CSA is a mutually beneficial relationship between gardeners or farmers who grow vegetables and fruits to supply a community's needs for fresh, nutritious, wholesome food; and a community which supports the gardeners or farmers allowing them to devote all their energies to tending the garden. If the gardeners use organic or biodynamic methods the beneficial relationship is extended to the soil--the earth itself--since these methods emphasize building up or improving the soil. Well run biodynamic CSA operations are truly healthy and harmonious earth-human communities.
Members of communities which support CSAs share the produce and bear the costs equitably. The produce from the farm is shared among community members in equal portions. The community makes a commitment to support the farm financially on an ongoing annual basis. Member assessments vary from one CSA project to the next; however, in the case of Cromwell Valley Park CSA, each member's assessment is based on the budgeted cost for operation of the farm, including payment for the farmers' efforts, a small contingency fund (the size of which is set each year by the core group) and all other costs associated with the garden, and on the members other-than-cash contributions to the garden, such as labor in the fields or administrative work.
The Cromwell Valley Park CSA project, like most CSA operations, has a dedicated core group which performs the management chores necessary to keep the operation going. The founding members of the Cromwell Valley Park CSA core group have been working for more than two years to bring the project into existence. At present the core group includes interested community members, the farmers, and responsible Baltimore County officials who control the Cromwell Valley Park where the garden is located. Cooperatively, through a committee structure, the core group manages all aspects of the CSA project.
Some CSAs require each member of the community to do some work in the garden, and this is a valuable way to build community; at present Cromwell Valley CSA requires community members to contribute five hours of actual hands-on work in the fields or administrative work for the CSA. All members are urged to visit the farm, share in the activities held there and to avail themselves of the learning opportunities offered in conjunction with the CSA--and of course to help with the weeding whenever they are able! A limited number of work-memberships are made available each year to allow those who would rather work for their food to do so, and/or enable low income people in the area to participate in the CSA.