Join a Community Supported Agriculture farm
It the Torah portion of Kedoshim, God gives the nation of Israel a series of laws, all under the context of making them a holy nation. Some of these laws directly relate to agriculture, namely the laws of leaving the corners of your field and the fallen harvest to be gleaned by the poor. I understand this law within the context of constructing a holy nation to encourage us to look out for one another. While the farmer may have an abundance of food, and true it is the farmers livelihood, there is something more important than profit: charity. By ensuring the well-being of the community as a whole, we are transformed into a holy nation, a light unto the other nations.
So what is the modern day equivalent? In a somewhat ironic twist, it is often the small scale farmer who is struggling to make ends meet, and the rest of the community who can play a part in supporting the local food grower. A system has been developed over the past 30 years called community supported agriculture in which community members partner up with local food growers to share expenses and harvests.
***Join a Community Supported Agriculture farm***
This system works as follows:
A farmer or grower draws up a budget reflecting the production costs for the year. This includes all salaries, distribution costs, investments for seeds and tools, land payments, machinery maintenance, etc. The budget is then divided by the number of people for whom the farm will provide and this determines the cost of each share of the harvest. One share is usually designed to provide the weekly vegetable needs for a family of four. Flowers, fruit, meat, honey, eggs and dairy products are also available through some CSA.
Community members sign up and purchase their shares, either in one lump sum before the seeds are sown in early spring, or in several installments throughout the growing season. Production expenses are thereby guaranteed and the farmer or grower starts receiving income as soon as work begins.
In return for their investment, CSA members receive a bag of fresh, locally-grown, typically organic produce once a week from late spring through early fall, and occasionally throughout the winter in northern climates and year-round in milder zones. Members prefer a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, which encourages integrated cropping and companion planting. These practices help reduce risk factors and give multiple benefits to the soil. Crops are planted in succession in order to provide a continuous weekly supply of mixed vegetables. As crops rotate throughout the season, weekly shares vary by size and types of produce, reflecting local growing seasons and conditions.
Why is this important:
CSA's direct marketing gives farmers and growers the fairest return on their products.
CSA keeps food dollars in the local community and contributes to the maintenance and establishment of regional food production.
CSA encourages communication and cooperation among farmers.
CSA allows community members to recognize the challenge small scale farming can be and how the natural elements can affect the food supply.
With a "guaranteed market" for their produce, farmers can invest their time in doing the best job they can rather than looking for buyers.
CSA supports the biodiversity of a given area and the diversity of agriculture through the preservation of small farms producing a wide variety of crops.
CSA creates opportunity for dialogue between farmers and consumers.
CSA creates a sense of social responsibility and stewardship of local land.
CSA puts "the farmers face on food" and increases understanding of how, where, and by whom our food is grown.
To find a CSA farm near you go to this page and enter your state or zip:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/csastate.htm
Join a CSA and change the relationship you have with your food and food source!
Source: http://www.umass.edu/umext/csa/about.html
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