What could I expect to receive as a member?

You could be eating, and feeding your family healthy, fresh vegetables, picked the same day you eat them and free from any potentially harmful pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.

You could know that the food you are eating was grown in a way that did not harm the soil or the water, and that will not compromise the ability of future generations to feed themselves.

You could be serving vegetables that were grown right in your own community by supporting a farmer who is also a neighbor.

You could be able to visit a farm with your family and watch your food growing, and have the opportunity to participate in its cultivation and harvest.

You could be a part of the exciting and successful new concept of Community Supported Agriculture.

What's It All About

The essence of a Community Supported Agriculture project (CSA) is that it provides the opportunity for a community of people to take responsibility for operating a farm. While sharing the abundance and the costs of cultivating their food in a healthy way, they can also increase the fertility of the soil and enhance the quality of their relationship to the land and to each other.

In Community Supported Agriculture crops are bought and paid for before the growing season by members--people who pay the farmer to grow their food. From the money paid in advance, the farmer buys seeds, supplies and tools and is assured a living wage for his or her labors. In return, members of the CSA receive fresh organically grown vegetables, herbs, fruit and sometimes even flowers weekly throughout the growing season.

It's not just about clean, healthy food (although that alone is a wonderful benefit), it's about leaming to live sustainably and harmoniously on that particular, unique part of the Earth that we call home.

Yet More Advantages

Because most of our produce is purchased at grocery stores and is grown sometimes thousands of miles from its point of purchase, people have forgotten the relationship between agriculture and food. Many people have never seen the food they eat actually growing, and thus have a false sense of security about the safety and dependability of their food supply. With only 2% of Americans actually producing food for the other 98%, families are increasingly separated from the source of their food and from the understanding of the vital relationships that connect people, food, soils and health. Issues related to agriculture are left to the farmers and the politicians.

Community Supported Agriculture allows an entire community to be involved in making the decisions that will effect their ability to feed themselves and the ability of future generations to feed tehmselves.

How Do I Get Involved?

Join the Cromwell Valley CSA

Let local officials know that maintaining our farmland is important to our community and to our future.

Buy local, organically grown produce whenever you can and ask local grocery stores to carry it.

By becoming a member of the Cromwell Valley Park CSA you get:

Organically-grown produce
An open invitation to visit the CSA and share in the gardening
An opportunity to pick your food up at the CSA and enjoy the park
A direct connection to the garden and farmers
A fair price based on a well thought-out budget
Seasonal gatherings based on the annual cycle of the planet
Workshops, seminars and courses for adults and children
Knowledge that your food is grown without harm to the water and soil
A newsletter linking you to the CSA, complete with recipes, upcoming events, and harvesting information
Opportunities to pick your own flowers and vegetables