Early payment helps the farmer with initial cash outlays and cash flow, the assurance a farmer often needs to make bill payments and continue operating for another year. This really is community-supported agriculture - shared success and shared failure.

Some farms have found the CSA to be a saving grace for their operations. Other farms have expanded their offerings to include farm visits, tours, and farm evening gatherings for community interaction and entertainment as well. Bread and Butter Farm on Cheese Factory Road has a Friday evening burger and bread event. It is a child-friendly and family-friendly social gathering. Parking for the event fills the field across from the driveway and is a visual testament to these farmers' agricultural entrepreneurship and success.

CSA shares generally start with vegetables, but some farms have expanded offerings to include milk, eggs, cheese, meat, and poultry. Shares vary in size and price as well. I have found the costs for a half share (enough to fill the needs of two persons) for a vegetable season generally start at $325 and range to $400, and full shares can run in the $600 to $700 range. Each farm has individualized selections. Milk, eggs, and meat can be added on a weekly basis at some farms, and others require joining for the season to insure an outlet for the produce of all departments on the farm. There are farm CSA shares that have winter offerings too. Root crops are available throughout the winter months both from the CSA and at winter Farmer's Markets, as now can be found in Shelburne.

I conducted an experiment in a CSA for a season by purchasing a half share of vegetables. I was disappointed by the look of the produce and the volume of the output in my share. As the idea of the CSA is to share in the abundance and failure, the farmer of the CSA I joined looked for other outlets for sale of their extra produce rather than increasing the volume of the members' weekly harvest. That farm had a bountiful season of veggies. All the members of the CSA were supposed to share the bounty.  We did not. It's important to ask upfront for such clarifications and details.

Community gardens

Burlington, at last count, has nine community garden areas. Williston has a community garden with a master gardener area offering a "plant a row for the hungry" option. Shelburne has a community garden area that has a water spigot close by the garden area, as do some others.

The obvious first benefit of a plot in the community garden is the fresh vegetable offerings. Other benefits include sunshine and exercise.  Community happens there too in terms of the camaraderie in working side-by-side and near other gardeners. The opportunities for sharing tips and information - seasoned gardeners help to advise newer tillers - thrive in between the garden rows.

Certain rules apply to the community gardens and they are good and necessary. Some require that gardeners use only organic practices. Most are neat and tidy. No plot can lay fallow unless there is a cover crop planted. Cover crops inhibit weed seeds from sprouting and cover crops feed the soil while allowing it to rest. Neglected plots are tilled and offered to another person on the waiting list.

Consider joining a CSA or a community garden. It is food for the body, mind and soul.

 Mary Houle is a Master Gardener, Master Composter and SOUL graduate (Stewardship Of the Urban Landscape).