Comunity Supported Agriculture Seminar
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
CSA is a partnership of mutual commitment between a farm and the local community that links production and consumption of food. The community supporting the farm cover a farm's yearly operating budget by purchasing a share of the season's harvest. CSA members make a commitment to support the farm throughout the season, and assume the costs, risks and bounty of growing food along with the farmer or grower.
Supporters help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment maintenance, labour, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. Becoming a member creates a responsible relationship between people and the food they eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it. This mutually supportive relationship between local farmers, growers and community members helps create an economically stable farm operation in which members are assured the highest quality produce, often at below retail prices. In return, farmers and growers are guaranteed a reliable market for crops produced.What is Community Supported Agriculture
and How Does It Work?
Food is a basic human need. However intensification has led it to become an inexpensive commodity that we take for granted. Questions such as how, where, or by whom it is grown are not generally the topic of conversation around the dinner table. Considering the current situation in agriculture, perhaps they should be. Food miles has and will become a larger issue in the future, whereas increasing the local food production would add a significant number of additional opportunities for employment to the economy. Community Supported Agriculture represents a viable alternative to the prevailing situation and the long-distance relationship most of us have with the food we eat. What Is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?
History of CSACSA is a unique model of local agriculture that has developed from many different influences. More than 30 years ago in Japan, a group of women concerned about the increase in food imports and the corresponding decrease in the farming population initiated a direct growing and purchasing relationship between their group and local farms. This arrangement, called "teikei" in Japanese, translates to "putting the farmers' face on food." A similar community farming approach has been successful in Europe. A variation of this concept travelled from Europe to the U.S. via the biodynamic community. This method was adapted locally and given the name "Community Supported Agriculture" at Indian Line Farm, Massachusetts, in 1985. There are now over 1000 CSA farms across the US and Canada.for further information visit http://www.umassvegetable.org/food_farming_systems/csa/
Upcoming Courses
Setting up a Vegetable Box System
This one day course will explore the basic requirements for setting up a box scheme. The course is delivered by ... more info
Organic Pig Production
This course is aimed at producers interested in rearing pigs and those currently producing pork conventionally on a small scale ... more info
Conversion to Organic Farming
This course will provide participants an introduction to what is involved in converting a livestock / cereal farm from conventional farming to ... more info
News and Events
23/08/2010
NOTS/OGI Farm walk Tuesday 24th August 2010 at 7pm
The Organic Growers of Ireland in association with the National Organic Training Skillnet are hosting a farm walk on Dermot O'Mara's Sunny Meadow Farm in Portumna, Co Galway on Tuesday the 24th August at 7pm.
16/08/2010
OGI Farm Walk Galway 17th August 2010
The Organic Growers of Ireland in association with the National Organic Training Skillnet are hosting a farm walk on the farm of Joachim and Jeanette Kochen in Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway on Tuesday the 17th August at 7pm.
Contact Us
National Organic Training Skillnet
The Enterprise Centre,
Hill Road,
Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim
Tel: 071 96 40688
Fax: 071 96 40869
Email: info@nots.ie