BACKGROUND

Many of you may already be familiar with the concept of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), but for those of you who are new to this idea, a CSA is

when a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief...

Advantages for farmers:

• Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
• Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
• Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

• Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm - even veggies they've never been known to eat
• Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown

Produce will be delivered to First Methodist Church for 20 weeks during the growing season. Pickup time is between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. every Sunday at the church.  (They have a small parking lot you can park your car in while you run in to get your share.) You can sign up for the first 10 weeks or last 10 weeks if you are only in town for part of the summer. Each week's box usually contains a fruit, 2 herbs, a Hmong vegetable, and a newsletter with ideas for using new foods, in addition to favorites like carrots and spinach.

A full share usually feeds a family of 4, and half shares will feed 1-2 people. For each 5 half shares purchased by church members, our farmers will donate one half share to our food pantry. In the past, several members have also purchased shares for the food pantry.

In addition, the First Church CSA uses organic farming practices, and is on its way to achieving organic certification, a process which takes at least 3 years. Because CSAs are so healthy, local HMOs will rebate a portion of your cost. These include Dean Care, GHC, Physicians Plus, and Unity.   

Interested in becoming a shareholder in the First Church CSA?   Contact Zeexue Xiong, Program Coordinator (608-770-1494 or HmongTojSiabCSA@gmail.com) or  

or kmaldegen@charter.net) with questions.  Sign-up continues through the month of April.