Community Supported Agriculture

CSA Resources

The following alphabetical list of resources provides links to an expanding number of organizations that support CSA and provivde information about CSA farms and farming.  We also list CSA periodicals, videos, publications and an internet discussion group.

CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) of Hudson Valley, Berkshires and Pioneer Valley, www.craftfarmapprentice.com/, is a cooperative effort of local organic and biodynamic farms organized to enhance the educational opportunities for farm apprentices. Updated list of CSA farms, schedule of farm visits.

Eastern Massachusetts CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) program, www.emasscraft.org, is modeled after the Hudson / Mohawk / Pioneer Valley area CRAFT program. Updated list of CSA farms in eastern Mass, schedule of farm visits.

CSA Farm Network, Steve Gilman. 130 Ruckytucks Rd., Stillwater, NY 12170. (518) 583-4613. A SARE-funded NOFA project to promote and understand CSA in the Northeast.

CSA West, PO Box 363, Davis, California 95617. (916) 756-8518, fax (916) 756-7857, email: csawest@caff.org, internet: www.caff.org. CSA information on the West Coast.

CSA Works, 115 Bay Road, Hadley, MA 01035. (413)586-5133. Provides assistance to the farmers of tomorrow in locating the tools and techniques needed to run efficient CSA enterprises.

E.F. Schumacher Society, (413) 528-1737, www.schumachersociety.org. A non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting and furthering the ideas of the author of "Small is Beautiful," maintains a library of books and periodicals, topics including decentralist thought, alternative economics, agriculture, land trusts and CSA. Houses the personal library of Robyn Van En. Offers the booklet "New Lease on Farmland: Assuring A Future for Farming in the Northeast" which provides model leases created cooperatively by conservation groups, land trusts, and farmers.

Equity Trust Inc., www.equitytrust.org, PO Box 746, Turners Falls MA 01376 Phone: 413-863-9038. A community development organization that has created a revolving-loan fund for CSA farms to acquire and develop agricultural land with appropriate conservation easements and/or other tenure arrangements that serve both farmers and communities; provides technical assistance and advice to CSA farms on land tenure issues.

Just Food, 625 Broadway, Suite 9C, New York, NY 10012. (212) 677-1602, fax (212) 505-8613, e-mail justfood@igc.org. Helps connect Northeast CSA farmers and New Yorkers; provides start-up and ongoing support to farmers and core group members; publicizes CSA and educates through the local media.

Land Trust Alliance, 1017 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 683-7778. A national network and service center that keeps land trusts abreast of legislation affecting their work; provides access to needed expertise and insurance; seeks to improve the effectiveness and capacity of local and regional land trusts.

Madison Area Community Supported Agricultural Coalition (MACSAC), 4915 Monona Dr. Suite 304, Monona, WI 53716. (608) 226-0300, fax (608) 226-0301. Website: www.macsac.org E-mail: info@macsac.org. Coalition of community activists, representatives of organizations supporting sustainable agriculture and farmers in the Madison area that educates the public about CSA; publishes an annual CSA directory, provides support and networking opportunities to CSA farms, and distributes its Food Book: From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh, Seasonal Produce.

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI), W2493 County Road ES, East Troy, WI, 53120. (414) 642-3303, fax (414) 642-4028. A public non-profit education and research organization committed to promoting resource-conserving, ecologically sustainable and economically viable food and farming systems; mission is to enhance the strength of the human spirit by revitalizing the culture of agriculture; has programs in education, research, food systems, international development and farm policy. Website: www.michaelfieldsaginst.org

New England Small Farm Institute, PO Box 937, Belchertown, MA 01007. (413) 323-4531. www.smallfarm.org. Promotes the sustainable use of New England's agricultural resources; functions as a demonstration and training center for ecologically responsible natural resource management; provides technical materials, courses and workshops.

Northeast Workers on Organic Farms (NEWOOF), PO Box 608, Belchertown, MA 01007. (413) 323-4531. A farm apprenticeship placement service with national listings, matching many CSA farms with willing workers.

Regional Farm and Food Project, 27 Elm St., Albany, NY 12202. (518) 426-9331. Educating and connecting farmers and consumers through various means.

Robyn Van En Center for Community Supported Agriculture, Wilson College, Center for Sustainable Living, 1015 Philadelphia Ave.,Chambersburg, PA 17201 (717) 264-4141 x3247. www.csacenter.org. Provides national CSA directory, information on CSA development and promotion, research, CSA movement history, video, slide show, and handbook.

CSA Periodicals

Growing for Market: News and Ideas for Market Gardeners, Features regular stories on CSA issues. Annual subscription $27. Available from Fairplain Publications, PO Box 3747, Lawrence, KS 66046.

The Community Farm: A Voice for Community Supported Agriculture, 3480 Potter Road, Bear Lake, MI 49614. Jim Sluyter and Jo Meller editors, $20/year subscription. Practical information on CSA. 616-889-3216 Website: tcf.itgo.com

Biodynamics: A Bimonthly Magazine Centered on Health and Wholeness, Classifieds offer lists of positions for CSA growers, etc. 6 issues $35. Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Inc., 25844 Butler Road, Junction City, OR 97448, (888)516-7797, (541)998-0105, fax: (541)998-0106 Website: www.biodynamics.com E-mail: biodynamic@aol.com

Internet Discussion Group

Internet discussion group on all aspects of CSA for members and farmers. For free subscription, send e-mail message to listproc@prairienet.org stating "subscribe csa-L (your e-mail address)." Do not use the quotes or parentheses. Once a subscriber, to send a message to the entire list, address it to: csa-L@prairienet.org.

Videos

CSA: Making a Difference, (1997) Robyn Van En Center for CSA, Wilson College, $10. Video, information handbook and slide show on CSA development and promotion. Center for Sustainable Living, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, PA 17201. (717) 264-4141 ext. 3247.

It's Not Just About Vegetables, (1986) No longer in publication; you can borrow existing copies from CSA farmers or Robyn Van En CSA Center, (717) 264-4141, Ext. 3247.

Shared Farming: Towards a Sustainable Community, CSA Canada. $20. CSA Canada, Box 353, St. Adolphe, Manitoba, Canada R5A1A2.

Publications

Basic Formula to Create Community Supported Agriculture, Robyn Van En. 1992. The original CSA how-to book. An 80-page start-up manual which includes sample budgets, job descriptions, community outreach tactics, bibliography, list of CSA projects throughout North America and more. $10 each. Available from theVan En Center For Community Supported Agriculture at www.csacenter.org.

CSA Across the Nation, Co-produced by the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (Univ. Wisconsin), Univ. Massachusetts Dept. Resource Economics, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, Robin Van En Center for CSA Resources at Wilson College PA. Findings from a 1999 national survey, online at www.nesawg.org

CSA Farm Network, 1996. Steve Gilman. Includes resources, general information and survey results of the formation of a Northeast network of CSA farms. $6. CSA Farm Network Vol. II, 1997. Includes additional research results and new information. $8. Available from CSA Farm Network, 130 Ruckytucks Rd., Stillwater, NY 12170. (518) 583-4613 or NOFA-NY.

Community Related Agriculture, Brochure outlines the organization and planning of community farms, CSA and subscription farms. 10 pages. $1.00 + SASE. Available from the BioDynamic Association, PO Box 550, Kimberton, PA 19422. (800) 516-7797.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): An Annotated Bibliography and Resource Guide, Suzanne DeMuth. 1993, updated per request. Free. Available from the Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC). National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705-2351. (301) 504-6559.

Community Supported Agriculture: Local Food Systems for Iowa (PM 1692), Iowa Community Supported Agriculture Resource Book for Producers and Organizers (PM 1694), and Statewide List of CSA Farms (PM 1693), Available from ISU Extension Distribution, 119 Printing and Publ., ISU, Ames, IA 50011-3171. (515) 294-2945.

Community Supported Agriculture: A Handbook for Producers, UC Cooperative Extension. Guidebook covers CSA design, recruiting members, creating production and harvest plans, setting share prices and legal issues; incorporates ideas and strategies of successful CSA farms. $25 + $5 S/H. Available from UC Cooperative Extension, attn: CSA Handbook, 11477 E. Ave., Auburn, CA 95603, (530) 889-7385.

Farms of Tomorrow-Community Supported Farms, Farm Supported Communities, Trauger Groh and Steven McFadden. 1990. Farms of Tomorrow-Revisited, 1997, Basic text and updated version on CSA in general and on several BioDynamic farms in particular. Available from the BioDynamic Assoc., P.O. Box 550, Kimberton, PA 19444, (800) 516-7797.

From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh, Seasonal Produce, Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition (MACSAC). 1996. Features 46 different vegetable and herb sections which include nutritional, historical, and storage information as well as cooking tips and over 370 recipes. $12 + $2.05 S/H for CSA farms or members, (Normal retail: $16.95 + $2.05 S/H). Phone, mail, or email your order to: MACSAC, 4915 Monona Dr. Suite 304, Monona, WI 53716. (608) 226-0300. Website: www.macsac.org E-mail:info@macsac.org.

Maximizing Shareholder Retention in Southeastern CSAs: A Step Toward Long-Term Stability, Deborah Kane. 1997. Available from the Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2202. E-mail: dkane@uga.cc.uga.edu.

Northeast Regional Food Guide, Cornell Cooperative Extension. Poster and information sheets with excellent information and tips on eating local, seasonal produce in our region. Good supporting information for joining a CSA. (607) 255-2080.

Our Field: A Manual for Community Shared Agriculture, Tamsyn Rowley and Chris Beeman. 1994. How farmers can better connect with community members and how community members can have more influence over how food is produced. Beginning and marketing CSA projects; best agricultural practices suited to CSA; includes appendix of CSA farms in Canada. 89 pages. $15 Canadian. Tamsyn Rowley, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G2W1. (519)824-4120 ext. 8480, fax (519)763-4686.

Rebirth of the Small Family Farm: A Handbook for Starting a Successful Organic Farm Based on the Community Supported Agriculture Concept, Bob and Bonnie Gregson. 1996. Tells one family's story of beginning and operating a small, organic vegetable farm run on CSA model; managing small scale farms; start up requirements, crop selection, marketing strategies, and related topics. Includes resource list. $9.95. Available from IMG Associates, PO Box 2542, Vashon Island, WA 98070. (206) 463-9065

Sharing the Harvest: Community Supported Agriculture in America, by Elizabeth Henderson with the late Robyn Van En. (1999). A new CSA how-to manual for farmers, consumers, backyard gardeners and food activists. Chelsea Green, White River Junction, VT. (800) 639-4899.

To Till It and Keep It: New Models for Congregational Involvement with the Land, Dan Guenther. 1995. $5. Available from the Land Stewardship Project, 2200 Fourth St., White Bear Lake, MN 55110. (612) 653-0618.

What's Your Share Worth? Some Comparisons of CSA Share Cost vs. Retail Produce Value, J.P. Cooley and D.A. Lass. 1996. Available from CSA Farm Network, 130 Ruckytucks Rd., Stillwater, NY 12170. (518) 583-4613.