ponto
February 16th, 2007, 09:04 AM
A decade ago, the definition of Community Supported Agriculture was fairly straightforward, as there were only two versions in practice.
In its purest state, a CSA was a farm that was owned by a group of community members, each of whom had purchased a share of the business.
Together they hired a farmer who raised crops which were divided amongst the shareholders.
If crops were bountiful, everyone ate especially well. The risk of crop failure was shared as well, so the farmer was paid the same in good years and in lean ones.
Few such projects have taken root in this country, though those that have are known for the passion of their members.
Much more common is the type of CSA wherein a farmer offers a given number of shares to a community, typically in the spring when the farm's cash flow needs are the highest.
Members purchase a share up front, and in exchange receive a box of vegetables each week throughout the growing season.
Areas surrounding Maysville have access to a CSA but support for a local CSA has not occurred in Mason County.
A community garden system has been available in Maysville since 1999 when the Herb Farm @ Strodes Run started offering free organic garden plots to groups and individuals wanting to participate in the growing experience.
The harvest was strictly up to the growers, they could use it for personnel use or sell the items for a fund raising project.
Sign up for the 2007 season has started and so far, one individual has requested an area for up to 300 strawberry plants. Call 606-742-2000 for more information.
Source- Local Harvest (http://www.localharvest.org/newsletter/20070215/csa.jsp?r=nl#continue)
.
In its purest state, a CSA was a farm that was owned by a group of community members, each of whom had purchased a share of the business.
Together they hired a farmer who raised crops which were divided amongst the shareholders.
If crops were bountiful, everyone ate especially well. The risk of crop failure was shared as well, so the farmer was paid the same in good years and in lean ones.
Few such projects have taken root in this country, though those that have are known for the passion of their members.
Much more common is the type of CSA wherein a farmer offers a given number of shares to a community, typically in the spring when the farm's cash flow needs are the highest.
Members purchase a share up front, and in exchange receive a box of vegetables each week throughout the growing season.
Areas surrounding Maysville have access to a CSA but support for a local CSA has not occurred in Mason County.
A community garden system has been available in Maysville since 1999 when the Herb Farm @ Strodes Run started offering free organic garden plots to groups and individuals wanting to participate in the growing experience.
The harvest was strictly up to the growers, they could use it for personnel use or sell the items for a fund raising project.
Sign up for the 2007 season has started and so far, one individual has requested an area for up to 300 strawberry plants. Call 606-742-2000 for more information.
Source- Local Harvest (http://www.localharvest.org/newsletter/20070215/csa.jsp?r=nl#continue)
.