[Sasha_girl]

I'm thinking about starting a CSA. I've been reading on Local Harvest's website and looking at the websites of CSA's in my area and I really think that we could make a CSA (a small one) work here.

Has anyone done this? Would you be willing to share advice and experiences?

 

[eastmillcreekmama]

Hi,

I assisted with the start up of a very small CSA once a long time ago. I think it works best if you already have a space you can do it (i.e. no ongoing additional rent/mortgage for your growing space), and you already have a lot of the materials. The investment in irrigations supplies, seed starting supplies, amendments, and etc. can add up to a lot, meaning that your "profit" shrinks and shrinks.

I would first evaluate these two things. Then I would get really organized about what I would need to purchase to get going, and see if what you charge for a share from your shareholders would cover it, or take you there and further, and if you'd be comfortable working hard for the amount of money left-over. For this evaluation, you need to research what other comparable CSA's are charging for a share. Our very local CSA, where the farmers pay negligible rent, a small amount for utilities, and have access to a greenhouse included in their rent, charge $350 for 16 weeks of produce, with a pick-up once per week. I have heard of higher end CSA's charging more like $400-450 or more.

If you answer all your questions to your satisfaction, GO FOR IT! It's a great thing, CSA's...

 

[Hibou]

This probably won't be much help, but FWIW, it's something I've given a little bit of thought too as well. We had a short discussion going a while back in the Country Living forum. The concensus was generally to start small, and see where it leads you. Most of us were just talking about doing veggie baskets during the summer months; to start by making a little money off of something that we already do as a hobby.

 

[Sasha_girl]

I'll search for that thread, Hibou. I was unsure which of the two forums this question would be better for.

To give a bit of info--we have 17 acres about evenly split between fields and forest. However, we're saving for a tractor so much of that is, for all intents and purposes, not worth much to me except for pasture for our cow.

I have my main garden, which is about 70 x 35 or so, and several other garden plots situated over about an acre (ish). On this I'm able to grow a good portion of our food as well as being able to share with some family and whatnot. I also have several acres of wild blackberry fields.

My plan is to follow the Path to Freedom's model of eating your lawn. Why bother having a lawn to mow when you could grow stuff? DD has earmarked quite a bit of space for garden space of her own (a la Roots Shoots Buckets and Boots) but there is still plenty of workable space in close proximity to the house since irrigation is an issue.

Also, we're getting a small greenhouse in early summer, which should really give me a leg up and save quite a bit of money. We grow heirloom veggies so I generally have a decent stock of seeds. We have a cow and some other livestock so there is a virtually unending supply of quality compost.

So that's what I have to work with. I don't plan on getting rich or anything, just wanting to supplement my income further doing something that I'm already doing.

 

[Epiphany]

I don't know a darn thing about starting a CSA, but I think you are heading in the right direction. :} Maybe this summer you can get a stall at a local farmer's market and get your name out there. You'll also be able to make a bit of extra cash that will help you to finance improvements on your farm. I would think that in a couple of years you would be able to have your CSA up and running. Having a regular stall at a farmer's market would go along way to getting your name out.

Good luck and go for it!!

 

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

I agree with the idea of having a stall at a local farmers market. I'm planing on starting that myself. Once people get to know you have have an idea of the quality of your produce, you can put the word out that you're are wanting to do a CSA. Then you'll have an idea of how much interest there is out there in your community.

 

[mamafish9]

FWIW, here's some thoughts from me as a CSA consumer:

1) I had a CSA in WA where we came out to the farm and harvested each week (some was picked ahead for us, some we picked). That was awesome to do with my DD (for a city kid, petting a cow or picking a raspberry off the bush was a big event). Maybe even just hosting some berry picking, or something?

2) That CSA had a flower patch. It was so nice to get fresh flowers every week!

3) As a small farm, I think it helps to have something that makes you stand out. My current CSA (near Eugene now), grows a lot of fruit - raspberries, blackberries, apples, grapes... So my box gets lots of fruit, less greens than most CSAs. When you're feeding two kids under 5, that is a very nice thing. Heirloom stuff would be another "cool" way to make your CSA offering a little different, since you can't really compete with the size and variety of a bigger farm.

4) Recipes. I get stuff in my CSA boxes that I don't even know what it is. Quick instructions on a yummy way to cook things (or an email newsletter), very helpful for those of us who don't know what to do with sorrel or kohlrabi or the funny yellow squashy cucumbery thing in our box

.

Maybe find a few people in your community interested in supporting a "starter" CSA? e.g. you'll get 5-6 boxes this summer, and more next year as the farm expands? I'd love to do that here, and get a voice in what gets grown, etc...

Good luck - I think CSAs rock

.

<edit> Oh, and starts - one of my CSAs gave us a couple of tomato and bean starts each year - yummy snacks, and really fun for my DD to plant and watch grow, it gave her more attachment to the CSA box of food...