Friday, February 27, 2009

How on earth does a Winter CSA work?

Winter C.S.A.s rely on the same food growing and preservation methods that people in cold climates always have: fermenting; canning; freezing; extending shelf life in root cellars; drying foods; and extending growing seasons with cold frames, hoop houses, and greenhouses.

A winter C.S.A. takes foods grown all summer long and prepares them for storage, as well as collecting wild foods and working with four season farmers.
Summer C.S.A.s abound in the Hudson Valley, but winter C.S.A.s are just starting to crop up. I only know of Wintergreens and our friends at Winter Sun Farms. Support the movement! Eat locally and well throughout winter.

What is C.S.A.?

C.S.A. stands for Community Supported Agriculture.

C.S.A. is a direct relationship between people who grow & produce food and those who eat it, driving down costs for both. C.S.A. keeps food local, therefore fresher. It makes packing and shipping obsolete, saving fuel and resources. It keeps money in the local economy, and improves a community's food security.

"Share holders" generally buy a share directly from farmers before the growing season, and receive fresh produce throughout the season. They share in the risk of a failed crop, but far more often, in the abundance of truly fresh and beautiful food.

Here is a link (to a far away C.S.A.) that explains the pros and cons of joining well.

Here is more information from Local Harvest about how it all works.
OK, so what on earth is winter C.S.A.?